If you are faced with an unplanned pregnancy, you may already be considering adoption. The reality is, many women overlook adoption when they are unexpectedly pregnant. Adoption has changed a lot over the years. It used to be referred to as “giving up” your baby. Today, you are in complete control. You have the power to customize your adoption plan to best suit you.
Types of Adoption
As the birth parents, you get to choose the adoption plan that is right for you. Depending on what level of communication you would like to have with the child and adoptive family, you get to dictate what the relationship looks like.
Open Adoption
Open adoption allows for open communication between you, the adoptive family, and the child. Before and after the adoption goes through, you will be able to directly communicate with the adoptive family. After the adoption, you have the option to build a relationship with the adoptive family and the child. This could include visitation, emails, phone or video calls, and other forms of communication. The adoptive family knows who you are, has your name and contact information.
Open adoption can be the best option for those who are not ready to be a parent but still would like to be involved in the child’s life.
Semi-open adoption
Often referred to as a meditated adoption, communication in a semi-open adoption is all done through an adoption agent. Names and contact information is not shared between you and the adoptive parents. After the adoption, the adoptive family can send updates about the child through the adoption agent and then it is forwarded to you.
Semi-open adoption can be the happy medium between an open and closed adoption. If you want to still know how the child is doing, but do not want to be contacted directly.
Closed adoption
Closed adoption does not allow for any communication between you and the adoptive family. Once the adoption is final, there will not be any contact. Contact information will not be shared between you and the adoptive family.
This is the best option for those who feel the separation can help them move forward from this chapter of their lives.
Interested in adoption? We can help!
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering adoption, we can support you. We can answer questions about adoption and provide referrals to adoption agencies. Contact us today!