How to Choose Adoptive Parents for an Unplanned Baby
Pregnant women considering adoption often ask Cradle of Hope for advice on how to choose adoptive parents for their baby. If you’re thinking...
Services For Birth Mothers
We offer pregnancy help and support services for women who are going through an unexpected pregnancy and are considering adoption. We will help you understand your options so you can make the best decision for you and your baby. Our counselors will guide and support you through the adoption process and beyond. You won’t be alone – we’ll be there with you, every step of the way. Call or text us today!
Counseling
Our team of social workers will provide support and guidance as you make your adoption decision, while selecting an adoptive family, and throughout the adoption process.
Medical
We will help you obtain health insurance and work to find a doctor in your area to make sure you receive excellent medical care, free of charge, throughout your pregnancy.
Living Expenses
We can provide pregnancy help including rent, utilities, food, maternity clothes, cell phone bill, and other living expenses as permitted by the laws of the state where you live.
Transportation
We will arrange transportation to take you to doctors’ appointments, office visits and/or meetings with adoptive families.
Make An Adoption Plan
Making an adoption plan for your baby can feel overwhelming, but Cradle of Hope will guide you through every step.
Step I:Contact Cradle of Hope
If you are pregnant and considering adoption, call Cradle of Hope at (301) 587-4400, (703) 352-4806, or (202) 466-0973. You can also text us at 301-905-9999. You can speak with a counselor who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You will not be pressured to make a quick decision or one that does not feel comfortable to you. Making the first call about adoption is an important step to getting reliable, accurate information about your options and the support you need to make a plan that is right for you and your baby.
Step II: Meet With Counselor
You might be feeling scared or unsure about who to talk with about your pregnancy. When you work with Cradle of Hope, your counselor will be there for you whenever you want to talk. You can explore your options and talk about your feelings and concerns related to your unplanned pregnancy. Your counselor will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as your child’s birthmother. Remember, everything you tell the counselor will remain confidential.
Step III: Create Adoption Plan
Cradle of Hope will help you create an adoption plan that works best for you. You can select the adoptive family for your baby and even meet them prior to the baby’s birth. We will screen, evaluate and educate prospective adoptive families to ensure that they will provide a loving and stable home for your child. If you want to have an open adoption with continued contact with the adoptive family after the placement, we will help to arrange photos, letters, phone calls and even visits. If you prefer a closed adoption, Cradle of Hope will make sure that your privacy and your wishes are respected. Whichever adoption feels right to you, our counselors are here to support you.
Step IV:
Support During Delivery
You may be overwhelmed with emotions surrounding the birth of your baby. Your counselor will be by your side at the hospital to provide you with support and counseling during this difficult time. As your advocate, your counselor will work with the hospital to ensure your needs are met during your hospital stay. You will be able to spend time with the baby during your hospital stay if you want to.
Step V:
Place Baby
The baby is placed with the adoptive family upon discharge from the hospital. You will sign the legal adoption documents at time of placement. This can be an emotional time for everyone, and Cradle of Hope will make sure to provide support and guidance. It is important to remember and review why you have chosen adoption, and understand that your feelings are normal. Expect your counselor to help you through this time and make sure that you feel comfortable with placement.
Step VI:
Keep In Touch
Although making an adoption plan is a selfless, loving decision, it also is a difficult one. Over the next few days and months, it is common to feel many different emotions. It is important to stay in touch with your counselor who can help you understand and process these feelings. Choosing adoption is a life long decision. Your Cradle of Hope counselor will continue to support you after placement for as long as you need help in the healing process. We will be a resource for you as you begin to move forward with your post-pregnancy life goals.
Embarazada? Considere la adopción!
Llámenos (301) 587-4400
HOW DOES ADOPTION WORK?
We will work with you to create an adoption plan that you control and that meets your needs. You can choose the adoptive family and you can decide how much contact you want with them before, during and after the adoption. You can choose open adoption, semi-open adoption or closed adoption. We will support you throughout the process and after your newborn or young child is placed. You are in the driver’s seat!
Placing my child for adoption through Cradle of Hope was a very positive experience. Linda and her team provided me with a ton of support, both before and after the placement. They helped me through two difficult pregnancies and always made sure that my needs were met. Cradle of Hope continues to facilitate my communication with my daughter’s adoptive family and makes sure I receive photos and updates on her progress. Cradle of Hope did a great job for me and I highly recommend them. – Nakia, Birth Mom
Adoption Questions
I’m not sure where to start. What do I do first?
You’ve already started, by reading about adoption on the Internet. It’s important for you to learn about your options so that you can make the best possible decisions for you and your baby. A counselor at Cradle of Hope can provide you with support, counseling and information. If you decide that adoption is the best plan for you and your baby, we can help you through each step of the process. Call us at 301-587-4400, 703-352-4806, or 202-466-0973.
I don’t have any medical insurance. How will I pay my medical bills?
We can assist you in getting the medical coverage you need. If you don’t qualify for medical insurance and you decide that adoption is the best choice for you and your baby, the medical bills for your pregnancy and your delivery will be covered by the adopting family.
Will I get to choose the adoptive family?
Yes you can. We believe that you should be able to select the adoptive family for your baby. You can see profiles of prospective adoptive families who have already been approved to adopt. We do not pre-select families or limit the number of family profiles that you can view.
What is open adoption?
At Cradle of Hope, birthmothers can choose the adoptive family for the baby and decide whether they would like contact with the baby and the adoptive family after the baby is born. Some birthmothers would like to see pictures of the baby and get letters from the adoptive family. Other women would like the chance to visit with the adoptive family and the baby. An adoptive placement where there is contact between the birthmother and the adopting family is called an open adoption. The counselors at Cradle of Hope can help you to decide what type of adoption is best for you and your child.
Will my baby go into foster care?
No. Many women prefer that their baby goes directly home to their new family. We believe that baby should be placed directly with the adoptive parents that you have selected.
Even if your baby is already born or you are parenting your toddler, adoption is still an option.
Whether you are struggling financially, find yourself in a difficult relationship, or simply want to provide your child with more than what you are able to offer, adoption can be a positive, loving choice.
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Still Have Questions?
Call or text us! Cradle of Hope’s adoption counselors are always available to meet with you, in person or by phone, to make sure you are fully informed and comfortable with the adoption process. We’ll help you make the best possible decision for you and your baby.