Understanding Adoption
Adoption is a great choice when you do not want to have an abortion, but raising your baby is not an option. Often misunderstood, adoption is very different than it used to be. Today, it is a way to be a mother without day-to-day responsibilities.
Questions About Adoption
Several decades ago, a mother was told she was “giving away” or “giving up” her child when she chose adoption. Today, nothing can be further from the truth. You select the right adoption plan for you (and the birthfather, if he is involved) and your child. You are in the driver’s seat. You decide everything.
Like every choice regarding your unexpected pregnancy, adoption is not an easy decision. It’s a process that can last months as you decide what type of family you are looking for, how much interaction you would like to have, and how much information you wish to share. Remember, no one can ever pressure you to make an adoption plan.
You may be asking yourself a lot of questions, such as:
- Is financial assistance available?
- When do I have to decide?
- What if the baby’s father doesn’t want to make an adoption plan?
- Am I allowed to change my mind?
If you’re wondering how to begin the process, contact Mosaic Health here. We’ll answer your questions and help you get started.
The 3 types of Adoption Plans
No matter what type of adoption plan you choose, you will have the opportunity to review potential couples’ adoption portfolios to find the right family.
Open Adoption
Open adoption means you and the adoptive family exchange all identifying information. Once you’ve chosen a family, you may have the option to meet them before giving birth. After the baby is born, you can have complete access to one another through face-to-face meetings, phone calls, texts, and letters. If both parties agree, you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of the child’s life, build a relationship with the family, and even participate in life events.
Closed Adoption
In a closed adoption, your identity remains completely anonymous. You still choose the adoptive family, but you’ll have no interaction with them before or after the birth. No identifying information is given to either the birth family or the adoptive family. There is complete privacy. Only after the child is an adult can they attempt to find you.
Semi-Open Adoption
Very few adoptions are completely closed today, but the plan you make needs to be what is best for you and your child. Sometimes, the best option is to have a semi-open adoption. This means your communication will be through a third-party adoption professional. You choose how much information and contact you want to share and receive. Any visits are also scheduled and supervised by the adoption professional.
Choosing Adoption
If you choose adoption, Mosaic Health will connect you to local, reputable experts who have you and your baby’s best interests in mind and can help you along your adoption journey.