Is Adoption the Right Choice for You?

If you’re weighing adoption, some of what you’ve heard about it may be out of date. Maybe someone told you that placing a child means losing them for good, or that adopted children grow up struggling. Those ideas don’t necessarily reflect how adoption works today because a lot has changed.

You can choose an open or semi-open plan that keeps you in your child’s life, with letters and photos. Research shared through the Child Welfare Information Gateway suggests that this kind of openness can give a child a stronger sense of identity and belonging.

No matter the decision, adoption is a significant choice, and that’s exactly why we want to surround birth mothers with counseling and support before, during, and long after a placement.

How Much Contact Do You Want to Have?

One of the biggest choices in an adoption plan is how much contact you’d like with your child and their adoptive family. You decide what feels most comfortable, and with an open or semi-open plan, you also choose the adoptive family yourself.

There are three plans to consider.

Open Adoption

Open adoption is the most common plan today. After reviewing profiles, you choose the family you want to raise your child. Once you’re matched, you and the adoptive family can share names and contact information and begin building a relationship right away.

Semi-Open Adoption

If you’d like ongoing contact but want to keep some privacy, a semi-open plan may fit. Communication runs through a third party, usually your adoption agency, which can also arrange and oversee any visits.

Closed Adoption

Some women feel this plan is safest for their situation. A closed adoption keeps everyone anonymous. The agency selects the adoptive family, and there is no contact.

Reasons Women Choose Adoption

Every situation is different, but research from Baylor University points to a few common reasons expectant women choose adoption:

• Limited family support
• Timing and resources
• Not feeling ready to parent
• Little or no relationship with the birth father
• A difficult or unsafe relationship with the birth father

Where to Go From Here

While Warrenton Pregnancy Center does not facilitate adoptions, we want to be a resource as you consider adoption. We’re glad to point you toward trusted adoption services, and we encourage you to talk with each one before deciding.

If you’d like to think through what adoption might look like for you, schedule an appointment to talk with us. We’re here for you.

Warrenton Pregnancy Center does not facilitate or refer for adoptions; we provide information and support as you consider your options.