27 Mar Planning an Adoption at 6 Months Pregnant
It was a hard decision, but you’ve finally managed to think it through. Placing your baby for adoption was the last thing you wanted, but sometimes we are stuck in a situation that needs a difficult decision. After careful consideration you’ve decided that it might be best to put your baby up for adoption six months into your pregnancy. And you’re wondering, “Is it too late?” No, it’s never too late to place a child for adoption. If parenting your baby isn’t an option, adoption is an alternative that can help you regain control of your life while doing something amazing for your child.
How to Start Your Adoption Process
The good news is that being six months into your pregnancy, you’re almost done with your second trimester. And as you’re entering your third trimester, here are the steps you can take to start the adoption process:
Step 1: Contact an Adoption Professional
Whether you live in DC, MD or VA or somewhere else, contact Cradle of Hope to speak with an experienced adoption professional who understands the adoption process and will go over your
options in an unplanned pregnancy.
Step 2: Put together an Adoption Plan
You will work closely with a Cradle of Hope adoption specialist to create an adoption plan to ensure an easy process. We will ask you about the type of family you have in mind for your child, how much communication you are comfortable with (open adoptions, semi-open adoptions, and closed adoptions play a role here), hospital logistics, and financial support. Your Cradle of Hope adoption specialist will help you think through all of these questions, so don’t feel pressured to answer them on the spot.
Step 3: Choose Adoptive Parents
When you know the adoptive parents you prefer for your baby, it’s time to review family profiles. Cradle of Hope will present families who closely match the qualifications you have chosen. When you select your adoptive family, you can communicate with them through email, phone, or in person.
Step 4: Creating a Hospital Plan
You will let us know which hospital you want to deliver at, who will be the first to hold your baby and how much time you want to spend with your child before the or she goes home with the adoptive parents. You will have options about naming the baby, whether a male baby gets circumcised, and where the baby sleeps in the hospital.
Step 5: Post-adoption Support
It is always wise to have a post-adoption plan in place, so you have lots of support and assistance lined up after your hospital stay. Many birth mothers will choose to attend birth mother support groups or seek a therapist to talk about their adoption decision.
Step 6: Stay in Contact with the Adoptive Family
After the baby is placed, you’re welcome to keep in contact with the adoptive family, depending on your comfort level and how much communication you prefer. Some birth mothers appreciate monthly or quarterly updates on their children and watching them grow up can be a reminder of why an adoption decision was made in the first place.
A Reminder for You, the Birth Mother
Even if you are six months along, you still have the option to place your baby for adoption, and there will be wonderful, stable families who want to adopt your child. But remember this, you are not giving up your child – you are giving him or her a second chance at life in a family who can meet his or her needs and provide a solid future for them.
To learn more about adoption, contact Cradle of Hope Adoption Center. You can call us at 301-587-4400, text us at 301-905-9999, or email us at info@cradlehope.org. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!