10 Most Common Questions Birth Mothers Have About Adoption
It’s understandable that when you find out you are unexpectedly pregnant, you have a lot of questions. It’s imperative that, as a birth mother, you understand that you have full control over your choices. You have options, and it’s important to recognize that you are not alone. Our adoption specialists are here for you 24/7.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 1-480-900-5520 or visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona.
Every birth mother and her situation is different. There is no dumb question, as all of your concerns are valid. Adoption Choices of Arizona has compiled a list of the 10 most common questions birth mothers have about adoption. If you don’t see one of your important questions below, don’t be afraid to contact us and ask!
- If I contact Adoption Choices, am I obligated to choose adoption?
When you contact Adoption Choices of Arizona, an adoption specialist will help you explore the world of adoption, objectively, to determine if it’s the best choice for you and your baby. Then, the adoption specialist will help answer any and all of your questions. If you decide that adoption is right for you, you will be assigned an adoption caseworker, who will begin working with you on your adoption plan.
If after this initial phone call you are still unsure about choosing adoption, you don’t have to continue talking or working with us. We will not call you constantly, hounding you and asking you to choose adoption. We understand that each birth mother and her situation is different, and that only you know what’s best for you and your baby. If you decide to choose adoption, we will be here to assist you.
- Are there different types of adoption?
Yes, there are three different types of adoption to choose from:
- Open – You and the adoptive parents you choose will come to a mutual agreement about staying in your child’s life. Together, you will decide the type of contact — letters, phone calls, in-person visits, emails, etc.
- Semi-open – You will be able to have contact with your child, but from a protected distance. Most common contact within semi-open adoptions include emails, photo updates and letters.
- Closed – There will be no contact between you and your child, nor with the adoptive parents. No identifying information is shared between you and the adoptive family.
- Can I choose the adoptive parents?
Yes! One of the great things about choosing adoption is that you can hand pick the family who will be raising your child. It’s only natural that you want your child to be properly loved and cared for in the best possible hands. We have created a list of qualities to look for in adoptive parents that can help you narrow down your wants and needs.
- How are the adoptive families screened?
Adoption Choices of Arizona pre-screens all adoptive families to make sure that they…
- Are fully committed to adopting a child
- Have completed an extensive home study
- Complete background checks including criminal, financial, and medical
- Accepting of certain contact with the birth mother, before and after adoption
Trust us that we’ve properly and extensively screened each adoptive family, and now it’s your turn to do your own screening and pick the best adoptive family for your child.
- Can I have a relationship with my child?
This all depends on the type of adoption you choose to have. If you choose a closed adoption, you will not be able to see or talk with your child. But if you picked an open or semi-open adoption, you’ll be able to discuss with the adoptive parents the best plan for communication with your child.
- Does the birth father have rights?
This is a great question and largely depends on your relationship with your child’s birth father. For instance, if you know who he is,and he is supportive of your decision, he can be there to help you through the adoption process. If you feel comfortable with it, he can even have a say in the big decisions. However, if he is known and able to be contacted, he will need to sign away his parental rights.
On the other hand, if your child’s birth father is unknown, we will do our due diligence in trying to locate him with any and all information you are able to provide. After the time allotted by the state of Arizona, if he does not appear, then your adoption journey is able to continue without him and his signature.
As every adoption journey is unique, be sure to consult with your adoption caseworker if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s birth father.
- How much will adoption cost me?
All of Adoption Choices of Arizona’s services are free to you. We will help you find assistance in paying for different expenses. This includes: legal services, medical expenses, family matching, counseling and more.
- What resources are available to me?
There are an abundance of resources available for birth mothers. Resources will be received in many ways from financial assistance to emotional support. Professional support is offered in the forms of individual counseling and support groups. You have the option to stick with support from Adoption Choices of Arizona, or we can give recommendations for other services.
- What are my post-adoption support options?
Support does not end when you give birth. In fact, this is when more support and guidance is often needed and desired. Your adoption caseworker will continue to work with you to figure out the exact support you need. We offer post-placement support, or we can give you recommendations for other support options.
- How do I get started?
To start your adoption journey and create an adoption plan, reach out to a professional. Here at Adoption Choices of Arizona, our professional staff is available 24/7 to assist you in any way. Even if you are unsure about choosing adoption, contact us and we will talk you through all your options. It’s understandable to be afraid, but you got this!
Most Common Questions Birth Mothers have about Adoption
We hope that any questions you had were answered above. If not, please don’t hesitate to call us and get further information.
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.
