A mother makes an unselfish decision when she decides to put her baby up for adoption. Relinquishing her rights means turning over the care of the baby to adoptive parents willing to raise him as their own. Adopting a baby is a life-changing event involving a multitude of steps to complete the adoption process. While every adoption is unique, knowing what to expect can help you decide if adoption is the right choice for you.
Reasons
Single people and couples choose adoption for a variety of reasons. For example, a couple might have fertility problems and decide that adoption is the best or only way for them to bring a child into their life. Or they might already have biological children but choose not to have more because of health concerns. Some people choose to adopt because there are so many foster kids who need permanent homes. According to the Administration for Children and Families, approximately 463,000 children remained in foster care in the United States in 2008.
Types
The Child Welfare Information Gateway explains there are different types of adoptions, including private adoption, international adoption and interjurisdictional adoption. Private adoption generally occurs through a for-profit agency. In a private adoption, the birth mother plays an active role in who the adoptive parents will be. Some of these adoptions are open; the baby and birth mother remain in contact after the adoption is finalized. An interjurisdictional adoption occurs when a child is matched with adoptive parents in a different county or state within the United States. International adoption occurs across the boundaries of countries; both the U.S. laws and the laws in the country where the child is a citizen apply to these adoptions.
Process
The process of adoption usually begins with the mother expressing interest to give her baby up. The state or adoption agency generally provides counseling to the mother. The father must give up his legal rights to the child. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a social worker conducts a home study of the adoptive parents to ensure that they are prepared to care for the child in their home. Usually a judge signs the order of adoption, finalizing the adoption.
Finalizing
One of the most profound complications of the adoption process is when the birth mother changes her mind about giving up her parental rights. According to the American Adoptions website, each state and country has its own time frame during which the birth mother can change her mind. Generally, the birth mother does not sign off her rights on the infant for up to 48 hours after birth.
Outcome
The outcome of most adoptions is successful. The adoptive parents bring the child home and raise it as a part of their family and community in a nurturing and positive environment. The adoption agency or state-appointed agency conduct followup visits to make sure the child is adjusting well. According to Adopting.org, the followup visits focus on meeting the needs of both the child and the parents.
