What Should I Include in My Adoption Plan as a Birth Mother?
One aspect of adoption is creating an adoption plan. This plan includes the birth mother’s wants and desires in various aspects, along with the standard adoption protocol. Every birth mother must make an adoption plan when placing their baby for adoption through an agency. Some plans are simple, and others are more comprehensive.
For most birth mothers who come to our adoption agency in Arizona, it’s their first time placing their baby for adoption. They often wonder, “What should I include in my adoption plan?” Don’t fear! A caseworker or adoption specialist will work with you to create your adoption plan. Adoption Choices of Arizona has provided a rough outline of what an adoption plan looks like, and suggestions for you to consider.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 1-480-900-5520 or visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona.
The Basics for an Adoption Plan
When you’ve decided to place your baby for adoption, there is basic preliminary paperwork that must be completed and signed.
- Choose an Adoptive Family
One of the most important parts of the adoption plan is choosing the family who will take care of your child. List qualities to look for in adoptive parents, so that your options won’t be so overwhelming. Take inspiration from your own childhood into account when looking at potential adoptive parents. Start by listing non-negotiables such as:
- Religion – Do you want your child to grow up in a religious household? Maybe you had a bad religious experience and don’t want your child to go through the same things, so you choose an adoptive family who aren’t religious. Are there certain religions you are strongly against?
- Location – How close do you want to live near your child? Is it important to you that the adoptive parents live in the same state or city? Location influences a lot of other factors such as school, health, family, and more. Do the adoptive parents live in a good school district? Do they live in a safe part of town? How far away are they from the nearest hospital or urgent care? Think about friends and family that you want surrounding your children. Do they live near family? How often do they hang out with friends? Will your child have any other children to play with?
- Relationship status – Does a married couple align with your wants for your child? Or are you willing to give a single parent the chance to care for you baby? Think about how important the relationship status the adoptive parents is to you.
- Interview the Adoptive Family
An online profile can only reveal so much about the hopeful adoptive parents. Being around a potential adoptive parent can help put you at ease and give you a chance to witness their personality. Prepare a list of questions to ask if you want. This can help you remember any important details you want to know about the potential adoptive parents.
- Who are you together? If you’re meeting with a couple, you want to know about their relationship. How did they meet? What do they enjoy doing together? What difficult situations made them stronger. This will let you know how they can work together as a parenting team.
- Support network. Every parent needs support. Whether they have close friends, family members, or a religious support system, it’s important for you to know who they’ll be able to turn to in times of need.
- What are your plans for the future? This question is helpful in envisioning what your child’s life might be life. Are they looking to move anytime soon? Do they have other children? Do they want more children? Understand what kind of life you envision for your child, and see which adoptive parent might work the best.
- How important is (fill in the blank)? What’s most important to them, and how will they implement those values in your child’s life? Ask how they view health and wellness. Question if they believe higher education is necessary. Do they fit traveling in their life?
- Create Your Hospital Plan
A hospital plan, also known as a birth plan, is an effective tool for discussing details with the people who have the responsibility of caring for and supporting you. A hospital plan is not necessarily a requirement, but it’s encouraged. This document lets your medical team know your preferences. It also helps refresh the memory of your healthcare provider when you are in labor.
There are many different templates available online that help you create a hospital plan, but they have a variety of differences. The following are some of the more common aspects included in a hospital plan:
- Room atmosphere
- Process of labor
- Pain management
- Type of delivery
If you’d like an idea of what a hospital plan looks like, or need help creating one, check out this one we have provided.
- Post-placement Agreement
The great thing about adoption is the fact you, as the birth mother, are able to choose how much contact you’d like with your child. Adoption is becoming more and more open, but if that’s not something you are interested in, you have the option to choose a closed adoption. It doesn’t matter the reason behind your type of adoption choice, your decision is valid and should be respected without judgement.
Take careful time to look over the pros and cons of an open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption. You not only want to have your baby’s best interest in mind, but think of yourself as well.
What Should I Include in My Adoption Plan as a Birth Mother?
Every adoption plan is unique and different. No two are the same. Adoption plans may seem overwhelming at first, but it’s an important piece for Adoption Choices of Arizona to have to help find the best adoptive parents for your child. We will work with you to create an adoption plan that best fits your needs and situation.
Don’t be afraid to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your adoption plan.
For adoption resources or to begin your adoption journey, birth parents can visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona or call or text us at 1-480-900-5520. If you are an prospective adoptive family hoping to adopt a baby, please instead, visit us here!
Meet the author: Sarah Aguilera, a Northern Arizona University linguistics and creative writing graduate, is an aspiring author with a passion for influencing others through written words. She has a healthy ardor for all things literature and is often found with a book in her hands.
When she’s not working, Sarah likes to spend her free time swimming, playing with her dog, going to concerts with friends and having crazy adventures with her family. Her love for her own family is what pushed her to join the adoption writing team. She looks forward to educating those hoping to grow their family through adoption.
