226 profiles of hopeful adoptive couples
For Birthparents
Article Topics
Profile Search
Profile Id Search
Success Story
Lloyd & Sarah
We made our contact from having our profile listed on Parent Profiles.com. Without it this is a connection we never could have made. IT wasn;t the miracle few weeks some speak of. It took a 1-1/2 years to make this connection, but it was definately meant to be. We made several connections over that time and have met some very wonderful people. We very much love the birth mom of more ...
Placement Process, Adoption Options, Unplanned Pregnancy, Adoption Professionals
If you're pregnant and considering adoption, you have many important and life-changing decisions to make. While deciding to place your child with adoptive parents is the first decision you'll make in this process, there is one other choice you'll make that will determine your post-placement experiences and your life from that moment forward. This is the choice of which type of adoption is right for you. And the right choice for you is different than the right choice for someone else. That's one reason why making this decision can be so confusing and difficult.
Lukas can't wait to share his 'Big Brother Promises' with a little brother or sister. We are all excited about adding another child to our loving and laughter-filled home here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. And that's just the start of our story!
The only way to decide which type of adoption is best is to learn about each option. Making an informed decision will provide you with peace of mind and the knowledge, confidence, and comfort in moving forward with the placement process. Below are the three main types of adoption from which to choose:
Open Adoption: Open adoption means that all involved parties--birth family, adoptive family, and adoption professionals--exchange information and generally speak in-person. All parties know the identities and person details of everyone else. An open adoption also means that contact is generally maintained and encouraged post-placement. This can include attending birthday parties and other family events or it could mean the adoptive parents send letters, pictures, or update emails regularly and consistently. It may also mean that the child knows who you are and how the two of you are connected. However, each open adoption relationship is unique. Your relationship may be some of the items listed above, all of them, or none of them. It just depends on your needs, the child's needs, the adoptive parents' needs, and the agreement everyone makes.
Semi-Open/Semi-Closed Adoption: Just as it sounds, a semi-open/semi-closed adoption means that some information is exchanged, but perhaps direct contact is discouraged. Some of those in semi-open post-adoption relationships may be willing to send update letters, but may not allow you into the child's life. With this type of adoption, you also have the choice to reveal personal information or to use your adoption professional as your mouthpiece. If you don't want to meet with the adoptive parents, you can send an adoption attorney in your place. This can also help to keep your identity private, if that's what you want.
Closed Adoption: A closed adoption can mean that all confidential and identifying information is kept private, no one meets each other, and everyone works through mediators or adoption professionals. In a closed adoption, you don't even have to disclose your medical history. Although, if you wish, you may include it in the file. A closed adoption also means that there will be no contact between parties after the adoption has been finalized.
Choosing the right type of adoption for your exact situation may not be an easy decision to make. However, no matter how difficult it becomes, making an informed decision is the best thing you can do for yourself and for your child. Take the time you need to make the right decision, and don't allow yourself to be pressured. This needs to be your decision. Once you make your informed decision, you can then move forward with confidence and peace of mind and heart.
More Articles: