You Are Not Alone: The Process of Placing a Child For Adoption

If you have recently discovered you are pregnant, you may be feeling all kinds of things. Maybe you are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Perhaps the birth father does not want to help raise the child with you.

There are a lot of different reasons why birth mothers decide that adoption is the best option for them and their baby. It is a very emotional decision, and coming to that conclusion requires a lot of thought and consideration.

There are many other women out there who are going through a similar situation.

You are not alone, and there is a reason for hope as you begin to process what your next months and years will look like.

At Lifetime Adoption agency, we have worked since 1986 to help pregnant mothers find loving adoptive families for their babies. We help you build an open adoption relationship with the family you’ve chosen and provide you with the most up-to-date adoption information and choices.

Since our founding, we have received many questions from women just like you. We can help you make an adoption plan for your child and find the right family for your child to grow up with.

With that in mind, here are some of the questions we often hear from women in the same situation:

I’m pregnant and want to place my baby for adoption. How does the process work?

Here’s a short video that goes over the process…for a more in-depth answer, keep scrolling!

The modern open adoption process is not “giving your child up” or “putting a child up for adoption” and never seeing them again. Your Lifetime coordinator will help you create a custom adoption plan for your baby.

In fact, you can choose the parents that you want to raise your baby and the type of contact you wish to have with the family and your baby after the adoption is finalized.

You can also decide how you want things to go while you’re at the hospital. The first step is talking with a caring adoption coordinator at Lifetime Adoption. She will answer your questions and make sure you understand all your choices.

The next step is to choose a waiting adoptive family who is ready to adopt a baby. We work with families that are from all walks of life. That means we have families of all races, hobbies, and professions.

You can read and see videos from waiting families and decide who you want to get to know. We will help guide you through that process so you can be sure you are comfortable with your decision.

Once you are matched with an adoptive family, your coordinator will help you create an adoption plan with your decisions about the hospital. This will include your hospital plan (where you’ll be, who you want in the room, etc.). We will also go over health history information, pregnancy expense information, and talk about any other future plans or goals that you want to discuss.

You can also use this time to continue to get to know your baby’s adoptive parents. Once your baby is born, you will sign the legal papers for adoption. Most of the time, the baby will leave the hospital with the adoptive family you have chosen.

There is never a cost to you, and if you need help with your pregnancy-related expenses, just let your coordinator know.

My child is already born, and I want to place the child for adoption. Can I do that?

First, we will need to get to know your specific needs and your situation. Every adoption is different, and we want to be sure to gather the right information that will help you get your child to the right family.

We will talk about your child’s age, specific interests they have, and general behavior. We will need to gather things like a birth certificate, school records, and medical records from you about your child. You will also speak to one of Lifetime’s counselors about your feelings and emotions.

Next, you will need to fill out some paperwork, including some details about your child. Once all of the information is gathered, you will be able to start looking at adoptive parents who are looking for a child.

You can talk to one or more families; it’s up to you! This is your chance to get to know the families and determine which one is the best fit for your child.

If you are comfortable with moving forward with the adoption process with a certain family, you will be considered “matched,” and the adoption process can move forward.

An attorney will discuss the legal paperwork and answer any questions you have about the transition. Depending on the age of your child, a transition plan will be made that will ease the transition from your home to the adoptive parent’s care.

No matter what you decide as a birth mother, you can always remember that choosing adoption is a loving decision that gives your child the opportunity to grow and flourish in a loving environment.

Written by Mardie Caldwell Certified Open Adoption Practitioner

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.

Read More About Mardie Caldwell