3 Reasons Why You Should Choose a Semi-Open Adoption in Oklahoma

By Jillian Pappas

An unexpected pregnancy can be stressful. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we understand that the adoption process can be one of the scariest times of your life. There will be many important decisions that the birth mother will have to make. Among these decisions, one of the most critical decisions will be the type of adoption you wish to choose. This article will discuss some reasons a semi-open adoption might be the right choice for you.

What Are The Different Types of Adoption?

Before we jump into it, we’ll give you a quick rundown on the three different types of adoption.

• Open Adoption– An open adoption is an adoption in which there is a relationship between the adoptive family and the birth mother. Every adoption journey is different. A birth mother may have regular meetups with the adoptive family in some open adoptions. In other open adoptions, the birth mother and adoptive family remain in contact through phone calls or emails.

• Closed Adoption– A closed adoption is an adoption in which there is no relationship between the birth mother and the adoptive family. In a closed adoption, the identity of the birth mother and the adoptive family remains private. 

• Semi-Open Adoption– A semi-open adoption is an adoption that is mediated through a third party, like an adoption agency. 

Now that you are familiar with the three different types of adoption, let’s go over some other reasons why a semi-open adoption might be the right choice for you.

You Get To Choose the Adoptive Family

In a semi-open adoption, the birth mother remains completely controlling the adoption process. Like an open adoption, in a semi-open adoption, the birth mother will still be able to choose what adoptive family her child is placed with. This is incredibly important for many birth mothers. With a semi-open adoption, the birth mother will be able to choose an adoptive family that aligns with her values and beliefs. Some preferences that birth mothers base their selection of an adoptive family include:

• The adoptive family’s religion and race
• Family size (large or small)
• Single parent family
• The older or younger adoptive family

It’s important to understand that no preferences are too small at Adoption Choices of Oklahoma. Your priorities are valuable, and we encourage you to list them out in your Oklahoma adoption.

A Semi-Open Adoption Provides Closure in a Gentle Way

At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we understand that adoption can be incredibly difficult for birth mothers. Adoption can be bittersweet for birth mothers. However, a semi-open adoption can provide closure for the birth mother while allowing her to remain in her child’s life. Many birth mothers choose a semi-open adoption because it takes the pressure off. It will enable the birth mother to begin her healing journey while knowing that her child is with a loving family. By choosing the family, the birth mother may even have reduced feelings of guilt when placing their child up for adoption.

Semi-Open Adoption Allows for a Medically Informed Adoptive family

One of the biggest reasons why a birth mother may choose a semi-open adoption is for her baby’s medical history. By allowing a mediator between the birth mother and the adoptive family, Adoption Choices of Oklahoma can provide the adoptive family with crucial medical history regarding the child. This can be incredibly important if a health issue ever arises. 

These are just a few reasons why a birth mother may select a semi-open adoption. Semi-open adoptions are often referred to as a “best of both worlds” scenario in the adoption world. It allows for the privacy of closed adoption but the ability to connect and see the child grow. It’s a beautiful choice if you are unsure what adoption type will best suit you. Remember, the type of adoption will always be up to the birth mother. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we will always provide resources and information regarding the birth mothers’ choices.