Approximately 120,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. Adoption allows the birth mother to continue pursuing her life’s path while providing a beautiful opportunity for her child to grow up in a loving, safe, and supportive environment. Still, many women struggle with the idea of placing their child with a new family. Sadly, some even choose abortion over adoption in part because they cannot get past their struggle with one or more of the following concerns.
“My child might get placed with a mean family.”
The process of becoming an adoptive parent is extremely time-consuming, invasive, and costly. For adoptive parents, the process often includes criminal background and mental health checks, mandatory classes and pre-adoption counseling, financial reviews, and more. And private adoptions often cost tens of thousands of dollars. This is all to ensure that only fit families who are truly capable and dedicated to providing a loving home are matched with adoptable children.
“I’ll always wonder what happened to my baby.”
Adoptions don’t always require losing all contact with your baby. In fact, as the birth mother, you have the right to choose how much access you will have to your child throughout his or her life. By establishing an open or semi-open adoption agreement with the adoptive parents, you leave the door open to an ongoing relationship with your baby and the adoptive family. This could include regular visits with your child, simply receiving photos and updates from the adoptive family, or something in between. The choice is yours.
“People will think I’m a bad person for placing my baby for adoption.”
There will always be people who second-guess the decisions we make in life. It’s easy for them to judge when they’re not walking in your shoes. Only you, however, truly understand your circumstances. Getting pregnant doesn’t suddenly make you emotionally, financially or physically capable of providing a safe, happy home for a child. But there are others out there who are. Approximately 2 million couples in the U.S. are currently waiting to adopt a child. They will recognize and appreciate – as will anyone else who truly knows and loves you – that you are making a huge sacrifice to provide your baby with the best life possible.
If you or someone you love is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, it’s important to understand all your options. At Sira, our counselors will listen to your specific concerns, answer questions, and help you choose the best option for you.
Contact Sira in Gainesville today at 352-377-4947.