Your Rights as a Birth Parent
The most important thing that you need to be aware of when you are pregnant considering adoption is your rights as a birth parent. This will enable you to shield yourself as well as your baby during the adoption process. There are some general rights that will be applicable to you when in this situation.
Firstly, you have authority over your child until the adoption is final. This means you can make any decision involving your child such as medical needs. This is until you hand over your parental rights to the adoptive parents after which you will no longer be legally recognized as the child’s parent.
Also, you have the complete right to choose your child’s adoptive parents. This is a personal decision and should not be dictated by someone else. You may also find that there are rights that are specific to the state you live in. You should therefore check for these specifications in your state’s laws.
Think About the Type of Adoption
The other thing that you need to know when you are pregnant considering adoption is that there are different types of adoption. These types are differentiated by the level of openness that will be involved in the adoption. This is therefore something you need to think about when you are pregnant considering adoption.
The first type of abortion is a closed adoption. This is not a common choice these days as it involved closed communication. This is to mean that the birth parents are limited from having any contact with the adoptee or the adoptive parents.
Open adoption is the other type of adoption. Here, there is some openness involved between the birth parents and the adoptive family and adoptee. However, the level of openness varies in different situations. It will be based on an agreement between you and the adoptive parents. Although, the adoptive parents have the legal power to determine the amount of communication you can have with your child. They can be open to a few visits every so often or digital communication etc.
Choosing an Adoptive Family
One of the most crucial steps, when you are pregnant considering adoption, comes when choosing a family to adopt your child. This can be an overwhelming experience. It is good to keep in mind that your goal is to find the most suitable family for your child. This is what should guide your decision.
You can begin the process by thinking about the kind of parents you want for your child. What qualities do want them to possess? You can list these down. Another thing to note is the way you would like to relate with your child and the adoptive family. Your desires should align with that of the adoptive parents.
If you are using an adoptive agency, you are likely to find families who are already waiting to adopt. You can get to learn more about them through their profiles and later meeting with them. It is good to have your list of questions ready during your meeting. Make sure to take your time before you make the final decision.