You’re Not Giving Up. Here’s How to Make an Adoption Plan for Your Baby
An unplanned pregnancy can be a very troubling time for a woman who is unsure of what she wants to do. During this time, becoming aware of the options you have available, and finding the right resources to guide you through your pregnancy, is very important.
This guide will help.
If you are considering adoption in Wichita, Kansas, you most likely have many questions and concerns, which is completely natural. No matter if you are just exploring your options, or you are certain adoption is the best choice for you and your child, professionals are here to help make sure you do not have to experience your pregnancy alone.
This guide will inform you on the Wichita, Kansas, adoption process and provide access to the resources you may need as you make this important decision. No matter what stage you are at in the decision-making process for your pregnancy, contact an adoption professional anytime and they will be able to answer any questions you may have and help guide you in the right direction.
For now, continue reading for more information on adoption in Wichita, KS.
How to “Give Up” a Baby for Adoption in Wichita, KS
Before we can move forward with information about adoption in Wichita, we need to discuss a topic that many are still misinformed about. There are still people who associate adoption with negativity and think when a birth mother decides to “give up” her child for adoption that she is “giving up” on her child and herself.
We need to be clear: choosing adoption is not “giving up” on, or “giving away,” your baby.
When a mother chooses adoption in Wichita, it is a selfless, loving decision that she is making to provide her child with the opportunity at their best life possible. She is making this brave choice, selflessly — not “giving up.”
Although it is preferred to use terms such as “placing a baby for adoption” or “choosing adoption for a baby”, you will still see and hear the term “giving a baby up for adoption” used throughout articles because this phrasing is so commonly used when women search for adoption information. Just know that the professionals and adoptive families you come in contact with throughout this process will never view your decision as “giving up” or “giving away” your baby — they will see it as a brave, loving, selfless decision worthy of respect.
The Wichita, KS, Adoption Process
Putting your baby up for adoption in Wichita, KS, can be a fairly complicated process without the help of adoption professionals from either local or national adoption agencies. These professionals help break the adoption into five steps, which are explained below.
Step 1: Choose Adoption and Pick an Agency
Deciding that adoption is the best choice for you and your baby is the first step to begin your adoption in Wichita, KS. Once you have made this decision, you will want to research the best adoption agencies in your area and choose a professional to be by your side throughout your pregnancy. Finding the right adoption professional should be a top priority, as they will not only help you complete your adoption but will also impact the overall outcome of your adoption in Wichita, KS. To help you make this decision, you will find a list of adoption agencies in Wichita later in this article.
Step 2: Make an Adoption Plan
When a prospective birth mother decides that adoption is best for her and her baby, and she chooses an agency to help her through the process, one of the first tasks the two will complete together is developing an adoption plan. The adoption plan helps keeps the prospective birth mother in control of how the adoption will progress. During adoption planning, the expectant mother will provide input ranging from the type of relationship she is hoping to have with her child and the adoptive family after placement, to creating a hospital plan. The goal of the adoption plan is to cover every step and detail of the adoption, to help prevent any confusion or stress along the way.
Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family
Finding the adoptive family for your baby is one of the most important and fulfilling steps in the Wichita adoption process. You want to find a family that will provide the best opportunity for your baby. In order to do so, your adoption professional will present you with prospective adoptive family profiles of families who possess characteristics that you would prefer the adoptive family to have.
Through the photos, videos and information provided, these profiles will give you a feel for the type of parents you relate with best. When you find a profile which you feel you best connect with, you will have the opportunity to communicate with the adoptive family through phone calls, email exchanges, video conferences and, in some cases, even in-person visits. Depending on the type of adoption relationship you want to have with the adoptive family and your baby, this communication may continue after placement as well.
Step 4: Complete Placement
Placement of your child is the most emotional part of the adoption process. Once you have met with the parents and have chosen a family which you feel best matches your desired family for you child, it is best to begin preparing for placement.
Preparations not only include creating a hospital plan with your adoption specialist, but also readying yourself emotionally for placement. Adoption professionals and counselors are available throughout your pregnancy and well after placement for any support you may need. It is also important that you discuss the consent laws with your adoption specialist. In Kansas, it is required that a child must be at least 12 hours old before a birth mother can consent for her baby to be placed for adoption. Consent can only be reversed if it is legally proven that the consent was not given voluntarily.
With the permanence of consent, it is important to of be certain of your adoption decision prior to signing placement forms. Your adoption professional will help counsel and prepare you for this step, so you fully understand your rights and are 100 percent sure of your choice when signing.
Step 5: Adjust to Life and Continue Your Relationship Post-Placement
The placement with an adoptive family signifies a new beginning for both you and your baby. Although this is an exciting time, understandably, for many birth mothers, post-placement is considered to be the most emotional portion of adoption. Counseling services are available, not only during your pregnancy, but also after placement. It is important to utilize these services, especially during the grieving process.
During the adoption planning stage of your adoption in Wichita, you will determine the type of relationship you have with the adoptive family and your child after placement. You and the adoptive family will set out your expectations and reach an agreement of how you both prefer post-placement communication to go.
Find a Wichita Adoption Agency Today
If you are considering putting your baby up for adoption in Wichita, Kansas, please complete a contact form, or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get in touch with an adoption professional. Having the best adoption agency by your side will help ensure your adoption is on the right track for success.
Here are a few adoption agencies near Wichita, Kansas, that you may consider contacting:
Financial Assistance During Pregnancy
For a prospective birth mother, the use of an adoption professional is free, and the services and resources they offer will be free of charge as well.
In addition to there being no cost for the use of an adoption professional, financial assistance for adoption is potentially available as well. This assistance helps cover expenses such as:
- The medical bills of the prospective birth mother related to pregnancy and birth as well as the child’s medical expenses
- Any necessary legal services to complete the adoption
- Counseling and emotional support services provided during and after the adoption process
- Pregnancy-related living expenses, such as housing costs, groceries, transportation and more
These adoption-related expenses must be accounted for and documented for the adoption hearings.
Speak with an adoption professional in Wichita, and they will be able to educate you on the financial aspects of adoption. If you have any questions about what assistance is available to you, 1-800-ADOPTION provides 24/7 support for any questions related to the adoption process.
Birth Father Rights During a Wichita Adoption
For a prospective birth mother considering adoption, it is very important to understand how birth father rights may impact your adoption decision and process. Birth father rights in Kansas are regulated by Kansas state laws. Each situation is different, so how these laws impact your specific situation will vary. Your adoption attorney will be able to answer any and all questions regarding the birth father rights involved with your adoption.
Your adoption agency will have a network of trusted attorneys to provide the legal representation you will need throughout your adoption. You may also suggest your own representation if you have found an attorney you are most comfortable with. You may consider contacting any of the following Wichita adoption lawyers:
Finding an Adoptive Family in Wichita, Kansas
For a prospective birth mother, there are so many thoughts and questions when it comes to adoption. Adoption specialists will help make finding adoptive parents for your baby as easy and enjoyable as possible. Your agency will provide you with adoptive family profiles, which provide information on potential matches, such as background information and their hopes and goals for adoption. Birth mothers can review as many adoption profiles as needed in order to find the perfect family for her child. The expectant mother always has the final say in deciding who she wants to place her baby with.
Once a prospective birth mother has narrowed down her list of potential adoptive families, it is very common for their adoption professional to set up a meeting between the two, so both parties can interact on a personal level. Depending upon where the adoptive family is located, this meeting could take place online, over the phone or potentially in person. The goal of this interaction is to help ease any concerns and answer any questions both parties may have. This also adds a level of confidence to choosing a family you would like to place your child with during your adoption in Wichita, KS.
For more information on placement and finding the right family for your child, consult with an adoption specialist. They will be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Open Adoption with Your Child
One of the largest concerns prospective birth mothers share prior to choosing adoption is their fear of a complete lack of involvement in their child’s life. As your adoption specialist will inform you, choosing to pursue an open adoption will help ease these concerns and provide you with updates and involvement in your child’s life as he or she grows older.
There are three different levels of openness in adoption: open, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption. Open adoption and the level of involvement a birth mother has with her child will be discussed and agreed upon prior to placement. As you may have guessed, semi-open adoption shares similarities with open adoption, but the involvement is more limited. Closed adoption involves no interaction or communication between the birth mother and adoptive family.
Your adoption plan will discuss your intentions early on in the process and help keep you on track towards your preferred outcome for your adoption in Wichita, KS. Speak with your adoption specialist or find more information on open adoption in Kansas here to help determine which type of adoption is best for you.
Exploring your Unplanned Pregnancy Options in Wichita, KS
An unplanned or unwanted pregnancy in Wichita, KS, creates many questions and tough decisions for a pregnant woman. Deciding what to do for not only the future of your child, but also your future as well, takes plenty of research and thought. You are faced with three choices: parenting, adoption or abortion.
Each option has its own list of pros and cons, all of which may impact you differently depending on your specific situation. In Kansas, laws are in place that prevent abortion after a certain point in pregnancy, so if that is an option you are considering, you will likely need to decide very early on. With a pregnancy lasting nine months, a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later, but also should not be rushed.
Your adoption specialist cannot and will not make your decision for you, but they will provide you with the right tools and education to make sure you are making the best choice for your pregnancy. It is natural to be confused and to be scared, but you do not have to go through any of the emotions involved in this decision-making process by yourself.
For more information on your options and the services available to you, consider contacting any of the following organizations in the Wichita, Kansas, area:
If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, contact us for a no-obligation consultation and to speak with an adoption specialist. Even if you are not certain adoption is the right choice for you, professionals will be able to answer any questions you may have and discuss all of your options, so you do not have to experience your pregnancy alone.
