What Birth Mothers Want You to Know About Missouri Adoption

May 19, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

What Birth Mothers Want You to Know About Missouri Adoption

By Jacob LaBau

At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we understand what it takes to navigate through the adoption process. It can be difficult to put your baby up for adoption. But with a proper adoption plan in place, we can help you make this process go smoothly. You will be in full control of choosing your child’s adoptive family. As a birth mother, you get the final say in every decision! So, contact an adoption specialist at your local adoption agency and get started today! Let’s look at your options and what birth mothers want you to know about the adoption process.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering adoption, it is not too late to consider adoption. There are several resources Adoption Choices of Missouri can offer to reduce the stress of adoption. Adoptive families are waiting at our adoption agency for you to handpick them. Once you have created your adoption plan, your birth parent counselor or adoption specialist will bring you family profiles. After that, it will be up to you how you will decide if there are any prospective families capable of raising your child. Let’s look at your options and what birth mothers want you to know about the adoption process.

First Steps Toward a Successful Adoption

Starting an adoption plan is always the most challenging part for a birth mother. It is a lot of hard work that will keep you busy for months. Well, that hard work falls on us at Adoption Choices of Missouri. The only thing we need you to do is locate adoption agencies near me and contact an adoption specialist. The adoption specialist will walk you through each adoption process step at the initial meeting. The first talk will seem overwhelming, so do not be afraid to address any concerns and ask questions. This is also the person that will assist you in creating your adoption plan. Communicate your financial needs, what kind of adoptive families you would like to look at, the level of openness with the family and child, and a post-placement communication plan.

What Birth Mothers Want You to Know about Financial Assistance

Put together a financial budget with your birth parent counselor. Coordinate how much financial help you can receive based on your current living expenses. Living expenses can include rent and utilities, food, transportation, groceries, and more. The amount of financial assistance will vary depending on the birth mother’s situation. For instance, a birth mother experiencing an unplanned pregnancy while living on her own in Missouri is eligible to receive a lot of financial support. Your adoption specialist will work with you towards meeting your financial needs the best way we can. Financial assistance is granted to birth mothers for up to six weeks after delivery, so we at Adoption Choices of Missouri have an eye on your future too!

Adoptive Family Selection Process

Selecting the right adoptive family is an important decision for the birth mother. If giving a baby up for adoption, there are many things to consider when choosing the right family. Let your adoption specialist help you narrow that list down to meet some of the prospective families waiting for you!

Read some of their stories at Adoption Choices of Missouri, or let your adoption specialist bring you the profiles of the families. The adoption specialist will schedule face-to-face meetings with the adoptive families whenever you may be available! We understand how difficult pregnancy is and can even have the families come to the comfort of your own home. Discuss your requirements for anything you need from an adoptive family, such as location, religious beliefs, and generosity to your adoption specialist. This is your decision. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here for you to make the adoption process easier!

Post-Placement Communication Plan

Once you have found the right family for your child, there are ways to control the communication between you and the adoptive family. Your adoption specialist will inform you of the various ways to keep in touch with your child as he/she grows up. But, again, this decision is entirely up to the birth mother. So, take control of your adoption plan and contact Adoption Choices of Missouri today!

There are three types of post-placement communication plans to choose from. The first is open adoption, where the birth mother has access to identifying information such as names and phone numbers. In addition, the family will contact the birth mother to share photos, letters, or even phone calls. The second kind of adoption is a semi-open adoption. Finally, information about the child is shared through a shared party such as Adoption Choices of Missouri.

Although there are semi-open adoption options where the family will have some pre-birth face-to-face meetings before the baby is born, it all depends on the agreement between you and the adoptive family. The last option is a closed adoption, where the birth mother and family may never meet. Closed adoptions are not commonly practiced, but the option is still available depending on your wants and needs throughout the adoption process. All this information is a lot to take in, and the adoption process is complicated. Stay calm, remember why you decided to pursue adoption, and realize that you have control! Find adoption agencies near me to determine if adoption in Missouri is possible for you!

Create the Perfect Delivery Environment

Surround yourself with people who care about you when delivering the baby. The birth of a child is a magnificent moment for everyone involved. Choose a +doctor that is proactive about your requests and maintain a good relationship with them. If you are pregnant and considering adoption, get on top of this.

Pregnancy is a strenuous experience that comes with a lot of physical pain. We understand how physically and emotionally demanding pregnancy can be. Adoption Choices of Missouri can help you apply for Medicaid to soothe your financial worries. Appropriate medical care and attention will be given to you throughout your pregnancy. Adoption specialists will be there to provide any other assistance on medical expenses.

If there are still costs to be paid, the adoptive family can step in to provide additional financial support. You will also get to choose the name of the baby. There are no boundaries regarding visitations between you and your child while in the hospital. Once you feel ready to return home, the adoption specialist will ask you for your final say on giving your baby up for adoption. The child will then be sent home with the adoptive family. Hopefully, this information encourages you to pursue an adoption plan and alleviates any fear about pregnancy.

What Birth Mothers Want You to Know About Adoption

Adoption agencies in Missouri have well-equipped adoptive families that can raise your child. Adoption Choices of Missouri will help the birth mother with various resources, including financial support, medical expenses, and post-placement communication plans. Let Adoption Choices of Missouri handle the adoption responsibilities while you try to relax. You can look back on this decision at the end of everything and know that it was the right one for your child. If you consider adoption and would like to learn more about adoption agencies in Missouri, check out Adoption Choices of Missouri. 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

Self-Care Missouri Birth Mothers Adoption

5 Self-Care Tips for Missouri Birth Mothers Navigating Adoption during May

May 12, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

5 Self-Care Tips for Missouri Birth Mothers Navigating Adoption during May

By Jacob LaBau

May is a special month for us at Adoption Choices of Missouri, where mothers are celebrated in honor of Mother’s Day. Birth mothers who are navigating adoption should celebrate themselves for all the challenges they have overcome. The adoption process can carry a heavy burden for birth mothers placing their newborn up for adoption. However, there are ways to manage stress, and it starts with taking care of yourself! We will explore the different ways for birth mothers to reduce stress with five self-care tips to make the pain go away. Check out adoption agencies near you in Missouri to get started on your adoption plan!

Self-Care Tips for Missouri Birth Mothers

Birth mothers need their time to destress. We at Adoption Choices of Missouri know the best ways for birth mothers to focus on themselves for a little bit. These will all be affordable ways aimed at introverted birth mothers struggling through adoption. Adoption can take a toll on you, and we get that. So, in the spirit of Mother’s Day, sit back, relax and enjoy these self-care tips.

1. Relieve the Stress of Pregnancy with a Spa Day at Home

A bath is an underrated and easy way for pregnant birth mothers to destress after a long day or week. The warm water surrounds your body while your mind happily wanders into relaxation. You can make the bath more inviting with bath bombs to spice things up. You can smell the sweet aroma and treat your vision to some eye candy. Freshen up that skin with a nice face mask to make it feel like you are really at the spa.

Get creative with your ideas! Whatever makes you feel the most relaxed could be a great addition to your spa day. If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, a bath is a perfect way to lead your mind into positive thoughts to get started on your adoption plan!

2. Watching a Movie can Help Distract You from the Unwanted Stress of an Adoption

A movie can be the perfect way to forget everything adoption-related while slowly sinking into your couch. There are hundreds if not thousands of quality movies to choose from with the help of streaming services. Select a movie and get lost in the story. Get the popcorn cracking, choose a familiar drink, light some candles, and grab a blanket to treat yourself.

There is nobody in this world more deserving of movie time than a birth mother. It does not matter what stage you are in the adoption process. We understand how much discomfort each step can cause, so these self-care tips will play a key role in helping you cope throughout the adoption process.

3. Keep a Pregnancy Journal

Starting a journal isn’t the most exciting way of treating yourself, but it will yield more results than the other tips listed. Journaling is a great way of organizing your thoughts. At the beginning of journaling, it can be difficult to come up with things to write down. Start by writing down anything that happened today. This can be many things, such as how your day went, who treated you nicely, and why things happened the way they did.

You can even shift that same focus into an adoption mindset and journal about the hardships of the adoption process. There can be many negative things to write down, which is okay but remember to keep the journaling positive. Keeping a positive journal will make you feel better about your life and the adoption challenges. If your journal leads you to think about giving your baby up for adoption, maybe also start thinking about the adoption agencies near me to get started today!

4. Talk to Your Medical Practitioner about Pregnant Yoga

Meditation and yoga are two entirely different things with much different practices. But the overall goal of meditation and yoga are similar. They are both used to reduce anxiety. There is no better way to reduce anxiety than to hone all your focus and relax your adoption thoughts. Meditation and yoga can be done in the comfort of your own home! Adoption Choices of Missouri understands how hard it is to get out of your house during pregnancy. So pull up a yoga video on YouTube or play soothing music for meditation and relaxation!

5. Dive into a Good Book

Nowadays, books can be delivered straight to your own home. There is no need for a pregnant birth mother to be exploring the library. Instead, take some time to unwind with a great book right in your living room. There are tons of books out there to choose from. Once you have your book ready, start the fireplace and get cozy.

Let your imagination run wild as the words take you to another world. You could even choose to read a book about adoption! You will not feel as stressed out about placing your child for adoption. There are six adoption agencies in Missouri to choose from. Go to the bottom of the page and see which adoption agency is closest to you today!

Pregnancy and Adoption Requires a Lot of Effort

At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we know you need some time to yourself during this stressful period. Take some time to choose any self-care tips and try them out. The decision is completely up to you. You can even take this time to think about your adoption plan or if adoption is right for you. Hopefully, you are more informed on treating yourself while navigating adoption.

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

Birth Mother Rights After an Adoption in Missouri

May 9, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Birth Mother Rights After an Adoption in Missouri

By Jacob LaBau

As a birth mother in Missouri, understanding your rights after adoption can be daunting and confusing. In addition, the birth of a child and pregnancy struggles can be stressful. Here at Adoption Choices of Missouri, our job is to make the adoption process as smooth as possible. Whether connecting an adoptive family to the birth mother or informing the birth mother about her rights after adoption, we are here for you 24/7!

Understanding your rights as a birth mother after an adoption is vital and healthy towards seeing your child grow. It is a step in the right direction for you and your child’s future. Navigate your way through adoption agencies in Missouri for more information about adoption and what adoption agency you would like to pursue. The birth mother’s rights after adoption can be vague. Throughout this article, there will be some clarification on visitation, financial help, legal assistance, and medical help. If you are pregnant and considering adoption, try not let your anxiety get you. Check out adoption agencies near me to better understand the resources around you and how we can help you create an adoption plan.

Birth Mothers’ Rights

It can be tough to give a baby up for adoption as a mother. But you are in control the entire time. You oversee the adoption process every step of the way. As a birth mother, you will always have the final say. This means choosing the adoptive family, how much or how little contact you want with them, and what hospital you would like to stay at. If you are pregnant and are considering adoption, check out adoption agencies near me for more information.

Choosing an adoptive family to become the parents of your child usually happens months before the child’s arrival. When a child is born, paperwork needs to be done before the adoptive family becomes the child’s legal guardians. As a birth mother, you can change your mind throughout the process up until you have signed your legal consent. Birth mothers change their minds, and that is okay. This is a big decision that requires a lot of mental fortitude throughout a stressful situation! If you are inspired to put your baby up for adoption, head on to your local adoption agency and see for yourself!

Missouri Adoption Services

At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we can support you in several ways during the adoption process. We can help you financially, legally, and medically and provide counseling. Once the baby is given to the adoptive family, the help does not stop. We will do our best to accommodate anything that is asked of us!

If eligible, Adoption Choices of Missouri can cover your living expenses during the adoption plan when it comes to financial assistance. These include rent and utilities, food and groceries, phone service, maternity clothes, etc. The living expenses that we cover are not terminated after you leave the hospital either; we are not evil! However, we understand that it will take some time to get back into your pre-pregnancy routine and be with you every step of the way!

Adoption services come at no cost for the birth parents, including legal support. An Adoption Choices of Missouri in-house legal counsel will be with you every step. They will ensure that your adoption’s legal processes, paperwork, and finalization are all in the works. Throughout this process, they will relay all the important information to you. Seek further advice from a legal professional.

Medical help will be given to you during and after your pregnancy. We will help you find prenatal care, take you to appointments, and help you stay comfortable throughout and after your pregnancy. This also includes free counseling sessions. If you feel stressed out or just need someone to talk to, we can arrange counseling sessions for you as soon as possible. We understand that this is a lot to take in. If you have any questions, contact your adoption specialist. You can also call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or call or text us at 816-527-9800.

Post-Placement Communication

As a birth mother, you may be wondering how much you will get to see or communicate with the child. It is important to understand what post-placement communication plans are available before agreeing to one with the adoptive family. You can choose from three options: open, semi-open, and closed adoption. Each one of the options has its strengths and weaknesses depending on what you are looking for post-placement. If you are scared as a birth mother that an adoptive family may want to seek a closed adoption, stop worrying! Many adoptive families prefer some level of openness. Here are some details about the different adoption types:

Open adoption

Open adoption means that the birth parents and adoptive parents share their first and last names, medical history, and personal contact information. This option allows for steadier communication. Even though you will not get to raise the child, you are still right there with them on the journey! You and the adoptive family can specify the exact number of times you get to visit the child. The adoptive family can also opt to send pictures to you, depending on the agreement set forth.

Semi-open adoption

A semi-open adoption is a great plan for a birth mother who wants contact with the child but has little contact with the family. In this plan, you and the adoptive parent share non-identifying information such as first names and where they live. The information will be held by your local adoption agency, where we act as an intermediary between you and the adoptive family. This plan is perfect for a birth mother looking to maintain contact with the child but not with the adoptive family.

Closed adoption

A closed adoption means that you and the adoptive parents do not share any information. The adoptee can open their adoption records to find out about their birth parents after they turn 18. Closed adoptions are increasingly rare, but they could be the right fit for you, depending on your wants and needs.

Get in Touch with Us Today

Hopefully, you now understand your rights and services after the adoption has been finalized. Feel free to navigate through our website at Adoption Choices of Missouri for any further questions. We are here for you 24/7 to make the journey through adoption feel as comfortable as possible!

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