Choosing Adoption as a Teenager
By Shamani Salahuddin
Pregnancy is one of the most life-altering changes a woman can experience. And if you are a teenager, you may feel this tenfold. As a girl facing teenage pregnancy, you have three options: parent, terminate the pregnancy, or adoption. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help you navigate all these options and determine the right one for you. We are a local adoption agency that will meet you where you are. We know what you are going through and will be with you throughout your adoption journey.
Placing your baby for adoption is a brave decision and will give them the life you can’t provide right now. You might feel sadness or worry, but that doesn’t mean you are making the wrong decision. Choosing adoption in Missouri with one of our agencies means choosing support, even as a teen. We will make sure you are safe, comfortable, and healthy. Our adoption specialist can connect you with healthcare professionals and ensure your living situation is secure. We can provide some reasonable living expenses throughout your pregnancy, depending on your needs and eligibility. We also offer counseling during the adoption process and post-placement. If you are a teenager in Missouri searching for “adoption agencies near me,” contact Adoption Choices of Missouri today.
Do you Need Parental Consent to Choose Adoption?
You do not need consent from your parents to place your baby for adoption. As the baby’s birth mother, you have parental rights and consent over your child. The law in Missouri makes no distinction between minors and adults regarding birth parents. This means that pregnant teenagers, whether under 18 or not, have the same adoption rights as adults.
Keep in mind adoption laws can change, and every situation is different. However, your parental consent cannot be taken away without proper paperwork and prior court approval. You are in control of your adoption. The adoption process for a teenage-birth parent is the same for an adult, but it can be overwhelming. You may have many questions about how to start adoption, and we are here to help!
How to Proceed the Adoption Process as a Teen Mother
The adoption process is entirely unique for each birth mother. The first thing to discuss with your adoption counselor at your agency is if adoption is the right option for you. When facing an unplanned pregnancy, we believe you deserve to know every option available. Your adoption counselor will present your options, and you can choose the best plan for you and your child.
Adoption Choices is a full-service adoption center that helps pregnant teens considering adoption. After contacting an adoption counselor and choosing adoption, we will help you create an adoption plan. Even at a young age, you have the right to be involved in every aspect of the adoption process. Our birth parent counselor can come to you or meet on the phone or via video. Your adoption plan will include essential decisions regarding adoption and a financial budget for your needs. Through the planning, we can also help you find a doctor to begin your prenatal care.
Next, your matching process begins. As the birth mother, you will have adoptive family profiles to look through and choose from. Once matched, you will receive financial and housing support if you need it. You will get to meet the adoptive family and maintain communication depending on your openness level. During this planning process, you will create a birth plan. You will decide who will be at the hospital and if you want to hold or name the baby. Your birth parent counselor will be present at the delivery to be your advocate. While everyone else is there for your baby, we will be there for you. Your baby will leave with the adoptive family, and you will give your final consent.
What are the Different Types of Adoption?
Adoption has three levels of openness: open, semi-open, and closed. For many teen birth mothers, having an open adoption in Missouri has helped them heal. The contact you have with your baby and the adoptive family is just as unique as your other relationships. Most birth mothers argue that seeing their children grow and learn has helped validate their decision. While we advocate for some openness, you can make your own decisions. Understand that every type of adoption you choose can change over time.
In an open adoption, identifying information is shared, including names, phone numbers, and contact info. Contact typically includes exchanging emails, letters, photos, and phone calls. A fully open adoption includes in-person visits and includes extended family like grandparents and siblings. The birth parents and adoptive parents must have a mutual understanding of what “open” is. Opposingly, closed adoption is when the adoptive family and birth mother never meet and know nothing or very little about one another. A semi-open adoption meets in the middle of the two. Typically, non-identifying information is shared, and a third party facilitates communication between the birth parents and adoptive family.
Adoption Resources for Teen Birth Mothers
Any woman who faces an unexpected pregnancy will need support, let alone a teenager. At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we provide counseling throughout the adoption process. This helps birth mothers come to terms with their emotions at this time. While we offer one-on-one therapy, we can also connect you to group therapy. Hearing other teen birth mothers’ stories and seeing you’re not alone can be beneficial.
Adoption can be a complicated process, and the help of the staff at Adoption Choices will help you make confident, informed decisions considering your adoption plan. Don’t allow your age to limit your control over your adoption. It is your pregnancy and your baby. If you are a teenager facing an unplanned pregnancy and searching for a local adoption agency, call Adoption Choices of Missouri today.
Llame a Adoption Choices of Missouri para conocer los servicios de adopción de bebés.