Is it Okay to Want a Closed Adoption for Your Baby?
By Jan Douglas
Adoption can be a difficult decision to make. If you are pregnant and considering placing your baby for adoption, you may feel overwhelmed. You may be wondering about the various adoption agencies in Arizona. Adoption Choices of Arizona is a private, local adoption agency. We are licensed and understand Arizona adoption. We treat everyone with respect and dignity and ensure they receive the birth mother benefits they need. One of our adoption specialists will meet with you in person and explain how adoption works. We can help a birth mother understand the adoption process.
As a birth mom, you have choices in the type of adoption. The pregnant woman controls the adoption plan, birth, and hospital plans. She will also select the adoptive family. Adoptions have changed greatly in the last few decades. Adoptions are individual and can look different for each person. There are three types of adoption, but even within those classifications, diversity and flexibility exist. Adoption Choices of Arizona has been supporting pregnant women since 2011. Our adoption specialists will help you navigate the adoption journey. And we will help you create an adoption plan that is perfect for you!
Three Types of Adoption in Arizona
Open Adoption – an open adoption will have the most amount of contact between the birth mother and adoptive family. This contact can include the adoptive parents attending pre-natal doctor appointments and sometimes being present at the baby’s birth. Following the adoption, there will be a relationship between the birth parent and the adoptive family. The birth parent(s) may visit the child and family regularly or annually. Open adoption may involve emails, phone calls, or letters. The guidelines or level of openness can also change. An essential key for this type of adoption is communication and honesty.
Semi-open Adoption – This adoption allows consistent communication until the child is eighteen. However, it differs significantly from an open adoption in that there is no direct relationship between the birth mom and the adoptive family. The birth parent will receive updates regarding the child via email or letters, usually with the adoption agency as the mediator. This type of adoption can be a good choice if the birth mother finds it difficult to move on after she places her baby for adoption. She may need space to begin a new life, yet she would still like to know how the child is doing.
Closed Adoption – a closed adoption suggests confidentiality. In this type of adoption, there is no contact between the birth mother and the adoptive parents. The only information shared will be the medical history of the birth parent(s). A pregnant woman who chooses a closed adoption relinquishes her right to communicate with the child and the adoptive family.
Reasons a Birth Mother may Want a Closed Adoption in Arizona
Firstly, every adoption experience is unique. What may be right for one person will not be for another. By choosing adoption, a birth mother can find peace knowing she has given the greatest gift to the adoptive parents. Whatever the reasons are for a birth mother deciding on a particular type of adoption, Adoption Choices of Arizona will always respect and support this decision. No one but the expectant woman knows the specific circumstances around a pregnancy. You do not need to feel ashamed if you are pregnant and do not want the baby.
- If the pregnancy occurred from a rape.
- The birth mother suffers from an addiction or has mental health issues.
- The pregnancy is from an abusive person, and the birth mom worries about the child’s safety.
- Homelessness or the birth parent being in prison.
Open adoption and the more modern take on adoption have become increasingly common. This trend is positive, as it moves away from stereotypes of adoption connected to shame and secrecy. But just because the movement is positive in the big-picture doesn’t mean it’s right for your specific situation. That’s why many prospective birth mothers wonder if it is okay to want a closed adoption.
Details to Keep in Mind When Considering a Closed Adoption
Ultimately, this is your choice. As a birth mother, you are in charge of your adoption process.
Be Honest With Yourself. It’s important to be completely open and honest with your adoption specialist about what you do and do not want from this process. You may feel like you’re supposed to want an open adoption, but deep down inside, you know it is not right for you. You may feel unsure if open adoption is the best way to move forward and find closure post-placement. Explore all your options, but at the end of the day, do what you honestly feel is the best option for your life. When honest, life usually turns out the best in the long run. Remember, you can change your mind before the adoption is legal.
Long-Term Goals. What would you like your life to look like two years from now? Are you ready to be a parent? Raising a child takes more than love. Will you have the financial and emotional resources for parenting your baby? In some circumstances, it would be too painful to have a relationship with the adoptive family and child. Consider the emotional impact of either choosing to maintain a relationship with the adoptive family/child vs. never seeing your child again.
Benefits of a Closed Adoption in Arizona
- A sense of finality after placement
- The ability to ultimately move forward into your future
- Privacy
Adoption is a big choice, and it may involve complicated issues. If you are looking for adoption agencies in Arizona, Adoption Choices of Arizona is one of the best adoption agencies in Arizona. One of our adoption specialists can meet with you and explore all the options regarding adoption. We can explain how adoption works. Adoptions vary. There is no standard way when it comes to adoption today. Adoption can be a beautiful experience.
