There are few experiences more challenging than an unplanned pregnancy. It can be a life-altering occurrence, especially if the pregnancy comes at a time when you feel that parenting is not an option.
Are you trying to figure out how to handle an unplanned pregnancy today? You’re probably dealing with a lot of confusing emotions and wondering how to move forward. This guide to Independence adoption is for you.
Adoption in Independence, MO, could be the unplanned pregnancy plan you are looking for. It’s not your only option, but it is one that many women choose. In this guide to giving a baby up for adoption in Independence, we’ll go over all of your unplanned pregnancy options, explain the adoption process, and provide helpful information to resources that can support you during this time.
News of an unplanned pregnancy may be devastating, but there are ways to move forward. We hope that this guide provides you a sense of direction and a hope that a better future lies ahead.
How to ‘Give Up’ a Baby for Adoption in Independence, MO
Before going any further, let’s talk about why we’ve put “give up” in quotation marks. It’s a common phrase — you may have used it yourself — and there’s no bad intention behind it. However, it couldn’t be further from the truth of the situation.
Nothing about choosing adoption resembles “giving up.”
When you “give your baby up for adoption” in Independence, MO, you are making a courageous decision. This decision comes from a place of love, and it holds the possibility of creating a better future for yourself and your child.
Instead of saying “give up” for adoption, it’s more accurate to say “create an adoption plan,” “place for adoption,” or “choose adoption.” While you will still see “give up” used here, it’s only to address the misconception.
Now, let’s talk about what it looks like to place your baby for adoption in Independence, MO.
The details of every adoption journey are unique, but they all follow the same big steps. With the right adoption professional providing support, this is how to “give a baby up” for adoption in Independence:
Step 1: Choose Adoption for Your Baby
You’re reading this article, so you’re at least interested in the idea of adoption. Before you go any further in this process, you have to come to a decision: I am going to “give my baby up” for adoption in Independence. This won’t be an easy answer to arrive at, but it’s important to be sure of your choice before walking any further in this journey.
How can you know with certainty that adoption in Independence, MO, is the right choice? Speaking to a professional can help, like calling the 24/7 1-800-ADOPTION hotline. Additionally, consider what parenting would be like for you and if this is the best path for a great future for yourself or for your child.
If you have a deep-seated feeling that parenting is impossible for you right now and you want to provide your child with the opportunity to thrive, then adoption could be the right choice.
Step 2: Find an Agency and Create an Adoption Plan
Once you feel that Independence adoption is the way forward, the next step is to find a professional and create an adoption plan.
There are several adoption agencies near Independence, MO. We’ll go into greater detail on choosing an agency (and give you a helpful list of possible Independence adoption agencies) below. For now, what’s important to know is that an agency provides the guidance, support and protection you need to complete this process.
With the help of your agency, you’ll create an adoption plan, which outlines the most important parts of your process. This will include things like the type of open adoption relationship you want after placement, the type of adoptive family you hope to find for your child, and the details of the hospital stay for labor and delivery. When you choose to place a baby for adoption in Independence, your adoption plan makes sure you are in charge of the process.
Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family
One of the most important steps of putting a baby up for adoption in Independence is choosing the adoptive family.
We know that you are choosing adoption because you want to give your child an amazing life. When you’re a prospective birth mother, you play a big part in shaping their future by choosing the adoptive family you know will be best. You’ll be able to look at several adoptive family profiles until you find the one you resonate with most. Your agency will play a big role in this important part of the Independence adoption process.
Step 4: Complete Placement
After choosing an adoptive family, it’s time to start preparing for placement. This means getting to know the family and potentially even meeting in-person several times (depending on the level of openness in your adoption). This step also involves all of the required prenatal care and ironing out the details of your hospital plan, as well as preparing to officially consent to the adoption after birth.
Giving consent is the legal step of voluntarily signing your parental rights away so that the adoptive family can become the child’s legal parents. According to Missouri adoption laws, you must wait 48 hours after birth before taking this step. Your agency will make sure consent is given properly.
Consenting to the adoption is one of the most important steps for anyone considering how to “give a child up” for adoption in Independence.
Step 5: Life After Placement
Adoption is rarely easy, even when you know it’s right. Life after placement can be challenging, but it can also be very, very good. You will likely have a lot of challenging emotions to work through, and you will also have the opportunity to create the future you’ve dreamed of.
Additionally, “giving your baby up” for adoption in Independence doesn’t mean giving up on a connection with your child. Thanks to open adoption, you can continue to have a relationship with the adoptive parents and your baby as life moves on.
Independence Adoption Agencies
Those five steps make up the foundation of the Independence adoption process. In order for those steps to happen, you’ll need to work with the right adoption agency in Independence.
This process may seem fairly straightforward, but it requires a lot more work behind the scenes. Agencies ensure the process is completed legally and ethically, that your best interests are protected throughout, that you receive the appropriate adoption financial assistance, and that you find the perfect family for your baby. Additionally, agencies will provide referrals to other important adoption services in Independence, like counselors, attorneys and medical professionals.
In short: Agencies provide the adoption services in Independence that you need.
And when it comes to adoption agencies near Independence, MO, there are several options. Below, we’ve listed several nearby agencies and their office locations:
7500 W. 110th St., Suite 500
Overland Park, KS 66210
4350 W. 107th St.
Overland Park, KS 66207
16236 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66085
4001 Blue Parkway, Suite 250
Kansas City, MO 64130
Financial Assistance During Pregnancy
One of the most frequently asked questions by women considering adoption is, “ Do you get paid for giving your child up for adoption in Independence?”
The answer is no, you do not “get paid.” Payment in exchange for an adoption placement is illegal, and any professional that says otherwise shouldn’t be trusted.
However, adoption financial assistance for prospective birth mothers is common. This is different from “getting paid.” Financial assistance is often available to cover pregnancy-related and living expenses during the adoption process. This assistance is provided by the adoptive family and coordinated by your agency and attorney.
Additionally, it’s important to note that there is no cost to placing a baby for adoption in Independence. You will not be required to pay any agency fees or legal costs. It’s important that your path to adoption be as clear as possible, which is why there is no cost and financial assistance will most likely be available during the process.
Questions about the Prospective Birth Father
You know how the Independence adoption process works and the agencies that make it possible. But, you may still have questions about one important part of the equation: the father of the baby.
The situation with the father is always unique. Some are supportive, others resistant, and still others absent from the situation. The best way to figure out how the father of your baby will factor into your adoption in Independence is to call an adoption professional.
We wish we could give you a specific answer, but the intricacies of Missouri state laws about prospective birth fathers make that impossible. The ways the laws are applied is highly dependent on the details of your specific situation. If you are worried about the father of the baby objecting or in some other way making the process more challenging, you should speak with an adoption agency or attorney.
How to Find an Adoptive Family in Independence, MO
Have you thought about the family who will raise your child? When you choose adoption, you also choose this family.
Does that make you feel both nervous and excited? It’s a big decision. How can you make the right choice when you are placing a baby for adoption in Independence?
First, think long and hard about the kind of family you want to find. What matters most to you? You could prioritize their family values, faith, neighborhood, lifestyle or so many other things.
The best way to find the family that fits your desires for your baby is to work with a great adoption agency near Independence. Agencies work with families to create adoptive family profiles, which you can view when trying to find a family. When you’re a prospective birth mother, you can look through as many profiles as it takes until you find the perfect family.
If you are down to two or three families, you can ask your adoption professional to set up phone calls, so you can get to know the families beyond their profiles before choosing one for your child.
This process can be overwhelming, but it’s all designed to ensure that, as a prospective birth mother, you have control over your adoption process.
Open Adoption with Your Child
The adoption journey isn’t over after choosing the family and completing the adoption. Life after “giving a baby up” for adoption in Independence can include a strong and consistent connection to your child and the adoptive family through open adoption.
There are different levels of openness in adoption relationships. You can create a communication plan (way back in Step 2 of your process) that outlines how you would like to stay connected. From occasional letters to semi-frequent in-person visits, it’s all possible.
This lasting relationship after putting a baby up for adoption in Independence can reaffirm your decision as you see your child grow and thrive. Open adoption relationships have also proven to beneficial to the child as they develop a sense of identity.
Exploring Your Other Unplanned Pregnancy Options
That’s a lot of information. You are now more knowledgeable about how to put a child up for adoption in Independence, MO, than most people. Could adoption be right for you? If you think so, you can take your next steps by contacting one of the agencies listed above.
On the other hand, are you still unsure of the best unplanned pregnancy option? We want you to make the decision that is best for you. If that means exploring other options besides adoption in Independence, then we fully support that.
Your other unplanned pregnancy options, aside from adoption, are:
Parenting
If you feel that parenting is possible, it can be a wonderful and life-changing journey. It won’t be without its challenges, but it can be beautiful. Are you unsure about parenting due to lack of support, finances, or other factors? Contact your local social services offices to learn more about supportive resources in your area.
Abortion
If you are still early on in your pregnancy, you may be able to access abortion services. Abortion can be a viable option, especially if carrying a pregnancy to term for adoption would be dangerous due to medical or other reasons.
You should know that abortion laws from Missouri’s conservative legislature have made this procedure difficult to access. The only clinic in Missouri that provides abortion services is in St. Louis. Before the procedure, you are required to receive counseling and then wait at least 72 hours. If your pregnancy is past the 24th week, an abortion is only legal in life-threating situations.
If abortion could be the unplanned pregnancy option you need, contact Planned Parenthood of Missouri.
Responding to an unplanned pregnancy is one of the most difficult things for anyone to do. Every situation is unique, and we support whatever option is best for you. If you are interested in adoption in Independence, MO, you can find 24/7 support and more information you may need on the options available during an unplanned pregnancy.
If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, contact us to be connected with a helpful professional today.
