An unplanned pregnancy can be a very emotional and overwhelming experience. Whether you are just weighing your options or are considering adoption in Springfield, Missouri, its common to have many different thoughts and questions.
You want to make sure you are aware of your options before making any decisions, but where do you start?
This article explores the Springfield, Missouri, adoption process, and the resources you may need along the way, as you make this important decision. No matter what stage in the adoption process you consider yourself, you can contact an adoption professional anytime and they will be able to answer any questions you may have.
For now, continue reading for information on adoption in Springfield, MO.
How to “Give Up” a Baby for Adoption in Springfield, MO
When a prospective birth mother chooses adoption for her baby, it is a selfless, life-changing decision. Unfortunately, some people still have a negative misconception that a birth mother who decides to “give her baby up” for adoption, is actually “giving up” on the child and herself altogether. This is simply not true and needs to be addressed.
Because of this negative overtone, we prefer to use terms such as “placing a child for adoption” or “choosing adoption for her baby”, but you will still often see “give up” used when discussing adoption. A birth mother who chooses adoption is not giving up, nor is she “giving away” her baby; she is making this life-changing decision knowing it is the best way to provide her baby with the opportunity of having their best life. She makes her decision because of her undying love for the child.
The Springfield, MO, Adoption Process
The process of putting your baby up for adoption in Springfield, MO, can generally be grouped into five steps, all of which your adoptions specialist will inform you of and walk you through. Here are the five steps:
Step 1: Choose Adoption
The first step may seem obvious, but making the decision to pursue adoption will begin the adoption process. Choosing adoption is one of the most difficult, but brave and selfless decisions you can make. Resources such as a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-ADOPTION, pregnancy counselors, and adoption professionals are available to make sure you don’t have to make this decision alone.
Having the right adoption professionals by your side will help you find comfort in knowing you are making the right decision, as well as help the entire process flow much smoother. The professional you choose will essentially dictate the overall outcome and experience of your adoption in Springfield, MO, so it is important to find an agency that you are comfortable with and trust.
Step 2: Make an Adoption Plan
Once you have chosen adoption as the path you would like to pursue, you will begin creating an adoption plan with the adoption service provider you have selected. The adoption plan helps keep the prospective birth mother in control of how she would like the adoption to go. She will work out the details, such as the type of relationship she hopes to have with her child after placement, the characteristics she hopes the adoptive family possesses, to creating a hospital plan, discussing and planning these portions of the adoption help keep everything on track and everyone on the same page.
Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family
Oftentimes, it has been said that the most important and fulfilling step of the Springfield adoption process for a birth mother, is choosing the best family for her baby. Finding the adoptive family for your baby involves working with your adoption professional and determining what you hope to find in an adoptive family. Once you have complied a list of traits and preferences, your specialist will present you with adoptive family profiles. These profiles will include pictures, videos, and other information to help you get a feel for the family.
When you find a profile or profiles you feel a connect with, you will have the opportunity to get to know the adoptive family through phone calls, email exchanges, and even in-person visits with the potential adoptive parents throughout the remainder of your pregnancy until you have decided on the family you would like to place your child with.
Step 4: Complete Placement
Once you have chosen a family which you feel best matches the desired family for your child, you will work with your specialist to begin preparing for placement. One of the largest steps to prepare for placement is creating a hospital plan. Your hospital plan will determine your preferences for your labor and delivery experience, which is important to eliminate any added stress or confusion when the time comes to deliver. Your specialist will also help you prepare for the consent process that takes place after your baby is born. In Missouri, a child must be at least 48 hours old before a birth mother can consent for her baby to be placed for adoption.
Giving consent means the birth mother voluntarily declines her legal parental rights in order for the family she has chosen to be able to legally acquire them. Once consent has been given, a birth mother cannot change her decision unless it can be proven she gave consent against her will, so it is important to understand the significance of signing a consent form and being certain of your adoption decision prior to doing so.
Step 5: Adjust to Life and Continue Your Relationship Post-Placement
Post-placement can be one of the most difficult and emotional parts of the adoption process. It is important to know counseling services are available 24/7, not only during your pregnancy, but also after placement to help you get through the grieving process.
The relationship you have with both the adoptive family and your child, will depend upon the expectations put in place with your adoption specialist and the adoptive family prior to placement. Although many consider this a grieving period, there are positives to be taken away from placement as you have essentially provided your child, as well as yourself a new start on life, where you both have the best opportunities ahead.
If you are considering placing your baby for adoption in Springfield, Missouri, please complete a contact form, or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get in touch with an adoption professional. An adoption agency in Springfield will be able to provide you with all of the support you will need throughout your entire adoption process.
Here are a few adoption agencies near Springfield, Missouri, that you may consider contacting:
- American Adoptions
14801 E. 42nd St.
Independence MO, 64055 - Lutheran Family and Children Services
2130 N Glenstone Ave
Springfield, MO 65803
Financial Assistance During Pregnancy
Although there are some misunderstandings when it comes to adoption and the financial assistance available, birth mothers cannot get paid for placing a baby up for adoption in Springfield, or anywhere for that matter, as it is illegal to buy or sell children. In many situations, there are adoption-related expenses that may be paid for by the prospective adoptive parents on behalf of the prospective birth mother as well as financial assistance for adoption. When birth mothers choose adoption, the use of an adoption professional is always free, and the services and resources they offer will be free of charge as well.
This assistance helps cover expenses such as the medical bills of the prospective birth mother related to pregnancy and birth, the child’s medical expenses, and any reasonable living costs that occur during or because of the pregnancy. All assistance must be well documented and presented during the adoption hearings.
An adoption professional in Springfield will guide you through the financial aspects of your adoption. If you have any questions about what assistance is available to you, 1-800-ADOPTION provides 24/7, no-obligation support.
Birth Fathers Rights During a Springfield Adoption
As a woman considering adoption, it is very important to understand how birth father rights may impact your adoption decision and process. Every birth father circumstance is different, so the laws surrounding your specific situation will vary.
It’s best to take any questions you may have to your adoption professional so that they can answer them for you with an adoption attorney.
The adoption agency you choose will pair you with the legal representation you will need throughout your adoption. If you would prefer to speak with an adoption attorney prior to selecting and adoption agency in Springfield, MO, you may consider contacting any of the following Springfield adoption lawyers:
Finding an Adoptive Family in Springfield, Missouri
When you think about the perfect family you would want to place your child with, you will ask yourself many questions. How do you know what qualities or backgrounds you should you look for? Where do you begin your search? How do you know you’re making the best choice?
These questions and more will be asked or thought during your adoption in Springfield, MO. Your adoption specialist is here to help guide you through the process of finding adoptive parents for your child. When you create an adoption plan, you will determine what characteristics and traits you would like for the adoptive family to possess; this will help your adoption specialists determine the best profiles for you to review.
Because this is such an important decision and part of the adoption process, a potential birth mother can review as many adoptive profiles as she needs, until she is able to make a decision that she is completely comfortable with. Once a prospective birth mother has narrowed down her list of potential adoptive families, her adoption professional may set up a meeting between the two, so both parties can interact on a personal level. The goal of this interaction is to help ease any concerns and to add a level of confidence toward making a decision.
Finding an adoptive family in Missouri is not your only option. When you work with a national agency you can review profiles from anywhere in America. This helps broaden the options available to you and increases your chances of finding the perfect family for your baby. For more information on finding the adoptive parents for your baby, consult with an adoption specialist. They will be more than happy to help answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Open Adoption with Your Child
If you are a prospective birth mother who would still like to be involved in your child’s life after adoption, have you considered an open adoption?
Open adoption gives birth parents, adoptive families and the child, the opportunity to have a relationship through different levels of openness and contact in their adoption. These levels include open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption. Although there is not an exact definition of what makes an open adoption in Springfield, MO, it is centered around the post-placement agreement a birth mother and adoptive family create allowing the birth mother to continue having a relationship with her child and the adoptive family, after placement. The levels of contact, communication and potential visits will vary per each individual adoption situation, and an adoption does not have to be open at all.
This agreement may change over the course of time as your relationship with the adoptive family naturally grows and evolves and different needs or desires are met. In most cases this provides a sense of relief for the birth mother, that she will have updates on her child and can confirm she chose the best family to place her baby with.
Discussing your intentions and preferred outcome with your adoption specialist for your adoption in Springfield, MO, is very important as you look for a potential adoptive family for your child, as you want to find a family with common interest. Your adoption professional will discuss the options available and help narrow down profiles of potential matches. Keep in mind there are many different situations that can be involved with open adoption.
If this is the path you wish to pursue, your specialist will be able to answer any questions you may have or you can find more information on open adoption in Missouri here.
Exploring your Unplanned Pregnancy Options in Springfield, MO
An unplanned or unwanted pregnancy in Springfield, MO, can be a very concerning time for a woman. Making such an important decision for not only your future, but the future of your child, is a lot to handle, especially if you are doing it alone.
Whether you are considering adoption or just weighing your options, adoption specialists are here to help guide you and be by your side during this troubling time. How you handle your pregnancy is a choice that takes plenty of research and thought. It is very important to know your options. A pregnant woman ultimately has three options for the child: parenting, adoption or abortion.
There are several pros and cons to each of these difficult choices. Although the decision is completely up to the birth mother, and she can make her decision when she feels comfortable, there are certain legal timeframes that prevent abortion, so, a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy must make her decision fairly quick.
For more information on other services available, you may also consider contacting any of the following options in the Springfield, Missouri, area:
No matter if adoption in Springfield, MO, is not the path you are considering, specialists can provide you with 24/7 support and all of information you may need on the options available during an unplanned pregnancy. If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, contact us for a no-obligation consultation and to have an experienced, knowledgeable professional by your side or to provide peace of mind in such a difficult situation.