4 Things to Know When Considering Adoption At Any Age in Missouri

December 29, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

4 Things to Know When Considering Adoption At Any Age in Missouri

By Katy Reagan

An unwanted or unplanned pregnancy can leave you scared and unsure of what to do. We know you want what’s best for the baby, but sometimes that can be hard to know. Whether you are in your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, or above, pregnancy takes a physical and emotional toll. If you are also unsure if you want to or can raise a child, adoption may be the best choice. Choosing to put a child up for adoption puts them in the loving, supportive home of your choice. Adoption Choices of Missouri can help you make the best decision for you and your child.

1. Adoption agencies near me in Missouri

Putting a child up for adoption is a difficult decision, but our Missouri adoption agencies are here to help. Private adoption is when a birth parent voluntarily puts a child up for adoption. You get to make the decisions and figure out what is best for your child.

The first step is to find adoption agencies near me. Adoption Choices of Missouri is a licensed adoption agency. No matter where you are in the state, we can provide you with support. We understand everyone’s situation is different and will never judge you or your decisions. We are only here to help you make decisions and advocate on your behalf.

Adoption agencies like ours will be with you every step of the way. We help you find medical care, a place to live, professional counseling, and financial support. You are not alone and won’t be at any point in the adoption process or beyond.

2. Adoption services help birth mothers create an adoption plan

Unsure of how to give a baby up for adoption? Adoption Choices of Missouri will work with you to create the adoption plan best for you and the baby. An adoption specialist, your Birth Parent Counselor, will meet with you to learn about your situation. They will give you all the paperwork outlining how you want your adoption to look and your financial budget.

You get to choose from adoptive family profiles. When you find the family that you believe will be best for the baby, you will be matched. From here, you will receive support from them to make the pregnancy and adoption easiest for you. This will be financial support and a place to live if you are in need. You get to choose the level of openness you want to have with the family. If you choose to, you can meet with the family and communicate with them throughout your pregnancy.

When your due date comes, a birth hospital plan will already be in place. This will outline the decisions you’ve made about birth and after. You can decide who is with you at the hospital and who has access to the baby. Your Birth Parent Counselor will be with you to advocate for you and your adoption plan. When you give your final consent, the baby will leave the hospital with the family you’ve chosen.

3. You have the right to be involved in the Missouri adoption process at any age

We want what’s best for you, and no one knows what is better than you. You make the decisions about you and the baby, and we make sure the process goes how you want. As the birth parent, you have the right to be involved in every step of the adoption process. It is our job to make sure you are comfortable with your decision.

When meeting with your chosen adoptive family, you get to decide if you want an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. An open adoption allows for full communication between you, the adoptive family, and the child. Through this, you can stay present in your child’s life without the responsibility of parenthood. A semi-open adoption allows for indirect communication through our communication channel ChildConnect. This line is confidential but gives you the opportunity to still connect with the family. A closed adoption contains zero communication with the adoptive family or your child.

These are all options we will help you pursue without judgment. Adoption Choices of Missouri will advocate for you and every decision you make.

4. Resources are available for you during and after the adoption

We know the physical and emotional effects of this process do not end when you leave the hospital. We make a promise from the beginning that you are not alone, and that does not change after birth. You will still receive the love, compassion, and support from your Birth Parent Counselor and our agency. We offer unlimited, free counseling sessions so that you can continue to heal. We will provide any resources necessary to get you through the adoption process. You and the baby will always be our top priority.

No matter your age, pregnancy can be a scary and overwhelming thing. If you are pregnant and considering adoption, you are not alone. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help you know all of your options and walk you through whatever choice you make.

Life After Placing a Baby for Adoption

December 26, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Life After Placing a Baby for Adoption

By Jordan Smith

After placing your baby for adoption, you may have mixed emotions about how to continue with your life. You are not alone; many birth mothers feel the same way after pregnancy and adoption. Adoption Choices of Missouri takes pride in offering much-needed support for you, and through our counseling, you can learn many coping skills for those negative emotions. There are also many things you could do after the pregnancy and adoption that would help bring your spirits back up and leave you feeling a lot better about yourself and your choice.

So what are some things you could do after the adoption to bring positivity and avoid being too hard on yourself?

Knowledge That Your NOT Alone Throughout Out Your Adoption

It is very important for you to know that you are not alone through the pregnancy and adoption process. Adoption Choices of Missouri has a wonderful staff dedicated to supporting you through your private adoption plan. Almost every birth mother has the feeling at the beginning of being alone and frightened with little to no resources. Our website is fully informed about the services we provide.

Adoption Counseling and Support

When it comes to your emotions throughout the adoption process, it is crucial that you recognize any negative emotions that may arise. Adoption Choices of Missouri has birth parent counselors that will help you cope with those emotions and to remind you that you have support. The birth parent counselor will be there for you throughout your pregnancy and adoption process. In addition, they are ready and loaded for any questions that you or the birth father may have.

Express Yourself through Your Adoption Journey

Communicating is one of the vital aspects during the process of your adoption plan, and without it, it can lead to confusion and other negativity. Your birth parent counselor is there for you to speak to them about your feelings. It is important to talk to your counselor about your feelings, and what could be bothering you so your adoption plan is a positive one.

Do Things You Enjoy

Doing things that you enjoy doing is something that would bring positivity into your daily life. For example, if it has been a while since you have gone to the movies with your friends or gone out to dinner with your family. These are things that will bring joy into your daily life and will help bring clarification that you have a support network.

If you are pregnant and considering adoption, here at Adoption Choices of Missouri, your needs and emotional state are very important to us. The counseling that we offer will help you cope with such emotions that arise when going through your adoption plan. In the end, when you learn to accept those emotions, it will bring you a positive future. Go out and be yourself and do stuff that is fun for you, and remember that you made the right decision. Just because you adopted out now, that does not mean you can’t start a family later on in life. There are a lot of reasons to adopt out your baby, and only you can make the right choice.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800.

Birth Mother Blog Putting baby up for adoption

Unwrapping Holiday Joy and Grief for Birth Parents of Missouri Adoptions

December 22, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Unwrapping Holiday Joy and Grief for Birth Parents of Missouri Adoptions

By Mitchell Kennis

“Giving my baby up” for adoption can be a tough enough decision as is. What would make your adoption more troubling is having it overlap with the holiday season. The holidays are a time of celebrating the warmth and love a family provides. The process of how adoption works then seems to contradict everything the holidays stand for. However, the opposite is actually true.

When you choose adoption, you are choosing to share the love by expanding your family. Why stop with your adoption when you can also share new holiday traditions with your adoptive family? With that in mind, here are some suggestions to make every holiday season one to remember.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800

Adoption Support for Birth Mothers

Birth mothers who said, “I’m considering adoption – I can’t take care of my baby” have more to worry about generally. The stress of the holidays certainly does not help with this. If you or someone you know is struggling with an adoption, we will urge you to reach out.

Don’t just ask for help from your immediate family but also from your local adoption agencies in Missouri. Remember: agencies have adoption specialists who can talk with you about the feelings you have during this turbulent time. In addition, it is never too early or late in the year to ask for assistance with your adoption. Adoption Choices of Missouri will be open throughout the holiday season to help with whatever you need.

Celebrating Adoption and New Traditions with Your Family

This is your first holiday season with your adoptive family. Or this is a few days before your pregnancy is due as you prepare to “adopt out my baby.” It doesn’t matter when you are in your adoption process when the holidays come around. What does matter is how you choose to use the festivities to best spread the joy of adoption. Creating a new family tradition to share with your adoptive family isn’t so difficult if you know where to start. So, here are four ideas to get you thinking in the holly mood.

1. White Elephant Adopted Baby Shower / Gift Exchange

It’s not news to suggest a gift-giving tradition for your adoptive family. Thoughts that turned you to put my baby for adoption in the first place help make this idea more unique. All you got to do is twist the tradition, so it is focused more on your adoptive child. Instead of a hat with the names of family members, write gift ideas on slips of paper for your shared child. Set a spending limit and then go about making the “Christmas morning experience” for your child something special.

2. Wreath Making to Weave Together an Adoption Process

Most everyone can appreciate the smell of fresh-cut garland on a porch or over a mantle. There are plenty of guides online for how to weave wreaths, both traditional and inspired. Of course, the setup (and cleanup) for having such a tradition could be a tad heavier than others. But the results provide a representation of the ties you share through your private adoption.

3. Ornament Painting with Your Missouri Adoption Family

Along the same vein of arts and crafts, you could suggest decorating ornaments for the holidays. If you’re family’s the type to have a holiday evergreen tree, then you know there are enough branches to fill. Not only that, but your adoptive child can grow up with a simple, fun tradition they, too, can participate in.

4. End-of-Year Photo Collage Feat. Pregnancy, Adoption, and Traditions

A tradition that can really show time’s passage is a photo collage of the two family’s years. This is a tradition that might be better started this year but only shared next holiday season. However, there can be a great exchange to be had of your pregnancy and how the adoptive family is preparing.

The benefits of this tradition are numerous. For one thing, there will be a reminder throughout the whole year of your connection with the adoptive family. Another benefit comes in the finished product (whether slideshow or album) that shows your family.

Unwrapping Holiday Joy and Grief for Birth Parents

The lights and cheer can make your adoption harder to bear. Know that even if you aren’t celebrating the holidays the same this year, that’s alright. From now on, your holidays will have double the warmth and love from your adoptive family connecting with yours. If you are in need of extra support, however, please reach out to us at Adoption Choices of Missouri. We are always available to talk with you about your adoption and the struggles coming with it.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800.

Adoption agencies in Missouri Birth Mother Blog

Looking for an Adoption Agency in Missouri?

December 19, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Looking for an Adoption Agency in Missouri?

By Rayna Batiste

Are you currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and are unsure of what your options are? Unplanned pregnancies can be scary, so Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help you make the best decision for you and your baby. We offer a range of services and options to all of our birth mothers to make this decision easier.

How Do I Start My Adoption Plan When Looking for an Adoption Agency in Missouri?

The first step of the adoption process is to contact us at Adoption Choices of Missouri. We will help you make an adoption plan and ensure that you have adequate financial and emotional support during this time. Once you make initial contact with us, we will arrange an in-person meeting with your adoption facilitator. We can meet you anywhere you are comfortable or via phone or video.

The next step of the adoption process is your adoption plan. An adoption plan is your plan for adoption. It details everything from the type of adoption you would like to your financial needs throughout your pregnancy. We will also help you find adequate prenatal care. Your health and the health of your baby are of the utmost importance during this delicate time.

We provide financial assistance to all of our birth mothers who qualify. This assistance covers expenses such as rent, groceries, and transportation. Pregnancy is difficult enough without your having to worry about basic necessities.

Different Types of Adoption

After we determine what your financial needs are and ensure that you have prenatal care, it is time for you to choose the type of adoption you would like. There are three main types of adoption: open, semi-open, or closed.

Open adoptions consist of open communication between you and the adoptive family. You can exchange emails, social media accounts, phone numbers, and addresses. Open adoptions also allow you to partake in quarterly or annual meetings with your child and their adoptive parents. Communication is mediated by your adoption facilitator in a semi-open adoption. Semi-open adoptions are similar to open adoptions, except all photos and updates are via your adoption facilitator. Closed adoptions involve no communication whatsoever between you and the adoptive parents. The only information they and your child will receive about you is your medical history. No one type of adoption is better than the other; the one you choose just depends on your personal preference.

Subsequently, you choose your child’s adoptive family. Your private adoption facilitator will provide you with a range of prospective adoptive parent profiles, and you will choose the best one based on the life you want your child to lead. Think about the kind of parents you want your child to have and how you would like him or her to be raised. Do you want them to have siblings? Do you care about how much money the adoptive parents make? Questions like these and others will help you make an informed decision.

Adoption Birth Plan

We will also help you make a birth plan in addition to your adoption plan. Your birth plan is specific to you and details how you would like your birthing experience to proceed. Birth plans describe the kind of birth you would like —vaginal or cesarean— who you want in the room with you during labor and delivery, and whether or not you would like to hold your child after you give birth.

What Kind of Post-Placement Support Do Adoption Choices of Missouri Provide?

In addition to all of the other services and resources we provide, we also provide post-placement support to all of our birth mothers. We pay your expenses for up to six weeks after you give birth and provide supportive counseling. Supportive counseling can be a one-on-one, group, or birth mother retreat; this also just depends on your preference. One-on-one counseling is great if you want to express your fears and concerns in a private setting. These sessions are 100% confidential. Group counseling and birth mother retreats are mediated by an experienced and licensed private adoption counselor. These types of sessions allow you to connect with other birth mothers and express yourself in a safe and secure environment.

Are You Looking for an Adoption Agency? Adoption Choices of Missouri is Here for You!

Adoption Choices of Missouri is your best option for all of your adoption-related needs in the state of Missouri. We take care of other birth mothers before, during, and after the adoption process. You are our primary concern, and we do our best to ensure you are taken care of.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

Using Birth Mother Support Groups To Make the Missouri Adoption Process Easier

December 15, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Using Birth Mother Support Groups To Make the Missouri Adoption Process Easier

By Mitchell Kennis

Adoption is not to be taken lightly. The process can be extremely taxing on birth mothers who weren’t prepared for the commitment and even those who were. So, there is no shame in asking for help or talking with others about how you are feeling. Joining a birth mother support group is a perfect option to depend on others who can really understand you. Support groups help birth mothers talk through their doubts and feel more comfortable with their choice for adoption.

What is an Adoption Support Group?

Let’s define what a support group is in general before getting into how adoption works with one. Support groups are individuals joined by similarly tough circumstances who talk through things and support one another. Each one is different in what ties its members together, but all work to take the stress off their shoulders. Some other distinctions can be the means of meeting and when, which can be online or in-person, weekly or monthly.

A birth mother or adoption support group works in a very similar way. Women who are planning on “giving my baby up for adoption” meet with others doing the same. Those who already have put their baby up for adoption can also join a group of mothers who did too. There are probably many local support groups to choose from; take time to pick the one right for you. Local adoption agencies in Missouri will be more than happy to help you find a group if needed.

A Few Ways Support Groups Can Make Adoption Easier

Let’s say you aren’t convinced you need a support group. It’s fair to be skeptical. After all, your adoption process is your own unique journey. However, a journey needn’t be taken alone. No matter what form your open or private adoption takes, there are things others can do to help. With that, here are three things that a birth mother support group can do to support you.

1. A Place to Relate to Others Choosing Adoption in Missouri

Groups created from a shared experience remain strong because of that commonality. You might be surprised how closely other birth mothers relate to your adoption story. Some women have gone through the mindset of “considering adoption – I can’t take care of my baby,” like you might’ve. Others will attest to your inconveniences of pregnancy. Still, Others could share your same adoption specialist, taste in music, or comfort food.

It is remarkable how many connections we can find with one another when looking for them. These bonds of similarity are bridges to trust and understanding. A support group can to help you by innately comprehending and sympathizing with where you are coming from. Your meetings can become a place to reflect on hard memories with the assurance others can relate.

2. A Space to Reside with Birth Mothers of Missouri Adoptions

The circumstances of pregnancy are not always ideal. An unexpected pregnancy leading into an adoption process is something perspectives from the outside don’t fully get. Birth mothers who say, “I need to adopt out my baby,” are sometimes heard but not understood. These scenarios can manifest in many ways, including a kind of alienation from one’s family or friends. An adoption becomes that much harder when you don’t have a space that feels considerate and safe.

A birth mother support group can play this role as a secondary home easily. You become a member of a community. A community that understands where you’re coming from, consoling you over dilemmas no one else fully gets. Other birth mothers who can just give you the comfort you need to relax.

Life will come to break up the meeting eventually. You can rest assured knowing this space will be there at the next meeting.

3. A Spark to Kindle Beyond Pregnancy

A dislodging of held friendships can come with the obligations of an adoption. There is power in choosing that “I’m going to put my baby up for adoption,” but others can’t fully appreciate that. After all, there are things you’d be giving up to do so, and your friends could be less than understanding about it. This doesn’t make anyone a bad friend, but sometimes pregnancy is viewed as an obstacle to fun.

Other birth mothers within your support group might not feel this way, however. Your meetings can provide the time to connect with these other women and make lasting friendships. Maybe you won’t find much outside of adoption that you can relate with them on, and that happens. A support group though provides an opportunity to talk with others you might not have otherwise. It is a time to compare show recommendations or vacation plans. Friendships can be as simple as that.

Now We’re All in this Together for Your Adoption in Missouri

It is easy to say you are doing fine when you aren’t. Conversations with strangers can often feel shallow in how much emotion they hide behind an “I’m good, how are you?” With a support group, that changes. You are part of a group that cares about how you really are and helping your recovery into actually good. Adoption Choices of Missouri would love to help find you a birth mother support group that gets you for you. It is never too late in the process to ask for help, and we’re always here to provide it.

It isn’t a bad option either to seek support with your adoption before finding a group. In such cases, your agency, Adoption Choices of Missouri, is here to serve birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

Adoption Terms You Must Know When Searching for Adoption in Missouri

December 12, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Adoption Terms You Must Know When Searching for Adoption in Missouri

By Wendy Swisher

An unplanned pregnancy causes a lot of emotions to rise up. You are not ready to be a parent and wonder how to put your baby up for adoption. Seeking pregnant adoption help can be overwhelming, especially understanding all the terms. The best thing to do is research adoption agencies near me or Adoption in Missouri and find an agency that will put the needs of you and your child first, like, Adoption Choices of Missouri. Our birth parent counselors will walk you through the adoption process and help you understand the adoption terms.

Positive Adoption Language

It is important to use Positive Adoption Language (PAL) during your adoption journey. The reason for this is the words we choose to use can have either a positive or negative effect on us. Words have power. They can make people angry, sad, happy, or frightened. Instead of saying adopt out my baby or giving my baby up for adoption, you can say placing your baby/child for adoption.

For example, using place baby instead of giving up for adoption gives a more positive outlook on the adoption. When negative words are used, they can take away from the meaning and experience of the adoption journey, and that is not acceptable. Using PAL takes power away from any people who choose to promote negativity towards adoption.

We need to start having honest conversations about the adoption experience and why it is such an amazing opportunity for not only the adoptive parents but the birth parents as well. Knowing adoption terms can help with the use of PAL. Below are some of the adoption terms you may hear and what they mean:

Missouri Birth Parent Adoption Terms

Birth mother – the person who gave birth to the child and is placing the baby or adoption
Birth Father – this is the biological father of the baby
Expectant mother – This is someone who is still pregnant and considering adoption

Adoptive Parent Adoption Terms

HAP – is an acronym for Hopeful Adoptive Parents. This is someone who is waiting to be matched or has been matched, but they are waiting for the placement of the child to go through.
Home Study – This is a process that the prospective adoptive parents go through and are informed about adoption and assessed to see if they are suitable to adopt a child
ICPC – Is an acronym for Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, which is a law that enforces uniform administrative and legal procedures that control the adoption of children between states in the United States.

Adoption Terms for Openness

Open adoption – This is where there is ongoing contact between the birth parents and adoptive family. Whether it is a meeting, letter, pictures, or phone call. The birth parents are able to get updates on their baby.
Semi-Open adoption – this is the middle between an open adoption and a closed adoption. Usually, no identifying information is given about either party, and all communication is done between a third party.
Closed adoption – This is where no identifying information is shared between the birth parents or adoptive parents. They never meet and will receive no updates on the welfare of their child.
Identifying information – this is information that can disclose the adoptive parent or birth parents’ identities.

Adoption Placement Terms

Relinquishment – Willingly terminating your parental rights
Revocation – The birth mother has a set time period in which she can revoke the adoption and gain custody of her child back. Now, this varies from state to state, and some states do not even have it. Usually, the birth mother has thirty days for revocation.
Decree of adoption – the finalization of adoption by a legal order

This may seem like an overload of adoption terms and a lot to process, but it will help you when you create your adoption plan. It will make the process a little less overwhelming and maybe make it a little less stressful. You have control of all decisions made for you and your child, down to what family gets the honor of loving your baby.

Adoption with Licensed Adoption Agency in Missouri

The adoption experience is special. You are choosing to give your baby opportunities that you may not have been able to provide.

If you are pregnant and considering adoption but need more information. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog Putting baby up for adoption

Ways to Handle the Holidays After Placement

December 8, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Ways to Handle the Holidays After Placement

By Jordan Smith

If you are a woman who is pregnant and considering seeking adoption, Adoption Choices of Missouri is a responsive and trusting agency to work with and provides full support through the pregnancy and adoption process. This is how adoption works, you would begin the adoption process with the step-by-step method, and there will be one on one guidance with a specialist.

First, you would need to reach out to Adoption Choices of Missouri, where you can text, call, or fill out an online form to begin the process. That can be on the phone, by video, or somewhere in person that is fitting for you. Adoption Choices of Missouri comes to meet you.

Here at Adoption Choices of Missouri, it is important for us to get to know your unique situation, which is then when we would create your adoption plan. You are in control of the viewing and choosing of the adoption family, and depending on how open you are, you can meet and communicate together until the baby’s due date. Before that, you will have developed your birth hospital plan, for when that time comes, your counselor will be with you to guide you.

When the baby leaves the hospital, it will be with the adopted family, and your final consent will be given. The support does not end there. After the adoption, there will be minimum communication from the adopted family in regard to the baby via pictures and/or letters if you so choose. depending on your level of openness.

The Holidays are Coming Up. How do I Cope After Placing My Baby for Adoption?

Going through the process of adoption may seem simple in its methods, but emotionally, it could affect you negatively. The negative thoughts of “Giving my baby up for adoption” or “Adopt out my baby because I can’t take care of it” are thoughts that could hurt you psychologically. With the holidays approaching, we are to be joyous and thankful, but negative thoughts could affect our ability to do so. Here will be shared a number of ways you can work through any negativity and focus more on the positive of making a hard but respected decision. It is important that you know that the birth mother will always be respected and dignity at this adoption agency, and learning positive coping skills is also important. So, what can you do to enjoy the holidays after an adoption?

1. Accept Your Emotions:

When a specific emotion arises, it is important to acknowledge and feel that emotion. Accepting these emotions means avoiding the burden of putting those negative emotions aside to never face them. Recentering yourself by sitting calmly and taking some deep breaths will also benefit you during this time of recovering after pregnancy and the adoption process.

2. Develop a Safe Space:

Find a space in your home where you are most comfortable with privacy. This could be where you perhaps stop to recenter and do your breathing exercises. Having a designated safe space helps give you security when any negative emotions come up. This space could also be used for meditation and/or imagination enhancement as well, along with being a nice calm space after a pregnancy.

3. Surround Yourself with Loved Ones

Being around those you love can bring warmth to your heart, which would be very beneficial after your pregnancy and adoption. Having your support network be there for you during this time could bring positivity to you and reassure you of the decision you made. To go through an unplanned pregnancy and the process of adoption, it is a blessing during the holidays to have family and those you love to be with you.

There you have it, a number of ways to cope with your emotions during the holidays. It can be tough to go through pregnancy and to make the decision to adopt, but in the end, only you know the right choice to make. During the holidays, it could add some overwhelming emotions on top of that, so try and accept those emotions to start your healing process. Making a safe space in your home could add additional security for you and some comfort during a vulnerable time. It is a blessing to have those that support you be there to also show you that you are not alone. No need to look for adoption agencies near me or agencies in Missouri. Just go to Adoption Choices of Missouri, and we will be there to guide and help you every step of the way.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800.

Adoption Support Through the Holidays in Missouri

Birth Mother Blog Putting baby up for adoption

Missouri Adoption Support Through the Holidays

December 5, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Missouri Adoption Support Through the Holidays

By Mitchell Kennis

To some birth mothers, the holidays can represent an unfriendly reminder of family. Unfriendly in that they are in the process of adoption, which means helping build a family outside their own. It is understandable to feel a fissure between your happiness and pregnancy, but there are ways of overcoming that distance. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800

You’re not a Grinch, You’re a Birth Mother

Expectant women who are unprepared for parenthood find their way to a certain mindset. Usually, this is something akin to “I’m considering adoption – I can’t take care of my baby.” This pattern of thinking can evolve to “giving my baby up” for adoption, making yourself an enemy in the process. We want to let you know that choosing adoption is one of the bravest things you can do.

When you put my baby up for adoption, you are actually forming the best solution to a somewhat difficult situation. Your pregnancy, perhaps, was one you were not ready in your life to proceed with, not to keep yourself anyway. To stay with your pregnancy for the sake of your baby and have a life with another family is incredibly selfless. You are getting something out of it by not raising the child yourself, but you are giving so much more.

What we’re trying to say here is adoption has some pretty bad misconceptions. It sometimes makes birth mothers out to be women in it for themselves. Know that you are appreciated, and your adoption is going to create a very happy family. Which is possibly the best Christmas present anyone could ask for.

The Adoption Process and Holly Cheer

The days growing shorter, and the festive car commercials are not doing you any favors. You say, “I chose to adopt out my baby but wish the process didn’t make me feel a bit empty.” And yes, the holidays can be a hard time for pregnancies in general. It’s a bummer to forgo a new years party for another person, even if it is your baby.

Making you feel alone is not what adoption is about, though. It can be a byproduct because of how adoption works, but the process, in general, is meant to reward. It rewards the adoptive parents with a new child they couldn’t have themselves. It rewards adoption agencies in Missouri with the satisfaction of another family pairing. Most importantly, it rewards you by supporting you through an unwanted pregnancy, no matter your circumstances.

It is the word “support” that is really important here. Despite how the holidays are making you feel, know that adoption isn’t something you have to face alone.

Holiday Missouri Adoption Support

Even if you’re in a private adoption or days away from your birth, your adoption agency is here for you. It’s surprising how under-utilized agency resources are, and Adoption Choices of Missouri is open 24/7 for calls and appointments. So, if you are feeling a little lost this holiday season consider one of these forms of support.

Therapy

The most direct way to get in touch with your holiday gloom is to talk it out. It can also be difficult to find someone who really relates to your situation in your life. Our agency offers consultations with adoption therapists who can provide such an ear. You will need to first set up a time to meet and provide some idea of what you’re looking for. It helps if your counselor knows the emotional triggers or effects you are aware of once you get to speak it out loud though you might get to the problem quicker.

Adoption Hotline

If you need to speak to someone right away, there is also our pregnancy hotline. You are almost guaranteed to have someone on the line minutes after calling. From there, we will be able to direct you to our other resources. Our adoption specialists can even just help reassure you that the process is going perfectly well.

Birth Mother Blog

Maybe you are looking more to answer your questions and concerns about adoption with some reading. Instead of heading to the library, you can always click over to our blog. We have dozens of articles on all sorts of subjects surrounding adoption and its complications. Who knows, maybe the words of wisdom you are looking for were already posted in one.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help through the Missouri Adoption Process

If, despite the lights and goodwill, you are feeling down about your adoption process, you should consider reaching out. Start by talking with your family or friends if you’d like. Or you can find us at Adoption Choices of Missouri, ready to help whenever you need. Our holiday hours are nearly unaltered to make sure we’re here for you.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

I Gave My Baby Up for Adoption, What Now?

December 1, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

I Gave My Baby Up for Adoption, What Now?

By David Seamonson

Adoption is not easy, and there are many processes that can bring stress to you as the birth mother. During the adoption process you are involved in every decision. Control helps you understand that everything that could be done for you has been done. Dealing with the emotional fallout from the adoption, however, is not easy. After the initial decision, there are a lot of additional steps that can be taken so that you can get back to your life.

Private Adoption Services and Open Adoption

At an adoption agency, there are a lot of adoption services that are offered. Starting with a 24/7 call line for every birth mother who wants to look into adoption. We offer adoption specialists that will work with you so that when you are making decisions about the adoption process, you have all the facts. Our adoption specialists can direct you to the best family for you and can provide financial assistance during your pregnancy.

There is also a counseling service that comes from working with a private adoption service.

One of the specialties of a private adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Missouri is the focus on open and semi-open adoption. These adoption options have been proven to leave birth mothers more secure after the adoption process is complete. Dealing with the loss of your baby is not going to be easy, and that is why the option to see them as they grow up can be beneficial to birth mothers. Seeing how your actions have impacted your baby can eliminate certain feelings of grief, regret, and sadness that come from losing a large part of you.

Counseling Services for Choosing Adoption

An additional private adoption service that is provided to all birth mothers is access to 24/7 counseling. Emotions hit at very different times, which is why each of our certified counselors is available to listen to your thoughts and offer any help they can. This service is available at any time during the adoption process as well as after the adoption process when some emotions are more volatile.

Our specialists help with identifying why your emotions are making you feel the way you are and understanding you. They have experience with many other birth mothers that have gone through the adoption process and have sought out our help.

Support Network in Missouri Adoption

While you might not need to always talk with a counselor through our agency, having a support network is the primary reason why counselors are here for you. Not every birth mother has access to friends and family that will drop everything to help them, and going through the adoption process alone is even more difficult.

Having a person that you can turn to about what you feel about adoption or a need to understand why you feel the way you are can do wonders. As well as just having an additional person to talk to, the benefit of knowing that there is someone that can help you in times of trouble leads to more mental stability.

Moving on from Adoption

While it may be difficult to think about, moving on is why you came to an adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Missouri. Adoption in Missouri is not easy for all birth mothers. There is a process that makes it easier for you and everyone involved so that you feel you are doing all you can in your life. It is also a way to leave parts of your past behind you. Looking back at when you found out about your unplanned pregnancy, you did not know what to do.

When you looked for adoption agencies near you, you were looking for a way to move past your unplanned pregnancy, and we offered a way to do that. Now that you have experienced all of the private adoption services that are available to you, you can now do whatever you need to do to move one. There is no financial setback, and there are ways to help you through emotional stress, so moving forward and figuring out what to do with your life is easier to do now.

I Placed my Baby for Adoption, Now What?

An adoption agency offers its services to you to help you return to your life in a way that makes you happy. The services that it provides are available to all birth mothers that are seeking adoption, and you are no different. We offer our adoption specialists, adoption counselors, and a process to help you return your life to be the best that it can be.

The world is open to you, and we want to make sure that your unplanned pregnancy does not hurt your future and that you feel you are in a better place now than you were before. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

All About Birth Mothers in Missouri

November 28, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

All About Birth Mothers in Missouri

By Mitchell Kennis

Adoption can seem fairly daunting as a general idea. There are just so many different things for an expectant woman to think about when choosing adoption. We don’t blame you for being confused about where you fit within the process. So, we’re going to try and clear up who birth mothers are and how adoption works for them.

What is Involved in an Adoption?

To cover how adoption works, let us give an example of an adoption process from start to finish. A disclaimer that this in no way covers all the ways an adoption can happen.

A woman unexpectedly gets pregnant. She is not partnered and is busy getting a foothold in her new job. At first, she is overwhelmed by this news. Who wouldn’t be? But then she gets online and searches for pregnant adoption help. Thousands of results on the web covering stories and statistics, and histories of adoption fill her eyes. She tries again and instead searches for adoption agencies near me. Now she is directed to some pages that show promise and sends an email to a nearby agency wondering about consultation.

In no time, the expectant woman finds herself talking with an adoption specialist. She’s concerned about adoption. Worried she will never get to see her child and she is uncertain if the family would fit them. However, the specialist says she has the final say on the openness of the adoption and who the adoptive parents are. Together they will form a plan for the mother’s perfect adoption.

Her fears dissolve, questions are answered, and the expectant mother moves on with her pregnancy. When she eventually gives birth, she will see her baby placed with its new adoptive parents. And years afterward, she can still receive email correspondence or visit if that was the type of adoption decided on. That is a basic adoption process for adoption in Missouri and nationwide.

But then, Who is a Birth Mother?

In the above example, the expectant woman would only be officially considered a birth mother after birth. Adoption Choices (and many other agencies) though consider woman birth mothers no matter where in the process they are.

The distinction is made between a birth mother and an adoptive mother to keep confusion minimal. This is especially true if the family and the birth mother have an open relationship. Using terms like “real mother” or “one’s own child” is quite demeaning to the adoptive family. It might, albeit unconsciously, undermine the respect of both sets of parents and make the relationship strained. And so, distinguishing a birth mother is a term born out of necessity.

Who Chooses Adoption?

The mindset of an unprepared expectant woman is they are considering adoption – I can’t take care of my baby. Unplanned or unwanted pregnancies happen. It’s not uncommon for this to be the reason why a birth mother would choose adoption. At the same time, the is no set rule that says someone without a clear reason can’t adopt. There are so many different adoption stories out there and even more circumstances, and no two are the same.

What we can say is people who choose adoption are brave. They have to push against the pressures of societal misconceptions about adoption. People think it means “giving my baby up” for adoption instead of a healthy alternative to parenthood. They might have to contend with a disapproving partner or family. And despite all the support an agency or their allies can provide, they themselves have to go through the pregnancy.

Why Choose Adoption?

“Why adopt out my baby?” Well, there is not one clear answer to why one would choose adoption. The mother from our previous example decided to put my baby up for adoption because she was busy with life. That is a super valid reason to place her child with another family. However, another example could be that a birth mother decided to adopt instead of aborting her child. Another could be she already had kids and couldn’t even imagine raising another. Why people choose to adopt is as varied as who individuals are.

Adoption is also a very rewarding process once your get into it. Depending on your situation, you might be eligible for financial aid and medical support for your birth. You get to know who the adoptive parents are and might even get to see your child be raised. It’s rather fulfilling to just know that you played a part in creating a happy family.

Adoption can Help Create a Family

Just as no two adoptions are the same, so is each birth mother unique. You might have a dozen reasons to choose adoption or just one. Know that no matter what, though, Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help. For years, our agency has been helping birth mothers plan for their perfect adoption. Our specialists are always ready to talk with you about your ideal family.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

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