Are you experiencing an unplanned pregnancy? You are likely feeling overwhelmed, confused and at least a little bit anxious. These feelings are amplified if you know that parenting isn’t an option for you.
What can you do?
In your search for answers, you may have found that adoption in Lee’s Summit could be a viable unplanned pregnancy option. If you’re like most people, you are familiar with the idea of adoption but have a lot of questions.
How does “giving a baby up” for adoption in Lee’s Summit actually work? Are there adoption services in Lee’s Summit that make it easier? How do I know if it’s right for me, and how do I get started?
We’ve created this guide to adoption in Lee’s Summit for anyone who wants to know more about this unplanned pregnancy option. With a better understanding of how to put a baby up for adoption in Lee’s Summit, our hope is that you can feel a sense of hope in the face of your unplanned pregnancy. The road ahead may not be easy, but there is a path to a better future.
How to ‘Give My Baby Up’ for Adoption in Lee’s Summit
You’ve most likely heard, or even said, the phrase “give your baby up” for adoption. It’s one of the most common ways to talk about this subject. So, it may surprise you to learn that there’s a harmful misconception hidden inside that language.
Choosing adoption for your baby is not “giving up” in any way. It is a brave and courageous thing to do. It is a proactive step to create a better future for yourself and your baby.
In popular culture, “give my baby up” for adoption is common. Adoption positive language, on the other hand, would say “create an adoption plan,” “choose adoption,” or “place my baby for adoption.”
We want everyone to feel welcome and included. This is why this guide to adoption in Lee’s Summit may use “give up” for adoption. However, it’s important to know that there is nothing about adoption that resembles “giving up.”
The process of placing a baby for adoption in Lee’s Summit, MO, follows five general steps: choose adoption, create a plan, choose a family, complete placement, and adjust to life after placement. Within these steps, you’ll experience all kinds of unique twists and turns. The best way to navigate this process is with the help of adoption agencies near Lee’s Summit, which we’ll talk about in detail below.
But first, let’s go over the process in more detail. A better understanding of how to “give a child up” for adoption in Lee’s Summit may help you decide whether or not adoption is the right unplanned pregnancy option for you.
Step 1: Decide if Adoption is Right for You
Choosing adoption in Lee’s Summit will change your life. It’s important to take all the time you need deciding whether or not it’s the right unplanned pregnancy option for you. If you aren’t completely sure of your choice, it will be more difficult to persevere when the process becomes challenging.
How can you know if placing a baby for adoption in Lee’s Summit is the best choice? Speaking to a professional can help, like calling the 1-800-ADOPTION hotline.
Ask yourself: Is parenting a possibility? If the answer is no, do you have a desire to carry your pregnancy to term and provide the opportunity for a wonderful life to your child? If so, then Lee’s Summit adoption could be right for you.
Step 2: Create an Adoption Plan
Once you are ready to take the next step, you’ll need to contact an adoption agency near Lee’s Summit. Agencies (which we will discuss in greater detail below) provide support and protection throughout the process. Working with a specialist at an agency, you can create your adoption plan.
The adoption plan is your outline of the adoption. It ensures that, as a prospective birth mother, you are in charge of this process. When you choose to “give my baby up” for adoption in Lee’s Summit, you decide things like:
- The level of open adoption communication
- The type of adoptive family you want for your child
- The details of your medical care and hospital stay for labor and delivery
- And more
Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family
Your agency will present adoptive family profiles that match the characteristics you are looking for in adoptive parents. You can look at as many adoptive family profiles as you need to before making a decision. Once you narrow it down to one or two families, you can ask your specialist to schedule phone calls with the potential adoptive parents, allowing you to get to know them beyond their profiles before making a choice.
Choosing the family for your baby is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your Lee’s Summit adoption process. Finding the perfect family has a lot to do with the agency you work with and the support from your specialist.
Step 4: Complete Placement
Your adoption specialist will make sure all of the details fall into place as you receive the necessary prenatal care leading up to labor and delivery. Depending on the level of openness in your adoption, you may meet with the adoptive parents several times before the hospital visits.
Once the baby has been born, Missouri adoption laws state that you will need to wait 48 hours until you sign your official consent to adoption. Signing your consent relinquishes your parental rights and makes it possible for the adoptive parents to become the child’s legal family.
Completing placement is an emotional part of “giving your child up” for adoption in Lee’s Summit. Your agency and specialist will be there to support you, both logistically and emotionally, during this step and afterwards.
Step 5: Adjusting to Life after Placement
Did you know that the majority of adoptions today are at least semi-open? This means that you can expect some sort of sustained connection with your child and the adoptive family after placement. It’s up to you when you create your adoption plan.
The last step of putting a child up for adoption in Lee’s Summit is life after placement — the ongoing open adoption connection and the life you’d like to create.
Adoption Agencies Near Lee’s Summit
We hope this guide has made the big steps of the Lee’s Summit adoption process easy enough to understand. However, don’t be fooled: This process is complex and delicate. There are many requirements and legal filing deadlines that must be met in order for a placement to be successful.
The best way to ensure that you find the right family, are protected throughout, and complete a successful placement is to work with a good adoption agency.
Adoption agencies near Lee’s Summit provide the support you need — both logistical and emotional — to make it through the process. They can also provide referrals to other professionals along the way, like adoption lawyers in Lee’s Summit and other adoption services in Lee’s Summit.
When you’re a prospective birth mother, you’ll never have to pay for these services. There will be no agency or attorney fees. That means you are free to focus on finding an agency that feels right for you without worrying about a cost.
Once you know that adoption is the right unplanned pregnancy option, choosing an agency is your first big step. Are you ready to get started? Here are some Lee’s Summit adoption agencies to consider working with:
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 from prospective birth mothers is, “Do birth mothers get paid for ‘giving your baby up’ for adoption in Lee’s Summit?”
Let’s make it crystal clear: No, you do not get paid for placing a baby for adoption in Lee’s Summit. If any professional organization tries to say otherwise, then you should not trust them. Payment in exchange for adoption is illegal.
Prospective birth mothers are eligible to receive adoption financial assistance, which is not payment for adoption. Rather, any pregnancy-related and living expenses that are eligible under Missouri adoption laws could be covered by financial assistance provided by the adoptive family. Your agency and attorney will coordinate this assistance and ensure that it is all done legally and ethically.
We understand that financial concerns could be one reason you are considering adoption in the first place. If you’d like to know more about financial assistance when putting a baby up for adoption in Lee’s Summit, contact us today to be connected with a knowledgeable professional.
The Father of the Baby and Your Lee’s Summit Adoption Plan
Missouri adoption laws regulate prospective birth father rights, and the way these laws are applied can vary depending on the specifics of your situation. It’s important to understand how these laws can impact your adoption, and the best way to do that is by speaking with your agency or a Lee’s Summit adoption lawyer.
Are you concerned about how the father of the baby could affect your process? Whether the father is unknown, unsupportive or absent from your life, this is an important question to ask and find answers to. Speak to your agency about your concerns, and ask for a referral to adoption attorneys in Lee’s Summit, if you don’t already have one.
Find an Adoptive Family in Lee’s Summit
Your specialist will walk you through the process of choosing adoptive parents step-by-step. Working with the right agency is the key to finding the best adoptive parents for your baby.
During your Lee’s Summit adoption, you’ll decide what kind of characteristics you’re looking for in an adoptive family. Then, your specialist will show you profiles of families who match these qualities. You can look at as many profiles as you need until you find a family that you think will provide the best life for your baby.
When it comes to finding a family, you’re in charge. This brings many prospective birth mothers a sense of peace when considering adoption in Lee’s Summit. Even though parenting isn’t possible, you will still play an active role in shaping your child’s life when you choose the adoptive family.
For more information on how to find the perfect family, take a look at our detailed guide on the subject.
Open Adoption with Your Child
As mentioned previously, most adoptions today are at least semi-open. This means that placing a baby for adoption in Lee’s Summit does not have to mean never knowing what happens to them or losing all connection to your child. On the contrary, you can watch as they grow up and have a sustained relationship with them.
There are different levels of openness possible in adoption, and the level of your communication will depend on your adoption plan. Generally speaking, these are the three options:
- Open Adoption: When “giving your child up” for adoption in Lee’s Summit, a totally open adoption means sustained and consistent contact with the adoptive family, where everyone involved is aware of identifying details and can directly contact the other.
- Semi-open Adoption: This level of openness maintains communication through photos, letters and other methods that allow everyone involved to stay in touch while also maintaining privacy and a bit of distance.
- Closed Adoptions: While uncommon when putting a child up for adoption in Lee’s Summit, you can choose a closed adoption — with no contact after placement — if that is what’s best for you.
Unsure which level of openness could be best for you? This is a great question to ask an adoption specialist.
Exploring Your Other Unplanned Pregnancy Options
Do you think adoption in Lee’s Summit is the right direction for you? Take your next steps by contacting one of the agencies listed above, or contact us today to be connected with a professional.
However, if you are unsure about adoption, it’s important to consider your other unplanned pregnancy options. Your situation is unique, and while adoption can be a beautiful journey, it may not be right for you. If that’s the case, you could also consider:
Parenting
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you have already ruled out parenting as an unplanned pregnancy option. However, if possible, it’s always your first choice. Are you unsure of how parenting would work due to lack of resources? You could contact your local social services office to find out about available support in your area.
Abortion
Carrying a pregnancy to term and putting a child up for adoption in Lee’s Summit may be out of the question for you. If so, abortion could be an option. This will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and what kind of access you have to an abortion provider. There is only one clinic that provides abortion services in Missouri, and it is in St. Louis.
Missouri laws also create several roadblocks to abortion that you should know about. In order to receive an abortion, you must first receive counseling, and then wait at least 72 hours before the procedure. If you are past the 24th week of your pregnancy, Missouri law only allows for abortions in life-threatening situations.
If you think abortion could be what’s necessary, contact Planned Parenthood of Missouri today.
We support whichever option makes the most sense for your life. The important thing to know is that, even if things feel impossible now, there is hope for the future.
If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, contact us to be connected with a helpful professional today.
