Making the choice to place your baby for adoption can be exceptionally brave and beautiful. When pregnant women come to this difficult decision, it’s usually to ensure their babies get a better upbringing than they feel they can provide right now. Each year, thousands of women make this noble choice and create a plan that will allow their babies to grow and be loved in a warm, caring and safe home.
So, how does the process work?
1. Consider your options
The first thing to do is to really consider your options, and if possible, talk to your loved ones. You may find family members, close friends or the baby’s father are actually eager to help you raise your child. If so, raising your child yourself may become a viable option for you, or perhaps one of those people will be willing to raise the child.
2. Talk to a pregnancy counselor
If adoption still feels like the right path, the next thing to do is to talk with a pregnancy counselor. She will be able to help you understand your adoption options, answer your questions and connect you with the right people and resources.
3. Create an adoption plan
Together with your adoption counselor, you will create an adoption plan outlining the type of family you want your child placed with, whether you want to receive regular updates from the adoptive family, how much communication, if any, you want with your child, and other considerations.
4. Select the perfect adoptive family
With the group of potential adoptive families narrowed according to the criteria of your adoption plan, you can then work with your adoption counselor to select the perfect family. In many cases, you can view their video profiles, read their letters, meet them in person and get to know them through the course of a few weeks.
5. Take care of yourself throughout your pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and it can come with a lot of costs. To encourage a healthy pregnancy, Florida adoption laws state that during the pregnancy and for up to six weeks after, a birth mother may receive financial support in the form of, “reasonable living expenses […] including rent, utilities, basic telephone service, food, toiletries, necessary clothing, transportation, insurance and expenses,” as well as, “reasonable and necessary medical expenses.” This financial support can go a long way towards relieving some of your stress during this challenging time.
6. Deliver your baby
Once you are comfortable with the adoptive family you’ve chosen, you’ve worked out all the details, and the time is right, all that remains is to deliver your baby. As part of your adoption plan, you can specify if you wish to hold your baby for a while, or if you prefer for your baby to join her adoptive family immediately.
7. Live the next chapter
If you chose an open adoption or semi-open adoption, you will likely start receiving photos and recordings of your baby fairly soon. You may even be invited to spend time with your baby and the adoptive family. Many birth mothers and adoptive families become extremely close. If you preferred a closed adoption, you can rest easy knowing that your baby is growing up in a loving, supportive home.
If you are currently considering your pregnancy options, or know someone who is, contact Sira in Gainesville today at 352-377-4947. Our client advocates and counselors will listen patiently and without judgment, then talk with you about your pregnancy options, including the pros and cons of adoption. We offer help for today and hope for tomorrow.