Adoption is a lifetime decision, not a one-day event. It’s a serious choice that will affect you, your baby, and the adoptive family for the rest of your lives. You need to be confident that the couple raising your child will love and care for them the way you would if you could.
While every woman’s emotional reaction to adoption will be different, there are certain factors to consider that will help you understand what adoption might look like, including having someone else raise your baby.
Choosing Who Raises Your Child
Today, adoption is very different from a few decades ago. Now, it’s the expectant mother or birth mother who makes the decisions.
When you choose an open or semi-open adoption plan, you also have the opportunity to select the adoptive parents who will raise your child. Essentially, by choosing your child’s adoptive parents, you are shaping their future.
At A Gift of Hope Adoptions, your adoption counselor asks what qualities are important to you. Tell them about your priorities. What are the “non-negotiables” when choosing the adoptive parents?
The counselor shares portfolios of potential adoptive couples who match your specifications. All parents raise their children differently. Some are strict, some give their children extra freedom, and others are very protective. Everyone views parenting from their own life experience.
Take time to view the bios carefully, so you can get a sense of how they plan to raise your child. View some of our current waiting families. As you read about their lifestyles, you’ll learn a lot about their home, neighborhood, family, and background.
Begin Establishing a Relationship
You also need to determine how you want to interact with the adoptive family and your child. We recommend getting to know one another even before you give birth. Whether it’s an in-person visit or FaceTime, we’ll facilitate your meeting.
With an open adoption, you and the adoptive couple can contact one another directly through email, phone calls, texts, or letters. If you choose a semi-open or mediated adoption, we’ll handle the correspondence for you.
Regularly communicating with the adoptive family will reveal how they raise your child. Although they may choose to raise them differently, you’ll have the assurance that your child is loved and cared for.
It’s also vital for you to remain in your child’s life. Adoptees gain a greater sense of identity when they have a connection with their birth family, and your influence will be invaluable.
Talk With A Gift of Hope Adoptions
Facing an unexpected pregnancy can feel isolating, and perhaps family and friends won’t understand your reasons for considering adoption. At A Gift of Hope Adoptions, we’ll answer your questions and help you feel supported as you explore placing your child for adoption.
Fill out our confidential online contact form, and our adoption counselor will contact you so we can discuss the process. You are our priority.
This blog is for informational purposes only. This is not legal or medical advice. While we try our best to reflect current laws with accuracy at the time of writing, please note the laws can change over time.