Becoming pregnant unexpectedly can be a surprise that can cause a mix of emotions. You may be feeling nervous about what the next few months and years will look like. You might also feel scared that you are not ready to be a parent.
Having a child changes your life, and it is okay to recognize that it may be something that you are not ready for.
In situations like this, adoption can be a wonderful option. Many women contact us, saying “I’ve been thinking about putting my baby up for adoption.” If you have been thinking about it, too, then adoption can be a very wise and healthy choice — not only for you but for your baby as well.
Our caring adoption coordinators at Lifetime Adoption understand the fear and uncertainty you might feel as you consider adoption.
Our domestic open adoption agency allows you as the child’s birth mother to determine how you will remain in contact with your child and their adoptive family as the child gets older. In other words, you select your baby’s adoptive parents, and you can choose to have contact with them and your child in whatever way you feel comfortable.
Creating an adoption plan with Lifetime lets you talk with the parents before your baby is born, to get to know them and decide what this contact will look like in the future, so everyone is on the same page.
Open adoption has a variety of benefits for you, the adoptive parents, and your child.
Your child knows their story.
Every person has a story, and your child has one, too. A child placed in an open adoption will know that you chose adoption out of love and care for their future. You, as well as their adoptive family, can emphasize this fact to the child from Day 1.
Your child will not be confused about who their parents are but will instead have a story that is marked by supportive and loving adults who always want what is best for them.
Your child will maintain a connection with adults who support them.
The bond that children feel with their parents — both birth parents and adoptive parents — is very real. Maintaining the connection that you have as a birth mother, as well as the connection that they have with the adoptive family, is an important part of raising a strong, secure child who knows they are loved unconditionally.
As your child grows up and starts asking questions about their background or their medical history, you and the adoptive parents can work together to maintain a strong support system. This way, your child gets their questions answered in a direct, yet compassionate way.
Your worry will be relieved.
Thinking about raising a child can be overwhelming. It can cause anxiety, stress, and worry. Birth mothers that had a closed adoption, meaning they did not contact or communicate with their child, often report that they feel a deeper sense of grief. That is one reason closed adoption is rare today.
However, women who choose open adoption experience less worry or regret. This is because they know they will be able to have communication with the adoptive family and child. They have peace of mind knowing that their child is being raised by an adoptive family that loves them unconditionally.
You can create an adoption plan that works for you.
You get to choose who gets to raise your child. When it comes time to arrive at the hospital for the birth, you can decide how you want things to go. You can choose to have the adoptive family in the room with you or not. You can hold and see your baby. You make the choices.
With open adoption, you have rights as the birth mother that you may not have in other forms of adoption. You get to make important decisions, both for you and your baby. Our caring adoption coordinators will work with you to make a plan that includes everything that is important to you.
Open adoption gives you the opportunity to know that your child is safe, happy, healthy, and loved. This can give you the peace that you need to place your child into the loving arms of a family that is ready to love and raise a child.
Our team is committed to helping adoptive parents and birth parents work together to ensure you are comfortable with your decision. Our adoption professionals will answer any questions that you have along the way, too. We have lots of adoption services and resources for you on a variety of topics, including finding a family for your unborn child; questions about the birth father’s rights; and the adoption process in general.
Once your baby is born, we will continue to support you. And we can also help you discuss your decision with family and friends.
Lifetime Adoption has been helping women since 1986. So if you’re wondering, “How do I put my baby up for adoption?”, call and speak with a caring adoption coordinator today at 1-800-923-6784.
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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