Finding out you’re pregnant can be the most exciting news you will ever receive. One the other hand, this news can be unexpected and change the trajectory of your life. An unwanted pregnancy can be a scary situation to find yourself in. However, you are not alone, and you have options.
One of the choices that you have to make when you find out you’re pregnant is if you want to terminate the pregnancy, keep your baby, or place him or her for adoption. Adoption is an option that benefits you as the birth mother, as well as the adoptive family. It is one of the most viable options, even though starting the adoption process may seem challenging. Adoption Choices of Oklahoma knows the struggle that you are going through and wants to help you as best as we can. One of these ways is by assisting you with creating an adoption plan as a birth mother.
The Importance of Creating an Adoption Plan as a Birth Mother
You may be asking yourself, Why do I need a plan? Can’t I just go for it? The technical answer is yes! You can figure it out as you go. However, the process of adoption can be an overwhelming one. Knowing what your priorities, needs and wants are is an important aspect to have organized before presenting it to other people. Having a clear idea of what is important to you will allow you to better express those needs to other people. Let’s get started making your plan!
Step One: Prioritizing Yourself
When it comes to creating an adoption plan as a birth mother, you need to prioritize yourself. One way to do this is to sit down and establish your why. In other words, why is adoption the best choice for you and your baby?
Adoption can be a scary process, but knowing and understanding why you are doing it can be found out by organizing your thoughts and reasoning with yourself. We want to help you as best as we can, but the ultimate choice and reasons reside in you. No one can, or should, decide what is best of you and your future. Think about the impact adoption will have on your future and your child. Go from there.
Step Two: Researching and Choosing Your Agency
Researching and choosing an adoption agency are some of the first steps in creating an adoption plan as a birth mother. Even though the search might take a while, choosing an adoption agency can help you navigate the more challenging aspects of your adoption journey. For instance, an adoption agency can provide assistance with legal counsel, education about the process itself and any and all necessary services along the way. Because each agency varies slightly in how they operate, it’s important to do your research ahead of time to better determine which agency is the best fit for you. Part of this is knowing what you need or want from them, and becoming familiar with your state’s laws about adoption as well.
Step Three: Choosing a Type of Adoption
An important part of the adoption process is understanding the different types of adoption that you can choose from. The type of adoption can become very important later if you want to have contact with your child. If this is important to you, you’ll want to find an agency that offers you the option to choose. There are three different levels of adoption to choose from: closed, semi-open and open. Here at Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we encourage open adoption. Ultimately, this is your choice to make and we respect your desires and needs. After you choose an adoption agency, your counselor can help walk you through your options and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Step Four: Choosing What You Want in a Family
Knowing what type of family that you want your child to grow up in can be difficult to decide and understand. How do you know who is the right fit? Will the adoptive parents have the morals and values that you want your child to grow up with? These are all questions that can undoubtedly swirl through your mind. A good step is to develop questions to ask prospective adoptive parents to see if they might be the right fit for your child.
Step Five: Deciding on the Birth
After choosing your family, another big step is deciding what your birthing experience will look like. Would you like the adoptive parents to be in the delivery room? Who will be there to support you? How much contact do you want with your baby? These are all important questions to ask yourself. Creating an adoption plan as a birth mother has a lot of steps and factors involved. Answering these questions beforehand and having an idea of what you want can allow the process to flow smoothly.
Implementing Your Plan
Now that you have created your plan, it is important to implement what you have written down. There is always room for change, as long as you are the one initiating that change. Make sure you are prioritizing your desires, and not letting others pressure you into doing things that you don’t want to do. You will get through these struggles and challenges. Just take it one step at a time.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us. You may visit our website here or call 405-794-7500 (Oklahoma City) or 918-982-6220 (Tulsa).
Support Adoption Choices
Adoption Choices, Inc. is partnering with Crowdrise, a fundraising website for nonprofits, to help our adoptive parents and birth parents with much needed financial assistance. We understand that expenses keep clients from fulfilling their dreams. Both with birth parents making a plan for adoption, and with adoptive parents growing their family. It is our mission to provide financial assistance through grants and scholarships, awarded annually in November, in honor of National Adoption Month. Funds assist adoptive parents with matching and placements, adoption finalization and helping birth mothers improve their lives through higher education — and much more.
However, we can’t do it alone. Please read up on our programs and donate money where you are able. Your donation will make a huge impact.
About the Author
Jadzia Miller is currently in the final stretches of pursuing an English degree at Colorado Christian University. She has lived in the beautiful state of Colorado for the 22 years she has been on this earth, and loves exploring the beauty that is constantly surrounding her.
She aspires to pursue a career in publishing or library science; either way, Jadzia wants to be encompassed by books and stories. Living near Denver, she is surrounded by artistic pursuits and wants to continue exploring these as often as possible. Jadzia has a passion for encouraging people to read and finding joy in reading books.
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Sources:
Adoption, Angel. “Creating Your Adoption Plan.” Angel Adoption, Angel Adoption, Inc., www.angeladoptioninc.com/creating-adoption-plan/.
“How Do I Start an Adoption Plan?” Adoption.org, adoption.org/start-adoption-plan.
“What Is an Adoption Plan?” Adoption Makes Family, 27 May 2015, www.adoptionmakesfamily.org/blog/what-is-an-adoption-plan/.
