Am I in Control of My Adoption Plan?
By Shannon Reilly
If you are interested in reading this article, the chances are that you or someone you know has become pregnant. If the instance is that you have fallen pregnant and you are not sure of all of your options, you have come to the right place. You have three main choices in the state of Missouri.
- Parenting the child.
- Terminating the pregnancy.
- Putting the child up for adoption.
If you think about all of your options and decide that adoption in Missouri may be something you are interested in doing, we are here to give you more information about what that process and your adoption plan may look like. At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we are here for you, whatever you may choose to do.
How to Give a Baby Up for Adoption
The adoption process may seem like a long and hard one, but with the help of an adoption counselor, you will be guided through the things that need to be done in order to place your baby up for adoption in Springfield, MO. The first step is to contact Adoption Choices of Missouri. After contacting Adoption Choices of Missouri, you will be prompted to set up your first meeting with one of our counselors. You will set up an appointment to come to the office, and if that is something you are not currently comfortable with, there are no worries. One of our counselors will come to you or set up a phone or virtual meeting.
Creating the adoption plan
Within this first meeting, you will begin discussing the creation of your adoption plan. Your counselor will offer paperwork to do so. These will include what kind of resources you may need throughout the pregnancy as well as what type of adoption you would like to move forward with. You are in control of your adoption plan and what type of adoption you would like to choose. There are three types of adoption in Missouri.
Level of Openness for an Adoption
Open Adoption
This type of adoption is where you will have direct contact with the adoptive parents, and both parties will share personal information with one another, such as phone numbers. You will remain in contact up to the extent that you and the adoptive parents agree upon throughout the pregnancy as well as after the birth.
Semi-Open Adoption
This type of adoption process is where there is no direct contact between you and the adoptive parents. Instead, you will communicate through Adoption Choices of Missouri or your assigned counselor. Some personal information may be shared, but not to the extent of open adoption. This goes for during the remainder of your pregnancy as well as after the birth.
Closed Adoption
This adoption process is where there will be no contact with the adoptive family, directly or through our adoption agencies in Missouri. No personal information will be shared throughout the pregnancy or after the birth except for your medical history.
Choosing the adoptive family
After completing your adoption plan, your counselor will offer you profiles to review in order to choose an adoptive family. Once you have decided on a family, you will begin receiving your resources throughout the rest of your pregnancy as well as up to six weeks after the birth.
Your Adoption Birth Plan
After all of the paperwork is done and you have chosen a family, you will wait for the time to come to give birth to your baby. You will have already created a birth plan with your counselor, and the counselor will be present when you are in labor for support. This is also when the adoptive family will meet the child and where you will give your last consent before they leave the hospital with the child.
Post-placement support
This step comes after the birth and finalization of the adoption. You will have already set up the boundaries with the adoptive family regarding visits with the child and communication throughout their lives.
You are in Control of Your Adoption Plan!
It all comes down to what you are comfortable doing when going through the adoption process. The adoption plan is made with your best interest in mind as well as the child’s. We are here to support you in your choice and how you want your adoption plan to play out.
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.