Becoming pregnant unexpectedly can be stressful. And that overwhelming feeling only increases if you’re pregnant and addicted to drugs.
Even if you’re pregnant and addicted to drugs, we can still help you create an adoption plan. Lifetime is not here to judge you for using drugs during pregnancy.
If you do choose adoption, know that there’s an adoptive family out there who would love to adopt your baby, substance abuse issues or not. Whether you have used in the past or are using now, it does not affect whether or not you can make an adoption plan.
The First Steps to Adoption
When a pregnant woman contacts Lifetime for the first time, she is connected with her own Adoption Coordinator. This woman will be her main point of contact during her entire pregnancy and adoption process. In this one-on-one relationship, her Adoption Coordinator will provide her with info about how adoption works, show her profiles of hopeful adoptive parents, and help her complete the necessary paperwork.
Be Honest
Be HonestWhen working with Lifetime, we encourage you to be as open and honest as you can about any drug abuse. This allows us to help you find the right adoptive parents for your baby. There aren’t any adoption requirements that would prevent you from being able to make an adoption plan for your baby due to drug usage. So, there’s no need to keep your substance use a secret.
Access to Free Prenatal Care
If a woman reaches out to Lifetime early enough in her pregnancy, her Adoption Coordinator can also help her get prenatal care. If she doesn’t have health insurance, she may qualify for Medicaid or low-cost coverage. Lifetime can help in gathering health insurance info, as well as resources to help create a healthy pregnancy.
Your Information is Confidential
Know that the information you share about being pregnant and addicted to drugs will not lead to a penalty or legal consequences. The information shared in your paperwork helps Lifetime to match you with an adoptive couple who are prepared to accept any substance use-related challenges a child may have.
As an example, some couples are better equipped than others to adopt a baby from a woman who was addicted to pain pills during pregnancy. There’s no judgment passed about substance usage. A woman who chooses adoption for her baby is making a brave, selfless decision, despite their situation.
But Will Anyone Want My Baby if I’m Addicted?
But Will Anyone Want My Baby if I’m Addicted?You might have come to this blog wondering “I’m a pregnant oxy addict; what about my baby?” Or, maybe you’re asking, “Can I adopt my baby out if I am addicted to meth?”
If you decide to proceed with an adoption, your Adoption Coordinator will help you find an adoptive family who’s comfortable with handling the possible effects that OxyContin or methamphetamine exposure could have on a newborn. No matter what your substance abuse issue is, we will work to find the right family for your baby.
Lifetime Adoption won’t judge you, and neither will the adoptive families. Many adoptive parents recognize that trying to give your child the best life possible while addicted is extremely difficult and honorable. You’re doing what’s ultimately best for your child, which deserves respect.
The Benefits of Adoption
The Benefits of AdoptionYou might be asking yourself, “Why should I place my baby up for adoption?” The answer depends on your unique situation. No matter what your lifestyle, adoption can benefit you and your baby. Here are three of the main benefits of adoption:
- You may be eligible to get financial help for your pregnancy-related expenses. Depending on which state you live in, the adoptive family you match with can help you out with rent, utilities, groceries, health expenses and more.
- You’re able to select your baby’s adoptive parents. Your Adoption Coordinator is here to help you to decide the kind of life you dream of for your child. She’ll make sure that you find a family who is capable of providing this life.
- You can remain in contact with your child and develop a relationship. By selecting an open adoption, you’ll be able to watch your child grow up. You can have as much contact with your child you wish, according to the plan that you agree upon with the adoptive parents.
To get free, anonymous guidance on choosing adoption when you’re pregnant and addicted to drugs, please call Lifetime Adoption at 1-800-923-6784.
Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P., is nationally recognized as an expert on open adoption. A Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P.), Caldwell is the founder of Lifetime Adoption Center, established in 1986. She has assisted in over 2,000 successful adoptions and was one of the first adoption professionals on the Internet.
Caldwell’s life work is dedicated to educating and helping birth parents find the right adoptive parents for their child. She spreads the word about modern adoption through speaking appearances, webinars, online resources, and as a podcast show host.
She has written several award-winning books, including So I Was Thinking About Adoption, the first book of its kind. There are many reasons women choose adoption, and this short book is a comprehensive resource to make the best plan for you and your baby. Caldwell wrote So I Was Thinking About Adoption as a handy guide to the details of the adoption process.
Caldwell has made over 150 media appearances, including ABC News, CBS News, Larry King Live, CNN Headline News, NBC’s The Today Show, CNN’s The Campbell Brown Show, NBC News, KGO Newstalk Radio, CNN’s Black in America II, MSNBC, Fox, PBS, BBC, and Dr. Laura.
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