Does putting your child up for adoption mean that you won’t see them again? It certainly doesn’t have to! There are open adoptions. If you’re considering adoption, you should know what kinds of adoption there are. In fact, open adoptions are among the most popular kinds of adoption used today. Keep reading to find out more about the three kinds of adoption:
What is an Open Adoption?
An open adoption is a type of relationship where the birthing parent remains in contact with the adoptive family and her child. There is no wrong or right way to do an open adoption. You are completely in control of what you want your post-adoption relationship to look like.
If it is important to you that you stay updated on your child’s life—and the adoptive family—then an open adoption might be right for you.
If you choose an open adoption, you can:
- Ensure that your child knows about their background, heritage, and culture
- Interact with your child as they grow up
- Receive updates about their life, health, and success
- Participate in your child’s life, attend important events, and anything else that you’d like
- Ensure that your child knows the circumstances of their adoption
As the prospective birth mother, you always have the right to choose what you are in charge of deciding what your relationship with your child looks like in the future. As you make your adoption plan, considering what life will look like after adoption is an important step. Here is a list of adoption professionals in Louisiana:
What is a Closed Adoption
Conversely, a closed adoption implies that there is no communication between the birthparent, the adoptive family, and the child. While there are many reasons why prospective birth parents might choose this style of adoption, it is not as common in modern adoptions. In a closed adoption, your contact with the adoptive family throughout the duration of your pregnancy will be limited. After the birth, you would likely have no contact with the adoptive family and your child. This dynamic may align with how you envision your future. There are still many pros and cons for a closed adoption, and it’s important to remember that while this style of adoption may not be right for some, it can still be right for you.
What is a Semi-open Adoption?
Although a semi-open adoption retains some communication between the adoptive parents and the prospective birth parents, most of the communication is mediated via an adoption professional. Again, it’s important to remember that there is no right answer when it comes to your adoption—what’s best for you is what’s best for you. And that may mean that a semi-open adoption is right for you. If you simply want to know how your child is doing without maintaining a close relationship with them or the adoptive parents, then a semi-open adoption could be perfect for you.
What Style of Adoption is Right for You?
When deciding which style of adoption is right for you, it’s important to remember what you imagine your future being like. Open adoptions work differently than closed and semi-open adoptions. If you want to have updates on or contact your child and their adoptive family, then either an open adoption or a semi-open adoption would be best for you. And remember: the terms of your adoption are up to you. At the same time, if you value privacy, you may want a closed adoption. No one style of adoption works for everyone, nor is every style of adoption right for every mother.
Whether you choose an open, semi-open, or closed adoption, you’ll have to factor the nature of your adoption into your adoption and hospital plans. You’ll also have to have an idea of what kind of adoption you’d like—open, closed, or semi-open, as you start thinking about adoptive families.
Doing so will help you find compatible adoptive families and streamline the adoption process. If you’re considering adoption and want to know more about the kinds of adoptions and how to create your adoption plans, fill out our contact form and get more information.
