Adoption is the process of giving the responsibility of parenting your child to another family. An adoption permanently transfers all legal rights to the adoptive parents.

Adoption has changed over the last couple of decades, giving birth mothers more options when it comes to contact with the child, privacy and more. If you are considering adoption, you have choices when it comes to the type of adoption. You have the ability to choose an adoption plan that fits your situation and needs. It’s important that you seek information and support, but the decision is personal and only you know what’s best for you.

Reasons for Choosing Adoption

You may be considering adoption for the following reasons:

• You don’t want to have an abortion, but also aren’t ready to raise a child
• You feel as if you are not mature enough to raise a child
• You don’t have the proper support system to care for a child
• You want your child to be raised in a loving, two-parent household
• You want to focus on your education or career path
• You are not in a relationship with someone you want to parent a child with
• You don’t have a stable home environment or place to raise a family

Any of these reasons are valid for considering adoption. Only you can make this decision for yourself! Just know that choosing adoption will give your baby a loving home and a chance to grow and flourish in a family who loves him or her very much.

How to Help Yourself Decide if Adoption is Right for You

Before you make your decision, think about your relationships, financial situation, school, work, goals, personal beliefs, and the well-being of your child. Every situation is different. You are the only one who knows what is best for you and your child.

To help with your decision, consider these questions:

• Are you comfortable letting another family parent your child?
• Can you care for this child now?
• How will you feel if you are able to see the child a couple times per year?
• What is the best decision you can make for your child?

There are a lot of questions to ask yourself and there is a lot of information to consider. It’s okay to feel stressed and confused as you attempt to decide. The best thing you can do is to talk to people you can trust and find the most accurate information. Then it is ultimately up to you to decide.

Types of Adoption

You have several types of adoption to choose from when considering an adoption plan. Will it be open, semi-open, or closed? Will it be private or will you use an agency?

Open

If you choose an open or semi-open adoption plan, you can know your child and be a part of your child’s life to an extent. Open adoption is a broad term that means you and the adoptive family will have access to each other’s personal information and have the option to contact each other. In a fully open adoption, all types of contact are shared, including personal visits, without the mediation of an adoption professional. In all forms of open adoption, the adoptive parents will hold all the rights as legal parents.

Semi-open

A semi-open adoption can involve contact between you and the adoptive parents, but it is all mediated through an adoption professional. The parents share little if any contact information if they choose. This type of adoption can become more open if both parties agree to exchange more personal information.

Closed

If you choose a closed adoption, your privacy and the privacy of the adoptive family are protected and you won’t have contact with the family or child during or after the process. Your record as biological parent will be kept sealed. This effectively prevents you and your child from finding out about each other.

There are unique reasons, based on the individual, that make each option a good fit for a woman’s adoption plan. What works for someone may not be what you want and that’s okay. At Pathway to Hope, you have the opportunity to explore each option and how it will affect your life. Remember, it’s your choice!

Let us help you understand your adoption options. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable staff members.