Both open and closed adoptions are legal procedures and are permanent.
A woman who has an unintended pregnancy has three options. She can raise the child, place the child for adoption, or have an abortion. Every woman needs to decide which option is best for her, but deciding may be hard to do.
When it comes to adoption, there are many factors to consider and many questions to ask.
A Tough Decision
First, a woman needs to think about the next nine months. Is she willing and able to get good prenatal care? Will she change her mind after giving birth?
The father of the baby is another factor. Is he supportive of placing the child for adoption? Has he given the legal consent that is required?
Other questions a woman might want to ask herself include:
Are other people pressuring me to choose adoption?
Am I choosing adoption because abortion scares me?
Can I accept my child living with someone else?
Do I believe that my child will be treated well?
Will I be jealous of the adoptive parents?
Do I care what people will think of me?
Do I respect women who place their children for adoption?
Many women who choose adoption are happy knowing that their children are loved and living with people who want to raise a child. But some women find that the pain of being separated from their children is deeper and longer lasting than they expected. Asking these kinds of questions will help a woman decide if adoption is the right choice for her.
Once a woman chooses adoption, there are also practical questions to consider:
Open or Closed?
If a woman chooses adoption, she has two options - the adoption may be open or closed. In an open adoption, the woman can participate in selecting the new parents for her child, and she has the option to get to know them and even stay in touch. A closed adoption means her name and the adoptive parents' names are kept secret. Both open and closed adoptions are legal procedures and are permanent. Even though the laws differ from state to state, it's rare for a court to give a child back to the birth mother. That's why a woman needs to be sure she is prepared for this option.
Making the Arrangements
There are three ways to arrange for an adoption:
1. Agency Adoption. A public or private agency takes care of all the arrangements, like choosing the hospital for the birth, handling the legal paperwork, and choosing the adoptive parents. Agency adoptions can be open or closed.
2. Independent Adoption. The adoption is usually open, and the birth parents place the child with the adoptive parents. The birth mother signs a form that lets the adoptive parents take the child home. During the first six to eight weeks, the state observes the adoptive family's quality of life and home environment to make sure it is healthy and safe. At any point during this time, the adoptive or birth parents can change their minds.
3. Adoption by Relatives. A relative of the birth parents becomes the adoptive parent of the child. This type of adoption also needs to be approved by a judge, and the relative will be observed just like any other adoptive parent.
With adoption — as with giving birth or having an abortion — it's important for women to know the facts and to talk about their concerns. Planned Parenthood clinics can provide counseling and information for women who are deciding with what to do about a pregnancy. Call 1-800-230-PLAN to find out more.
For more information about adoption, you can also contact the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse at 1-888-251-0075.
Sexuality and relationship info you can trust from Planned Parenthood® Federation of America
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