Unplanned Pregnancy in MO: Understanding Your Options

January 16, 2023 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Unplanned Pregnancy in MO: Understanding Your Options

By Andreia Pereira

Your period hasn’t come. It’s been a busy month, and you haven’t kept track of it. As you stare at the calendar, the weeks don’t add up. It’s late, like really late. You don’t want to jump to conclusions. Maybe it’s a health problem. You have been under a lot of stress lately, but there’s a nagging voice in your head. You head to a drugstore and buy a pregnancy test to be safe. The wait for the results is agonizing, and the lines begin to appear, two red ones. Oh no, your heart drops to your stomach as you realize you’re pregnant. What do you do now?

What if you found out too late in the pregnancy? You could be five months in, and there is no baby bump. You could blame the lack of period on the new medication you were taking. Maybe you found out very early that you are expecting. There are a whole bunch of reasons for not noticing, but you decided to go forth with the birth. You can already have a big family and can’t add another individual to the mix. Or maybe you have been having safe sex, but the condom broke and was unintended. Or perhaps you are being sexually active with many people. Whatever the circumstances, you realize you can not become a parent.

What are my options for my unplanned pregnancy in Missouri?

After realizing your pregnancy and juggling through the rampant emotions that follow, you need to make a choice. There are three options when a woman realizes she’s pregnant: parenting, terminating, or adopting. Each person’s reasons are their own, and they should feel safe during this stressful time. With Adoption Choices of Missouri, you won’t be judged. Adoption can be wonderful for a baby if they can’t have a happy and successful life with you. Look up adoption agencies near me and find out if you are within a distance of one. Adoption Choices of Missouri are located in Colombia, Independence, Kansas CIty, St. Louis, and Springfield.

What is the adoption process like?

After you make the decision to choose adoption, you ask yourself, how do I put a baby up for adoption? Not to worry, Adoption Choices of Missouri can help with the process. The first step would be to contact adoption agencies near you. Once you have called, texted, or emailed us, we’ll connect you with your own adoption specialist, who will help you with your adoption plan. They’ll give you paperwork to fill out and inform you about the different types of adoption. They can also help you create a budget for food, medical care, rent, etc. They’ll be able to meet you anywhere from the comfort of your home to a secure location, or if you don’t want to meet face to face, there is also the video/phone option. Our adoption specialist will match you with potential adoptive families and give you their profiles.

You’ll be able to choose your baby’s adoptive family if you pick open or semi-open adoption. Then after you choose the family, the counselor will help you when your due date arrives. After you give your final consent, the baby will be with the adoptive family. Aftercare and counseling will be provided if you are feeling your emotions getting the best of you. You can receive pictures or letters from the parents if you choose open adoption.

What are the services Adoption Choices of Missouri offers?

Adoption Choices of Missouri can help with financial support such as paying for food, giving food stamps, etc. If you need a place to live that is safe, they can also help find your safe housing. We also provide emotional support counseling. Being pregnant is an emotional rollercoaster, not to mention the physical strain. We can lessen your anxiety during this process. You are not alone in this journey!

If you just found out you are pregnant and are not prepared to be a mother, 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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Missouri Adoption Agencies Near Me

January 12, 2023 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Missouri Adoption Agencies Near Me

By Katy Reagan

If you are pregnant and considering adoption, you have options. The emotional and physical toll of pregnancy may leave you feeling like you have no control. Private adoption agencies like ours can give you back that control. Adoption is never black and white, but Adoption Choices of Missouri can walk you through the process. You know what is best for you and your child, and we provide support to make it happen. Adoption puts your child in a loving, supportive home of your choice.

What are licensed, local, and private adoption agencies in Missouri?

There is no right or wrong answer to the question of how to give a baby up for adoption. The important thing is that you make the choice that you believe is right for you and your baby. Adoption Choices of Missouri provides an alternative to public adoption through the state. In public adoption, you do not have a choice in where your baby is placed. Private adoption is when a birth parent voluntarily puts a child up for adoption. With a licensed, local, and private adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Missouri, you are in control.

Private adoption agencies help birth mothers create an adoption plan. You will be assigned an adoption specialist to give you all of your options and walk you through the process. Your adoption specialist will meet with you to learn about your specific needs. You will tell them how you want the adoption to look and any financial needs you have. Together, you will sit down and look at possible adoptive family profiles. You make the final decision on who will adopt your child. From there, you get to decide how you want your relationship with your child and the adoptive family to be.

What are open, semi-open, and closed adoptions in Missouri?

Open, semi-open, and closed adoptions are all options for you. In an open adoption, you will stay present in the child’s life after birth. Open adoptions have full communication between you, the adoptive family, and the child. This option is wonderful for birth mothers who want a relationship with their child but not the responsibility of parenthood.

Semi-open adoptions contain indirect communication through our own communication channel, ChildConnect. You will be able to connect with the adoptive family through a confidential line. This resource is an advantage specific to Adoption Choices of Missouri. We want you to be able to communicate at whatever level you feel comfortable with.

Closed adoptions contain zero communication with the adoptive family or the child. Whatever your choice, Adoption Choices of Missouri will support you. We know that every situation is different, and only you know what is best. Once you make your decision, we will make sure it is respected.

Advantages of Adoption Choices of Missouri for birth mothers

We know facing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy is an overwhelming time for you. You may feel alone and scared, but Adoption Choices of Missouri is here for you in every way. We will do everything we can to make the time during and after your pregnancy as smooth as possible. You will never be alone at any point during the adoption process.

Your adoption specialist will advocate for you from your first meeting. They will have all the paperwork that explains what you want, and they will follow through with it. When you go into the hospital, they will be beside you. A hospital plan will already be in place, and they will fight for anything you need. Your adoption specialist will be there for you emotionally and physically.

During your pregnancy, we will make sure you have medical care, safe housing, professional counseling, and financial support. In your adoption plan, we will help you outline everything you will need to be comfortable. Many of these services will be provided by the adoptive family. Depending on your financial situation, they may pay for hospital bills, travel, clothes, and housing, among other things. Everything you need will be provided for you.

Our resources do not end after birth because your needs don’t end when you leave the hospital. The love, compassion, and support you’ve received from us will continue. You will always be a part of our family and our top priority. You can attend unlimited, free counseling sessions provided by us for as long as you need. Healing is a process, and our support doesn’t end.

Private adoption agencies near me in Missouri

If you are looking for adoption agencies near me, Adoption Choices of Missouri has you covered. Wherever you are in Missouri, we can help you. All you need to do is give us a call or text, and you will get to talk to one of our adoption specialists. You can set up a one-on-one appointment to go over your situation. We will guide you based on your specific needs. Your case is as personal to us as it is to you. We will provide you with all the information you need to make the best decision for your baby.

If you are a pregnant woman looking for the help of an adoption agency, 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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Facts about Choosing Adoption in Missouri

January 9, 2023 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Facts about Choosing Adoption in Missouri

By Andreia Pereira

I’m sure you know what adoption is: when you give a baby up, and someone else raises them. But did you know there are different types of adoption? You could also choose adoption before you give birth. You can also select the family that adopts. There are also many reasons to choose adoption, from unplanned pregnancies to single mothers. After you think it through, the next question would be, where are adoption agencies near me? What is the adoption process like? Will I have help during the whole pregnancy? If you are a birth mother looking for adoption in Missouri, then choosing Adoption Choices of Missouri is a great option! They will help you every step of the way and provide many beneficial services.

Choosing Adoption can be more than just an Unplanned Pregnancy

Let’s say you are a young teen who discovered you’re pregnant. You are too young to become a parent, and you have already planned to go to college. You don’t want to terminate the pregnancy and can’t parent the baby. The next step would be adoption. Let’s look at some examples for choosing adoption.

Not Ready to or Do Not Want to Parent
Religious Beliefs: You may have grown up in a conservative household, and pregnancy before marriage might be considered taboo.
Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence: You might have been a victim of a sexual assault and have decided not to parent the baby.
Not in the Right Financial State
Homelessness

There are so many reasons for adoption, but the best result is that the baby will be raised in a loving home with a family that loves them.

The adoption process can be inexpensive

The first step after realizing you have an unplanned pregnancy would be to look up adoption agencies and contact them. If you live in Missouri, try Adoption Choices of Missouri. Once you contact us, you can set up the first appointment with our Birth Parent Counselor, whether it’s in person, at one of our sites, or on the phone. We are here to help you on your pregnancy journey. Next would be choosing an adoption plan. This is when you decide what type of adoption you want: an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. You can choose an adoptive family if you choose open adoption.

Our adoption specialist chooses the family if you choose the closed option. Don’t worry. Only your medical history will be shared if you choose a closed adoption. They won’t ever contact you; everything will be through Adoption Choices of Missouri. We can also help you find help financially. Living expenses can also be covered, such as food, transportation, rent, etc.

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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Requirements for Placing a Baby for Adoption in Missouri

January 5, 2023 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Requirements for Placing a Baby for Adoption in Missouri

By Katy Reagan

Adoption is never easy, but it can be a smooth process with the right support. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to provide you with all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your baby. The phrase “giving a baby up for adoption” is said a lot, but that is not the phrase we like to use. We prefer “placing a baby for adoption” because you are not giving up anything or anyone. You are making a choice to put your child in the best home possible for them. No matter how overwhelmed or scared you may be, you are making the best life for you and your child. When looking at adoption agencies near me, the first step is to know the requirements for placing a baby in Missouri.

Birth Mothers do not have to pay anything to place a baby in Missouri

If you are pregnant and considering adoption, there is no cost to you to put your child up for adoption. You might be wondering what the requirements are for placing your baby. Everything you need will be provided for you. Adoption Choices of Missouri will provide you with any needed resources, including counseling after birth. Missouri has regulations set in place for things you can require the adoptive family to pay for as well. Any or all of these will be stated in an adoption plan.

The following are adoptive family expenses that Missouri accepts:

Medical costs related to maternity
Housing for birth mother during pregnancy
Food
Transportation, food, and lodging for required travel
Maternity clothes
Other expenses the court deems necessary

You have control through the entire adoption process

An unwanted or unplanned pregnancy can be a time when you feel like you don’t have a lot of control. But you do have control over the adoption process. Missouri requires you to wait 48 hours after birth to terminate your parental rights. You have the final say on everything that happens with your pregnancy and child up until those 48 hours after birth. After giving consent to terminate your parental rights, the adoption becomes final.

After contacting Adoption Choices of Missouri, you will work with someone to create your adoption plan. All of your decisions and requirements will be written out for everyone involved to agree with. Your own adoption specialist will make sure your wishes are carried out. You decide on the adoptive family and how much communication you’ll have with the child after birth if any. You can choose an open, semi-open, or closed adoption.

The birth father’s role in the adoption process

Adoption can proceed whether or not the father of the child is involved. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to provide resources and legal guidance if he is unknown or unsupportive. The birth father’s role is not black and white, so adoption laws will be applied to your specific situation. We know relationships can be messy, so you will have help figuring out what is best for your child.

Missouri law does not require his consent if the birth father is unknown. The birth father’s consent is also not needed if he is deemed unfit. For example, certain disabilities or already-terminated parental rights make him unfit.

Consent is required from putative or presumed fathers who have not been deemed unfit. A putative father is a man who is not married to the birth mother and legally claims the child. Missouri has a putative father registry, and consent will be required if he is on it. A presumed father is married to the birth mother or has been divorced from her within 300 days of birth.

If you’re unsure of how to gain consent or if you need it, we will advise you. We get to know you and your situation to send you in the right direction. We provide legal counsel to make sure the process is as smooth as possible. No matter how overwhelmed you are, we will be fighting for you and your baby’s rights.

Adoption Choices of Missouri will help you create an adoption plan

It can be hard to know how to give a baby up for adoption. Adoption Choices of Missouri takes the pressure off of you by assigning you a Birth Parent Counselor. Together you will look at your situation and create an adoption plan. Paperwork will outline how you want your adoption to look. This includes any financial assistance you need and the involvement you want to have with the adoptive family going forward.

You will sit down with the adoption specialist and look at adoptive family profiles to find out who you think fits best. Once you choose the adoptive family, you will be matched. They will provide the support you need to make pregnancy easiest for you and the baby.

When it comes time to give birth, a birth hospital plan will already be in place. This will state who has access to you and the baby. In addition, your adoption specialist will be at the hospital to advocate for you.

You can choose adoption any time during pregnancy or after birth

There is always time to choose adoption. Adoption agencies are here for you whenever you decide to put your child up for adoption. You may have known the moment you found out you were pregnant that you were not ready for motherhood. You may have found out you could not give your child the life you wanted to after bringing them home. Every situation is different, but we understand. We know you only want the best for your child, and we will help you make that happen.

If you are a woman wondering if adoption is possible for you and your baby, we can walk you through the process. 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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Pregnant Teenagers in Missouri: Should you choose Adoption?

January 2, 2023 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Pregnant Teenagers in Missouri: Should you choose Adoption?

By Andreia Pereira

So you realized you’re pregnant, now what? You might think you have to go through with it, or maybe you’re not ready to be a parent. You actually have three choices: to become a parent, terminate the pregnancy, or choose adoption. Being a teen is already hard, going to school and juggling work, but adding a child is even more challenging. With Adoption Choices of Missouri, the process won’t seem so scary. We can provide counseling, financial support, housing, and more! If the baby is already here, we can also provide help!

I’m a Teen, Should I Choose Adoption?

There are a lot of reasons for choosing adoption. Many people think it’s only for unplanned pregnancies. However, there can be many reasons. You could be financially unable to have a child. You could be scared about becoming a parent. The birth father might not be supportive. Whatever the reason, choosing adoption can help in many positive ways.

First, choosing adoption is free! We will be able to help you through the pregnancy and even after birth. Adoptions Choices of Missouri can help with financial support, safe housing, medical care, and support counseling. If you need emotional support through this tough time, please contact us. We would be happy to help!

The 3 Types of Adoption

With adoption, you have three types of adoption: open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption.

Open adoption is when you and the adoptive family have information about each other. You can even choose the family you want to be adopted from. This included choosing ethnicity, religion, and more! You can keep each other updated through the pregnancy and even until after birth. You can get pictures or have in-person visits with the child. Both families can agree on how many visits or the length, depending on what’s best for the child.
Semi-open adoption is in the middle, where information can be shared with you or via a third person/agency. You can get photos, emails, or any other information. You don’t need to visit the family after.
Closed adoption is when no information is provided. You and the adoptive family will know little or nothing about each other. Adoption Choices of Missouri can choose the adoptive family for you.

The Steps in the Adoption Process

You might be thinking, how to give a baby up for adoption? The first step would be to contact us! There are many adoption agencies in Missouri. You can just click adoption agencies near me to find one near you. We can set up an in-person or phone appointment to meet with our Birth Parent counselor. Next is choosing what type of adoption plan you would want and setting up a financial budget. The counselor will give you information on potential adoptive families. After you choose a family, you’ll be able to talk to them or meet with them if you want. Throughout the process, we will be there to help. Once the due date is near, you can choose who will be at the hospital with you. The counselor will also be there to help you. After you give your final consent, the baby will leave with the adoptive family. You can always change your mind about adoption before you sign the final consent. After the birth, we can also help you with emotional support counseling.

Want to Have a Voice in Your Teen Pregnancy?

As a teen, you might think that adults will take over the entire process, but that isn’t true. If you want to be involved in every part of the process, please contact us! It is your pregnancy, and you deserve to be represented in the way you want to. Whether you are 13 or 16, you will have a voice with us!

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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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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