There are three different adoption plans: open, semi-open, and closed. As the expectant mother or birth mother, you choose the right plan for you. If you are interested in having a relationship with your child and their adoptive parents, choose an open or semi-open adoption plan.
What Is An Open Adoption?
Open adoption means you and the adoptive couple you choose exchange identifying information. Both parties fill out a Potential Contact Form stating the amount and type of contact comfortable for them. Each form asks similar questions about the future relationship you hope to have with one another. If your answers line up, you and the potential adoptive couple could be a match.
You can choose to meet the couple before giving birth, have them come to the delivery room, or wait to meet them when it’s time for placement. It takes time to build your relationship, but with honesty and understanding, it will grow. To learn more about the Potential Contact Form, read “How To Set Terms And Communicate In An Open Adoption.”
The Benefits Of Open Adoption For The Birth Mother
Deciding to place your child for adoption is one of the most complex decisions you will ever make. Only you know your situation. You alone should decide if adoption is right for you and your child. For many women, having an open adoption gives them these benefits:
- The opportunity to be a part of your child’s future
- Confirmation your child is safe and loved
- The chance to explain to your child why you chose adoption
- Providing your child a deeper understanding of their family and medical history
- Answer questions your child may have
The Benefits Of Open Adoption For The Child
Adoption is not only difficult for a birth mother, but it can also be hard for your child. As they grow up, they realize their situation is different. By choosing open adoption, you can help them understand the bigger picture. Open adoption gives your child these benefits:
- Comfort from knowing you chose to place them out of love
- A sense of belonging as they get to know you and possibly other members of your family
- The opportunity to ask questions openly
- Identity and worth without having to search for you
- Access to important medical information
- The chance to have a larger family with siblings, and half-brothers and sisters
What Is It Like Knowing The Adoptive Family?
Every situation is unique because everyone has a different personality. As the birth mother or expectant mother, you choose the family to raise your child. If a completely open adoption plan is essential to you, find a potential adoptive couple who feels the same.
In the beginning, birth parents and the adoptive couple often feel an awkward tension. It’s understandable. A birth mother worries the adoptive family won’t recognize her importance. The adoptive family fears the relationship will be too confusing for their child.
In the end, your child will have a wide circle of love surrounding them, and you can take comfort knowing you made the right decision.
How Are Couples Qualified To Adopt?
Potential adoptive couples undergo a tremendous amount of screening before qualifying
to adopt. In addition to submitting background clearance for police and child abuse, they must provide health and financial records, agree to a Home Study, and fill out a personal profile. This screening assures a birth mother that the adoptive couple will raise her child in a safe, secure, and loving home.