Question: “I’m so embarrassed to confess this, but I used recreational drugs during my pregnancy. I’m thinking about adoption but worried that it’s not a choice I can make. Are there any couples who’d want to adopt a baby who’s mom used drugs?”
Check out this short video to learn the answer, and about your choices with open adoption if you’ve used drugs during your pregnancy:
Can I make an open adoption plan if I have used drugs? from Lifetime Adoption on Vimeo.
We’ve worked with a number of women who’ve used drugs during their pregnancy. Even if you’ve used drugs while pregnant, Lifetime can help you find an adoptive family that will give your child a loving home. You’re able to create an open adoption plan, where you have contact with the family and your child as they grow up.
Lifetime has all of our potential adoptive families pre-screened, and we ask them if they’re open to prenatal drug and alcohol use. Just be honest with your Adoption Coordinator about what you used and when. That way, we can match you with a couple who’s open to it. When you share the truth, it’ll make it so that the adoptive family is able to find the right resources to support and raise your child. In order for the adoptive family to parent your baby successfully, they’ll need all the available info from you, including your medical history.
If the adoptive couple knows that your baby was exposed to drugs, it preps them for the care of your baby post-delivery. Sharing about your drug use with the hospital staff too will prepare them to help your baby transition off the drugs post-delivery.
In addition to helping you find an adoptive family, Lifetime can also connect you with the support you need. It can be difficult to stop using, especially if you started before you got pregnant. Even when you know that quitting is best for your baby, support is needed. Lifetime can refer you to a licensed therapist. Also, some adoptive families are able to help you out with medical costs.
If you’re thinking of an adoption plan for your baby, just call Lifetime Adoption, and we’ll let you know what’s needed to get started.
Just call us at 1-800-923-6784, email a caring adoption coordinator, or chat live on our site LifetimeAdoption.com.
As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
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