The laws in every state are slightly different. However, there are some basic steps for birth mothers that are true wherever you live. These are the basic steps for how do you give a baby up for adoption:

1. Decide if you really want to have your baby adopted.
2. Create a plan for your adoption.
3. Find an adoptive family that you’re comfortable with.
4. Reevaluate your decision
5. Prepare for the hospital stay.
6. Maintain contact with the adopting family.

Deciding to have your baby adopted is not an easy decision You need to organize your thoughts and be certain that this is the right decision for you as you learn: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

You might want to sit down and create three lists. One list would contain all of the reasons that you want to keep this baby. The second list contains all the reasons that you would regret giving up this baby. If you are leaning towards keeping the baby, you may want to consider writing a third list. Write a list of strategies that might help you keep and support this baby. Think carefully. Could you do these things?

If you are still considering adoption, then you should begin searching for an adoption agency. Adoption agencies provide services and support to expectant mothers. They provide counseling and guidance.

A reputable agency is licensed and regulated by the state. Ask to see the agency’s license to make sure that it’s up to date. Working with a licensed agency will help keep you and your child from being exploited. Having a good agency on your side will make a huge difference as you begin the process of: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

Putting your baby up for adoption is a very emotional decision. Knowing that your child’s future is secure with a loving and caring family will help make this decision less traumatic. A sound plan will help to ensure your child’s future. The adoption plan is a large part of how do you give a baby up for adoption. It includes:

➢ Deciding on a closed or open adoption.
➢ Decide what values and characteristics you want your child’s parents to have.
➢ Begin viewing and exploring the profiles of potential adoptive parents.

Closed versus open adoption

Open adoptions are standard in the United States. Open adoptions allow birth parents to maintain contact with their child. The birth parents and the adoptive parents will agree on how much contact the birth mother will have. Contact usually includes letters and notices about the child’s achievements.

There are several advantages to open adoptions. The child grows up with a better sense of who they are and where they come from. In the case of medical issues, access is available to the child’s biological families’ complete medical history.

There are reasons that closed adoptions are favored by both birth parents and adoptive parents. Closed adoptions maybe favored my biological parents who just want closure. They may feel that continued contact with the child will be too difficult emotionally. Adoptive parents may favor a closed adoption. They may feel that it will keep birth parents from interfering with their family.

There are several disadvantages to closed the adoptions. If the child decides to seek out their birth parents, it may be a long, difficult and possibly expensive process to get the information from the courts. This decision is very important as you take the steps and learn how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Decide what values and characteristics you want in your child’s family

Ask yourself these three important questions and write the answers down:
➢ What type of family do you want your child to grow up in?
➢ What characteristics do you want your child’s parents to have?
➢ What values do you want your child to grow up with?

The answers to these 3 questions can serve as a guide as you begin looking at the biographies of possible adoptive parents and understanding: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

Begin viewing and exploring the profiles of potential adoptive parents

Keep these answers with you as you look at your options. Refer to these answers often. They will help guide you to a family that you will feel comfortable raising your child. Remember that you get to choose who will care for your baby and that is one of the most serious choices of your life. You will need this guidance as you learn: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

The adoption agency will have a listing of families looking to adopt a baby. Part of agency’s job is to help you find the right match for your baby. Do not get in a hurry and do not feel pressured. Finding the right family is an essential step in: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

After you have narrowed the choices down to a few families then you may want to interview these families. You should feel comfortable asking them about their childhoods and their current family lives. How much time will they spend with a child? What are their dreams and goals for the child? What are the parenting philosophies?

Now that you have chosen an adoptive family, depending on how open the adoption is going to be, you may be given opportunities to meet with and talk to the prospective parents. Take the time to get to know your child’s future family. Make certain that you are comfortable with them. Make certain that you are comfortable with the adoption. This is a crucial step in how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Do you feel comfortable with the open adoption? If over time the parents decide to quit sharing as much information will you about the child will you be comfortable with that?

During this time you may be overwhelmed by a huge amount of emotions. Mothers who give their children up for adoption generally experience a sense of loss. You may experience anger and depression. These are all normal emotions for a parent contemplating giving up their child for adoption. You may also experience joy and love for the child you’re carrying. You may experience relief that you have found a family that you trust.

All of these emotions are normal. The adoption agency will provide you with a counselor to help you work through your thoughts feelings and emotions. This is part of the process of how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Just like any new mother, you will want to prepare for your hospital stay. Make certain that your bags are packed and you have everything you need when it’s time to go to the hospital. Prior to delivering the baby arrangements with the hospital should be made for any special circumstances.

If it is an open adoption you may get to see your newborn child and breastfeed it while you’re in the hospital. If it is a closed adoption and you’re not going to see the baby, then you may want to make arrangements to be put on a regular hospital floor after delivering the baby. It is important to have all of these things decided and arranged before going to the hospital to deliver the baby. These decisions will help ease how do you give a baby up for adoption.

If it is an open adoption you may be able to maintain contact with the adopting parents. You may get regular updates on your child’s progress. The level of contact will be determined by the adoption agreement. Knowing that you can maintain contact with your child may ease your mind as you ponder: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

It is important to remember that once the adoption is completed although you are the biological mother the adoptive parents now have all parental rights. If you are allowed to actually see the child, is very important that you do not confuse the child with titles. Establishing an appropriate level of contact is very important in the process of how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Much of the focus when considering an adoption is on the mother. Everyone understands that her feelings and rights must be taken into consideration. Under the law of father has just as many rights to his child as a mother. The father deserves equal consideration when deciding: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

It is important to know the laws of your state regarding paternal rights. In every state, a father has the right to contest an adoption. Some states require that the mother notify the father about the pregnancy. Other states have putative father registries. These registries allow a man to report the women with whom he has had unprotected sex. If the woman files for adoption the father is automatically notified.

In order to ensure your child has a stable future, it is always best to notify the father. If the father finds out later about the child and the adoption, then he can sue for custody. This would disrupt your child’s life. It would also cause a lot of grief for the adopting family.

Even if your state does not require that you reveal your pregnancy, do not lie if the father asks you directly. Lying about your pregnancy can put you in legal jeopardy. If for some reason you are frightened to let the father know about the pregnancy the adoption agency or adoption attorney will notify the father for you. The father’s rights must be considered as you contemplate: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

Talking to your family about your decision to give your baby up for adoption can be a very difficult conversation. Sometimes in the middle of an emotional conversation, it is difficult to express all of your thoughts and feelings. If the people that are listening to you are also emotional this can interfere with communication. If you are not prepared this conversation can confuse you as you consider: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

Instead of a conversation sometimes it is better to write a letter. When you write a letter it gives you time to organize your thoughts and feelings. You more clearly express yourself. Adoption counselors can help you write a letter. They can also walk you through the conversation and help organize your thoughts. This process may even help you to clarify your feelings as you consider how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Your family is important to you. You certainly want to talk to them about your decision. However, at the end of the day, it is your decision. Your family cannot stop you from putting your child up for adoption. Support from your family will be comforting as you learn how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Some members of your family or friends may accuse you of being selfish. Maybe you are putting a child up for adoption because you really can’t afford to take care of them. Perhaps you have just reached the point that your career is taking off. You don’t feel like you would have the time for a child. If you don’t have the time or the resources to care for your child, then keeping that child would be selfish.

There are many couples who are desperate to have a child. They will dedicate their lives to loving and caring for your child. You are giving them the opportunity to complete their family. With all the work that you put into finding the perfect family, You are giving your child a chance to have a bright future. This is an act of selfless love for your child and for the adoptive parents. That is all any mother can do for her child. Remember this as you think about how do you give a baby up for adoption.

The financial assistance a mother receives when she gives up her child for adoption is different in every case. The laws about financial assistance to birth mothers are different in every state. There are some basic rules that apply. This is a consideration as you ponder: How do you give a baby up for adoption?

Your medical bills will be covered. If you have Medicaid or any other kind of insurance, the adopting parents will pay the difference between what your insurance pays and the medical bills. All of the medical bills from prenatal to postpartum will be covered.

Often a mother cannot work during pregnancy as much as she normally would. In consideration of this fact, the mother may receive money for living expenses while carrying the child. Living expenses covered may include groceries, housing, and even cell phones. This financial assistance will help ease the burden as you work on how do you give a baby up for adoption.

Giving your baby up for adoption is not an easy decision. You should not let anyone make this decision for you. Gather all the facts to make sure that you understand how do you give up a baby for adoption. Adoption agencies will provide counselors who will listen to you and help you reach the decision that is best for you. Everyone’s life and circumstances are different. Only you can really understand what you are going through. You need to use that understanding to make the best decision for you and your child as you consider: How do you give a baby up for adoption?