If you’re pregnant and addicted to drugs, adoption is always there for you. Whether you’re currently struggling with drug use or have a history of drug use, there are adoption professionals who will work with you to find the perfect family for your baby.
To get access to helpful resources and services, reach out to an adoption professional today.
There are hundreds of hopeful adoptive families out there who are open to working with prospective birth mothers addicted to drugs while pregnant. If you feel that adoption is in the best interest of you and your baby, you can choose adoption at any time.
I’m Pregnant and Addicted, Can I Choose Adoption?
Yes. There are few circumstances, if any, that will prevent you from placing your baby for adoption. You should never be made to feel like you have to parent your child if you do not feel that this is the right choice for you and your baby.
“You’re not giving your babies up,” Janelle says. “You’re just giving them a better life… it’s unselfish, you know? That’s their lives you’re thinking about — it’s not just your life. You’re giving them the opportunity to live the best life that they can, and the life you know that you can’t give them.”
You always have alternative options: abortion and adoption.
Many states have a maximum number of weeks you can be into your pregnancy and still get an abortion. These laws vary from state to state so you will need to determine if your state’s abortion laws enable you to terminate your pregnancy.
However, if you choose adoption, you can pursue this option at any point in your pregnancy. You can even choose adoption when you’re at the hospital or after you’ve taken your baby home. Most adoption agencies do not screen for drugs and will provide assistance for pregnant addicts.
You will not be reported for your drug usage. It is only encouraged to be open and honest about any drug and alcohol use so that your adoption professional can adequately guide you through the adoption process.
How Mothers Addicted to Drugs While Pregnant Aren’t Screened
When you begin your adoption journey, you will be assigned an adoption professional who will guide you through your adoption journey.
Most adoption agencies do not screen for drugs, but you may be asked questions about your daily habits so that your adoption professional can help you adjust your lifestyle to accommodate your pregnancy.
Your adoption professional will also be able to help you get access to prenatal care. These prenatal records and your social medical history form will only be disclosed to the adoptive family. If you are pregnant and addicted to drugs, these forms are the place to disclose that.
None of the information you disclose about any substance use will result in legal consequences. It will only be used to help you find an adoptive family who is prepared to work with birth mothers addicted to drugs while pregnant. Some hopeful adoptive families are better prepared than others to care for a child born to a woman addicted to drugs.
When hopeful adoptive families begin their adoption process, they fill out a template where they can list which substances, they’re comfortable with prospective birth mothers having used during their pregnancy. Your adoption professional will show you the adoptive family profiles of hopeful adoptive parents who are a good fit for you.
Adoption professionals always encourage hopeful adoptive families to be as open as possible when filling out these adoption planning questionnaires. Regardless of whether you are pregnant and addicted or were previously addicted, there is a hopeful adoptive family out there for you.
Benefits of Adoption for Pregnant Women Addicted to Drugs
If you’re placing your baby for adoption because you’re pregnant and addicted, you can get free help from your adoption agency. No matter what your situation looks like, adoption can benefit you in many ways such as:
- 24/7 counseling. Being pregnant and addicted is an emotionally complex time. Your adoption professional can provide you with free counseling to help you cope with these difficult emotions.
- Financial assistance. You won’t have to spend a dime during your adoption process. Adoption is completely free for prospective birth mothers. You may even be eligible for financial assistance throughout your adoption. This assistance will go towards your pregnancy costs and living expenses throughout your pregnancy.
- Creating your adoption plan. During a time when you feel like you don’t have any control, being able to make your own decision when it comes to your adoption plan can be comforting. You get to choose the adoptive family, what you want to happen at the hospital and nature of the post-placement contact.
- Open adoption. You can still have a relationship with your child through open adoption. You can watch your child grow and thrive and they have the closure of knowing where they came from.
If you’re pregnant and addicted, adoption is there for you. An adoption professional can help you find an amazing family to give your child the wonderful life you want for them. To get started with your adoption process, reach out to an adoption professional today.
