What Happens at the Hospital if I’m Giving My Baby Up for Adoption?
If you’re facing the complicated decision of giving a child up for adoption, understanding what to expect during your time at the hospital is crucial. What happens before, during, and after delivery might seem like a mystery. The hospital experience can be overwhelming, so learning about the process is one way to feel more grounded and secure during this time. We aim to provide you with valuable insights and information to help you navigate this sensitive period with confidence and peace of mind. So, let’s delve into the details and explore the hospital arrangements and support available to you as you embark on your adoption journey.
If you are considering adoption in Missouri, Adoption Choices of Missouri is an agency that will provide assistance to you every step of the way. We are always here to answer questions and consult with you about your personal adoption process. We believe that you should be empowered to make whatever decisions you feel are best, and our agency aims to support you in that.
How will I Prepare for My Delivery at the Hospital?
Before you go into labor or visit the hospital, you will consult with the adoption agency to develop a birth plan. This can also be called a hospital plan and is an important step. This will be part of the process whether you are consulting with Adoption Choices of Missouri or another adoption agency in Missouri. You will develop this plan to lay out how you want the hospital visit and delivery to proceed. There are a number of decisions to make about that window of time that you will consult with the agency about. The birth plan can act as a set of guidelines for you, the agency, the hospital staff, and the adoptive family.
What is included in the Hospital Adoption Plan?
The hospital plan contains whatever you want to prioritize, but here are a few examples of possible decisions to consider:
- Who will be in the delivery room? You can decide if you would prefer to be alone or if you would like to include others there. This might include the birth father, the adoptive family, or anyone else you might want to support you through delivery. If you wish to have the adoptive family there but not in the room, the hospital might provide another space for them to stay during the birth.
- Who will cut the cord? Some people consider the cutting of the umbilical cord to be an important moment. You might want to do it yourself or give that responsibility to an adoptive parent.
- Where should the baby stay after birth? After giving birth, you may want to keep the baby nearby, or you might choose to have the baby stay with the adoptive family. You can also choose who you want to be the first to hold the baby and if you wish to breastfeed or not.
- How should the baby be named? Consider if you want to name the baby yourself, leave that decision to the adoptive family, or work together to choose a name.
In an Adoption, What Happens Before and During Delivery?
Before delivery, you will want to review your birth plan to make sure you are still confident in your decisions. If you are working with Adoption Choices of Missouri, we will continue to check in with you up until delivery to answer any questions or provide support. If you need to make any changes to your hospital plan, let your adoption specialist know, and it will be revised. There will also be paperwork to fill out and sign after the birth, so make sure you have all the information you need and are aware of what those documents entail.
What Happens in an Adoption Post-Delivery
After delivering a baby, a hospital will typically keep you for at least 48 hours. This is true if you underwent surgery such as a C-section or if it was a vaginal birth. You may also request to leave before that rest period is over if that is what you want. Based on what decisions you have already made in your adoption plan, you may have no further contact with the child and adoptive family. If you have chosen to pursue an open adoption in Missouri, you will continue to keep in touch with the family and build those relationships.
Pregnancy is a personal experience and can be a complicated journey. We want to help make that process as stress-free and comfortable as possible. If you have questions about any specifics of adoption and are considering adoption for your baby, contact Adoption Choices of Missouri. To get in touch with us, you can contact us through our site or via call or text.
