Call: 800-722-7731
Text: 617-777-0072
Are you facing an unexpected pregnancy? One of the most important things to know as an expectant parent in Alabama is that you have options. No matter the circumstance, Adoptions With Love wants you to know that you do not have to go through this alone. Since 1986, we have been helping match expectant/birth parents with loving, responsible, and devoted adoptive families. Our fully licensed, private, nonprofit adoption agency specializes in providing adoption services in Alabama. If you are pregnant and hoping to learn more about adoption, we can help. Our caring staff is here to walk you through the options, guide you on adoption in Alabama, and help you make the best possible decision for you and your baby – free of pressure and free of cost. We are available 24/7 to give you confidential and compassionate support, throughout your pregnancy and beyond.
Reasons People Choose Adoption
Adoption is a personal choice. There are many reasons expectant/birth parents choose adoption. It is important to acknowledge that, while the dated term “give baby up for adoption” is still commonly used today, adoption is anything but giving up*. The following reasons for adoption prove that it is a brave, selfless, and loving decision.
Emotional Factors
If you are considering adoption, it could be that you are not yet ready to parent, but you cannot – or do not wish to – have an abortion. This is an emotional time for expectant/birth parents. Adoption is not an alternative to abortion, but it is a positive choice that can make a lasting impact on a person’s emotional well-being. It could be that you feel an intense sense of love for your child already – even in pregnancy. That deep sense of love can motivate you to carry on with the pregnancy, despite the difficult circumstances in which you may find yourself. Making the decision to place your baby for adoption in Alabama is deeply personal, and you may find that it brings you joy to see your child go to a safe, stable, and loving family.
Financial Aspects
For many expectant/birth parents who are facing an unplanned pregnancy, finances are a real concern. You may be struggling to find a stable home or pay your bills. If you are in these circumstances and pregnant, you may already know that you can get financial support from an adoption agency when you choose to make an adoption plan.
Adoption can appeal to those who are overwhelmed at the idea of supporting a growing family. This is understandable. The costs of raising a child today are higher than ever before. It costs, on average, $310,605 to raise a child from birth to age 18. That figure does not include college tuition.
Consideration for the Child’s Future
Finances aside, a big motivating factor for many birth parents is their child’s future. With adoption, a child is more likely to be read to every night, sung to, or told stories every day, and eat at a dinner table with family every evening. Children in open adoption report having positive feelings about their adoption. They are also given a lifetime of love and opportunities.
How to Place Your Baby for Adoption in Alabama
1. Choose an Adoption Agency.
The first step – as you explore your options and consider making an adoption plan – will be to find the right adoption agency. There are many adoption professionals to choose from, but it is important to find an organization that will be able to meet your needs and with whom you feel most comfortable. There are several different types of Alabama adoption agencies, such as:
Domestic adoption agency. This is a private adoption agency that works with expectant/birth mothers voluntarily choosing adoption for their child. Many children are placed at birth or within their infancy.
International adoption agency. This type of adoption agency works with adoptive parents looking to adopt a child from a country outside of the U.S.
Foster care adoption agency. This is a state-run system that places children who have been removed from their homes. If a child is placed in foster care, it is not because the birth parents voluntarily chose adoption.
We recommend choosing an adoption agency that is willing to listen to you and really consider your needs and wishes. This professional should be open to discussing all your options and will respect any decision you make. Your adoption agency should also stay up-to-date and well-versed with the adoption laws in Alabama and offer the guidance you deserve.
2. Meet with an adoption counselor.
Once you have chosen an adoption agency in Alabama, you should begin meeting with a licensed adoption social worker. At Adoptions With Love, we understand that this is a crucial part of the adoption journey. You will be meeting with the person who will walk you through your pregnancy and adoption options, and who will help you make an adoption plan that is catered to your unique needs. This is the person who will be there whenever you call and be there to offer any assistance and guidance you need along the way. At Adoptions With Love, we believe an informed decision is the best decision, and that you should be given the opportunity to consider all your choices, be educated on your rights as an expectant/birth mother, and understand exactly what to expect before, during, and after the adoption process. Only then will you know if adoption is the right path for you.
3. Understand the adoption laws in Alabama.
Adoption laws vary by state. In Alabama, the birth parent may sign consent (i.e., final adoption papers) at any point before or after birth. This consent to adoption may be withdrawn within five days after birth or within five days after signing the consent, whichever comes first. You may take all the time you need before signing any legal adoption documents. At Adoptions With Love, we encourage birth mothers to take all the time you need to ensure you are comfortable with and confident in your decision.
There are many other Alabama-specific laws about financial aid you may receive as well as the rights of your baby’s birth father. This is why, if you choose to make an adoption plan in Alabama, it is important to work with an agency that is experienced within the state. Adoptions With Love works with knowledgeable attorneys who are specifically trained for adoptions in Alabama. We can meet with you – wherever you are – to help guide you along through this legal process. You can rest assured that our legal services, among the many other birth parent services, are completely free of charge.
4. Select an adoptive family.
At Adoptions With Love, the expectant/birth mother has the power to choose the perfect adoptive family for baby. Your adoption counselor will understand your vision of the ideal family, and send you detailed profiles and photo albums from the many families hoping to adopt. Once you have chosen the family that you feel comfortable with, you will be able to speak with them – over the phone, via email, or in-person – if you would like. This is completely up to you if you are comfortable. There are no right or wrong decisions here. No matter which family you choose, you can rest assured that your baby will be welcomed into a safe, secure, and loving home. All adoptive families at Adoptions With Love must pass a thorough screening process and home study. The home study involves background checks, multiple interviews, and several at-home visits to ensure the safety and stability of the home.
5. Make an adoption plan.
Adoption plans are as unique as the birth parents designing them, but there are three basic types of adoption plans to choose from in Alabama, including:
- Open adoption
- Semi-open adoption
- Closed adoption
Anyone interested in staying connected with their child’s adoptive family may be interested in designing an open adoption plan. Open adoptions are different for every family, it means there is some continuous communication between birth and adoptive parents. The level and frequency of contact is entirely up to you. Should you decide that you would like email updates and photos twice a year, your adoption agency can work with you and your baby’s adoptive family to make that arrangement and get it in writing.
You may decide you do not want to have any contact at first and opt for a closed adoption. That is okay, too. You can always open the adoption down the road, with the help of your adoption counselor.
All adoptive families at Adoptions With Love agree to at least a semi-open adoption, so we keep letters and photos of your child on file for you to look at whenever you feel ready.
6. Legally finalize the adoption.
Once you have made the decision to place your baby for adoption in Alabama, you can sign your consent forms. Your Alabama adoption agency can send an attorney right to your door to ensure you understand your rights. Once the paperwork is signed, your adoption professional will take care of the rest of the adoption process.
Placing Your Baby for Adoption is Not Giving Up
When considering “giving your baby up for adoption in Alabama,” it is important to remember that adoption is NOT “giving up.” It is anything but giving up. Choosing to make an adoption plan for your child is a brave, selfless, and loving decision. It requires devotion. An expectant/birth parent who can place their child’s needs before their own desires is showing a true act of love by “giving their baby up for adoption in Alabama.”
What is Post-Adoption Life Like?
You may be wondering what your life will be like after the adoption is complete. Once you have gone home, does life return to normal? Will you stay connected with your child’s adoptive family? How about contact with your Alabama adoption agency? These are normal questions to ask.
If you have chosen a semi-open or open adoption plan, you will stay connected with your child’s adoptive family for years to come. A supportive adoption agency, like Adoptions With Love, will continue to check in on you as you recover from childbirth and the adoption finalization.
Once you have begun the road to recovery – physically and emotionally – you can begin to pursue your personal and professional goals. It can be helpful to focus on yourself and your own dreams during your recovery phase.
Support Resources for Alabama Birth Mothers
Beyond the adoption, your Alabama adoption agency will continue to care. Adoptions With Love considers each birth parent a part of our family. Our trained social workers will always be here for you, now and for years to come. Adoption is a lifelong journey. After placing your baby for adoption in Alabama, we encourage you to pursue counseling and support. Adoptions With Love offers ongoing, confidential counseling services at no cost to birth parents who chose adoption. We can help you navigate your emotions, as well as any post-placement communication and relationships.
Adoptions do not end once the paperwork is signed. It is the beginning of the next chapter of your life, and we are excited to see where the journey will bring you and your adopted child.
Whether you just found out you are pregnant, are in your final trimester, or have already given birth to your baby, it is not too late to start an adoption plan. Contact Adoptions With Love today at 1-800-722-7731 or text 617-777-0072 for more information on placing a baby up for adoption in Alabama.