Post Adoption Support Resources

Any birth mother that chooses adoption for her baby makes the decision based on a deep sense of love. As actor and singer Jordan Fisher once said of his own adoption: “My being adopted, it saved me — it literally saved my life… I was so loved. I’m so grateful to them.” If you are considering adoption for your child, you are considering what is best for your child. Choosing adoption means having support every step of the way – including post adoption support.

With an adoption agency to guide you through the adoption journey, you can count on this post adoption support for your recovery process as you move on to the next chapter of your life. If you are wondering how to find post adoption support, you have come to the right place. Read on, as we share the support that is available to you – confidentially – designed to help you thrive.

Why Post Adoption Support Matters

Adoption is a positive, loving choice, but it can also be a difficult and – at times – painful path to navigate. It may not change your life forever, but it will have an impact on your story and your heart. Once your baby’s adoption is complete, you can begin to recover – physically and emotionally – but you have a road ahead. Birth mothers often report feeling a sense of loss and grief after their baby’s adoption. Getting the support you need throughout this recovery process is critical for your overall health and well-being.

Types of Post Adoption Support Resources Available

Counseling and Mental Health Services

As you begin your healing journey, it is crucial to continue counseling services. Adoption does not end once the paperwork is filed. Your mental health and emotional well-being are valuable and should be cared for, even if that means speaking with a counselor once a week. This professional can offer you a safe space to let out your emotions, help you process what you have experienced, and give you useful tools for navigating this life-changing experience.

Support Groups and Peer Networks

Speaking with others who have walked a mile in your shoes can help you relate and feel less alone in the adoption journey. While venting to a close friend or counselor can be helpful, many find comfort in speaking with others who have also placed their baby for adoption. Your adoption agency can connect you with a peer-to-peer network or support group. This group of people can understand what you are going through unlike anyone else, and can offer their own experiences, lessons, and tips as a helpful way to navigate the post-adoption journey.

Eductional and Parenting Resources

There are also educational resources to help birth parents after their adoption is complete. This can include books, online articles and essays, and even digital presentations.

Case Management and Service Planning

During your pregnancy or adoption journey, your adoption agency will assign you a counselor. This adoption professional works with expectant/birth mothers as they plan their adoption – including choosing an adoptive family and designing their post-adoption contact agreement. This compassionate professional is also available after the adoption is complete, assisting birth mothers as they recover from birth and adoption with any services or resources they may need.

Postpartum Care and Health Resources

Postpartum care is another critical element of post adoption support. Just as you need to keep up with prenatal care – including appointments and tests during pregnancy, the postpartum appointment is an important appointment after giving birth. The postpartum appointment is typically scheduled 6-8 weeks after giving birth, depending on the type of birth you experience. If there are more physical exams or tests required, your healthcare professional can guide you.

Navigating Open Adoption Relationships

If you choose to have an open adoption, you will have direct, ongoing communication with your child’s adoptive family. This can be a wonderful way to connect and know about your child over the years. Many birth mothers build deep, meaningful bonds with their child’s adoptive families after the adoption is complete. Navigating these relationships may require some work. This is where the counselor at your adoption agency can offer support.

Who Provides Post Adoption Support?

Private Adoption Agencies

If you choose to work with a private adoption agency, you can depend on this professional for post adoption support. Just like all the other supportive services offered, post adoption support comes at no cost to birth parents.

Learn More About Private Adoption Agencies

National and Regional Support Centers

There are also national and regional centers that can provide lifelong support for birth mothers. These groups can offer free counseling, financial assistance, and peer groups to help you navigate the post-adoption journey.

How to Access Post Adoption Support Resources

Start with Your Adoption Agency

This is often the first – and best resource for birth parents seeking post adoption support. This professional has gotten to know you – and your baby’s adoptive parents – throughout the adoption journey and can offer you the services you need, including counseling, support groups, educational materials, and help as you navigate your open adoption.

Explore National Resource Libraries

Knowledge is power. National resource libraries can offer birth parents toolkits for elements you may need, including search and reunion, grief counseling guides, and information on navigating open adoption laws. Birth mothers searching for resources within national resource libraries for post adoption support may search in the Child Welfare Information Gateway, National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support (NCESAS), or Concerned United Birthparents (CUB). 

How Adoptions With Love Supports Families After Adoption

Adoptions With Love offers post adoption support for birth mothers who have placed their baby for adoption within the organization. Ongoing counseling support is offered – at no cost – for up to a year following the adoption placement. Adoptions With Love has a counseling benefit up to $1000 to see a therapist and paid directly to the therapist. Counselors are available for birth mothers recovering and grieving their adoption experience.

Adoptions With Love also offers support groups, a letter and picture exchange program for those who have chosen an open or semi-open adoption, and search and reunion services for those looking to reconnect with their child. At Adoptions With Love, birth mothers are family. We offer ongoing support over the years to ensure a smooth and positive post-adoption life, with the love and compassion that every birth mother deserves.

Find the Post Adoption Support You Deserve

Whether you are ready to begin your adoption journey, or need post adoption support, contact Adoptions With Love today. Call any time: 617-964-4357, text (confidentially) 617-777-0072, or contact us online. We can offer you the love, support, and dignity you need throughout – and beyond – the adoption journey.