Semi-Open Adoptions Pros and Cons

Modern-day adoption is much different than it was years ago. From open discussions among adoptive families with their children to the ongoing contact between birth and adoptive parents, there has been great progress over the past few decades. The adoption community no longer uses the term “give baby up for adoption,” as it is anything but giving up. Expectant/birth parents have more choices with their adoption planning than ever before. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and thinking about adoption for your child, you may be considering your adoption options. You may be familiar with open adoption and closed adoption, but what about semi-open adoption?

Semi-open adoption is a type of adoption plan that offers a happy medium between open and closed adoption. You may like the idea of an open adoption, but the idea of ongoing, direct contact with your child’s adoptive parents may not feel right, either. A semi-open adoption may be the best fit for you. Remember: There is no right or wrong adoption plan. This is your decision, and only you know which is best for you and your baby.

As you consider adoption, you may be wondering what semi-open adoption looks like and how it will work for you and your baby. Read on, as we break down the semi-open adoption pros and cons.

What is Semi-Open Adoption?

Adoption is a deeply personal experience that varies from birth mom to birth mom. No two adoption plans will look exactly alike, but here is a basic explanation of semi-open adoption. While an open adoption means ongoing contact between birth and adoptive families and closed adoption is the exact opposite, semi-open adoption falls somewhere in the middle. You may want to choose your child’s adoptive family, as expectant/birth parents do with open adoption. You may even wish to receive updates over the years to see and learn about your child’s progress.

The semi-open adoption plan is defined by you, the expectant/birth parent. Typically, a semi-open adoption plan entails the following parameters:

• Birth parent chooses adoptive family
• Birth parent may decide to speak with – or meet – adoptive family before the adoption, to ensure the family is right for baby
• Birth and adoptive families maintain indirect contact
• No identifying information is revealed
• Everyone’s privacy is respected
• Ongoing communication is mediated through the adoption agency

Pros of a Semi-Open Adoption Plan

While fully open adoptions offer benefits for birth mothers, there are many pros of semi-open adoption, as well. The first benefit is having the right to choose your child’s adoptive family. This gives many expectant/birth mothers the peace of mind that their child is going to the right home. At a reputable adoption agency, like Adoptions With Love, adoptive families must complete the Home Study to adopt a child. This process takes several months to complete. It includes a thorough screening and background check, multiple home visits and interviews, and the review of important medical and financial documents. This ensures that each child is placed in a safe, stable, and healthy home.

Another benefit in choosing semi-open adoption is that your privacy, as the expectant/birth mother, will be respected for years to come. If you feel that a fully open adoption is too much, the semi-open adoption plan may fit your needs more appropriately.

With semi-open adoption, just like open adoption, birth parents receive updates on their child’s growth and progress throughout childhood. The way you receive these updates is typically through the adoption agency, but you may receive letters and photos as your child grows. This can continue to bring you a sense of peace and remind you that your child is in good hands. As with any type of plan you may choose, adoption gives birth mothers the freedom to pursue their own goals – professional and personal – while knowing their child is being raised in a healthy, happy, and loving home. Seeing your child experience all the joys that life has to offer – friendships, extracurricular activities, travel, and adventure – may bring you a sense of joy that you would otherwise go without.

Cons of Semi-Open Adoption

There are very few disadvantages of choosing a semi-open adoption. Still, you want to consider everything when facing a life-changing decision such as adoption. Here are some cons of semi-open adoption:

• Lack of relationships. Birth mothers in open adoptions often forge a strong bond with their child and their child’s adoptive family. With a semi-open adoption, you may not have direct contact and therefore cannot build relationships with these individuals.
• Lack of helpful information. Oftentimes, with a semi-open adoption, personal information is kept private. While this may be considered a benefit, it can also be considered a con. Family history can help adoptive families understand their children’s background and medical needs.
• Using a third-party liaison. Birth and adoptive families in fully open adoptions often enjoy direct contact because it simplifies the communication process. With a semi-open adoption, families are often going back and forth between their adoption agency. Adoptions With Love is happy to serve as that liaison, and you may find that you are more comfortable with this type of plan, but communication may take longer and feel a bit more formal this way.

Learn More About Your Adoption Options

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering your options, contact Adoptions With Love today. We can offer you commitment-free information, guidance, and support during this stressful time. No matter which type of adoption plan you choose, your adoption agency should be supportive.

Call us 24/7 at 800-722-7731, text us (confidentially) at 617-777-0072, or reach out to us online. We can help you with any type of adoption plan that meets your needs and makes you feel comfortable with your decision.