You can make an adoption plan at any time during or after your pregnancy. However, the earlier in
your pregnancy you begin to
consider your options
(parenting, temporary care or adoption), if you choose adoption—the more time you will have to
locate a family
and reflect on your choice.
While the conversation may be a hard one, you should
tell the father of the baby
about the pregnancy and see if he agrees with an adoption plan. You should also
talk to your family
to find out if they would be supportive and help raise the child, should you decide to parent and how they would
feel about your making an adoption plan.
Once you have these answers—if you still have decided to make an adoption plan—you should
talk through your options
with an Adoption Advisor.
Your Adoption Advisor will want to review all of your options—PARENTING, what supports would
be available to you; TEMPORARY CARE, such as foster care or kinship care where a family
member cares for your child; ADOPTION and ABORTION. They will help you sort through your
feelings on each option. You may have one meeting or a series of meetings.
ANLC provides this counseling to you at no cost. Some community social services offer free or low
cost counseling. Other adoption attorneys may meet with you initially for no cost, with your legal fees
being paid for by the adopting family, should you move forward with an adoption plan.
While you may make an adoption plan during your pregnancy, you will not sign any papers until after
the birth of the baby. Your attorney or Adoption Advisor will explain your State adoption laws, as well
as those of the State in which the prospective Adoptive Parents reside. They will also explain how
the adoption process works, the
baby's father's rights
and your options to
find a family for your baby.
Should you choose to parent and later decide you want to make an adoption plan, you can do so at
anytime. Contact Adoption Network anytime to look into making an adoption plan.
Making an adoption plan should not be done without looking at all your options and taking the time to
consider what life would be like if you parent, arrange temporary care, have a family member care
for your baby or make an adoption plan. If an adoption plan, will you want choose the adopting
parents and what type of relationship will you want with them? Will you want or see your child
after they are placed
into the adoptive home? Do you need help and what assistance is available to you?
Take the time you need to make this decision and get the support you need from family, friends and
the professionals there to help you.
