Choosing To Expand Our Family

Placing a baby up for adoption can be a difficult and emotional decision. If you choose this route, ensure you have the right information before making this big life decision.

Here are three questions you should ask before you put your baby up for adoption.

What Are Your Adoption Options?

Before deciding to place your child up for adoption, you need to know what your options are. There are different types of adoptions, including open, semi-open, and closed adoptions.

An open adoption allows adopters and birth parents to have ongoing contact with each other through letters, phone calls, or even in-person visits.

Semi-open adoptions involve some contact between the birth parents and the adoptive family but only through an intermediate agency like an attorney or facilitator. Lastly, closed adoptions are when all communication between the birth parents and the adoptive family is entirely confidential, and there is no exchange of identifying information between them.

Knowing what type of adoption you prefer will help you warm up to the idea of adoption and make sure your wishes are respected.

What Support Services Are Available to You?

Many people may not know this, but there are support services available to assist you throughout this process –– from counseling to medical care to legal advice. A good adoption agency understands the emotional and physical stress that can come with placing a baby for adoption.

They will often provide counseling both pre- and post-placement, which can be helpful in understanding any feelings of guilt or regret afterward, as well as making sure all of your questions are answered prior to signing any paperwork.

You also need to make sure you feel comfortable with the agency or lawyer who will be handling your case so that you can trust they have your best interests in mind. Look at their record and reviews from other clients to get an idea of what their services are like.

How Can You Prepare For This Decision?

Before you decide whether or not adoption is for you, you need to first educate yourself about the process, the laws specific to where you live regarding adoptions, and the potential effects it will have on you and your baby's life going forward. If you feel comfortable, you should also consider talking to other birth parents who have placed their child for adoption or those who are considering the same decision.

Doing research on these topics beforehand will help ensure that when it comes time to make a decision, it will be an informed one backed by solid knowledge, so you don't feel overwhelmed later on. Talk to an adoption counselor or agent to get a clearer picture of exactly what this process will look like for you.