Putting a child up for adoption can be one of the hardest decisions that you will ever make, but it can be one of the most selfless acts as well. Since it is such a big decision, you will want to make sure that you have really thought it through. This way, you will not have to worry as much about living with any regret. To help you with this, you will want to review the following suggestions.
Go to Counseling
Even if you are a fairly well adjusted person, putting a baby up for adoption is adoption is a life-changing event. You want to make sure that you are well aware of the emotions are commonly felt at each step in the adoption process, including those that you may have from time to time for years to come. The more aware you are of what you can expect, the easier it will be for you to work through those emotions in a healthy way. A skilled counselor that has experience with adoptions can help you with this.
Consider the Adoption Options
An adoption agency will usually offer two types of adoptions: closed adoptions and open adoptions. With closed adoptions, you will not be given any information about the child and you will not have any contact. With an open adoption, you can have more interaction. The amount and kind of interaction that you can expect to have over the years will depend and what you and the adoptive parents agree to. You may be able to have yearly visits or it might just be an exchange of letters and pictures. It is a good idea to make sure that you are considering the pros and cons of all of the options in order to make the decision that will be the best for you and everyone else involved.
Understand Your Rights
Depending on the laws where you live, you may have the right to change your mind about the adoption, even after the child has been placed with the new family. You might have anywhere from a couple of days to a few months. It would be a good idea to speak with an attorney that has a lot of experience with adoptions so you can have a full understanding of your legal rights.
As you can see, there is a lot to do so if you are already thinking about giving a baby up for adoption, you will want to start using some of the previously mentioned suggestions right away.