If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and you are considering “giving up” your baby for adoption, you are likely feeling a combination of fear, stress, and uncertainty. This guide is going to help.

Perhaps you are considering your options and trying to determine what is best for you: adoption, abortion, or parenting. You do not have to face this decision alone. About half of all pregnancies are unintended, and there are professionals who are eager to help you.

Reach out to an unplanned pregnancy counselor today.

How to Give Your Baby Up for Adoption in Santa Fe [The Adoption Process]

Adoption is one way to respond to your unplanned pregnancy. It can create a better future for yourself and your baby. But, you may not know how to place my baby for adoption in Santa Fe.

It is important that you have a full understanding of the adoption process before you begin so that you know what to expect in each stage. 

Your first step will be to contact an adoption professional. From there, you will be guided through these six basic steps:

Step 1: Decide that adoption is right for you.

Your choice to “give up” your baby for adoption in Santa Fe is a life-changing decision, and you will want to make sure that you have considered your options, assessed your circumstances, and reflected on your desires before making it.

An adoption professional will counsel you with objective information and encourage you to make the decision that is best for you. You may find that you prefer an alternative unplanned pregnancy option, but the many benefits of adoption might also persuade you to place your baby for adoption.

Step 2: Develop an adoption plan.

Once you have made the choice to pursue adoption, you will begin working with an adoption specialist who works for an adoption agency in Santa Fe. The first step they will guide you through is the creation of an adoption plan. An adoption plan is designed to serve you and make sure that you have the adoption experience that you want. It details and describes your preferences and needs that pertain to the adoption process.

Common components of an adoption plan are:

• Characteristics of the type of family you want for your child
• The kind of communication you desire with adoptive parents
• A hospital plan that describes your preferences when you deliver your baby
• Your preferred post-adoption agreement: open adoption, semi-open adoption, or closed adoption

Step 3: Choose the perfect family for your child.

For many women, this is the most important decision of the whole Santa Fe adoption process. Your choice of the adoptive family will impact your child’s life more than almost anything else. Rest assured that you are in control of this process and will have the final say in who adopts your baby. 

Using your description of your ideal family, your adoption specialist will gather a number of family profiles that match your needs. You will review them, select an adoptive family that sticks out to you, and then get to meet them if you would like. You can take all the time you need to make this decision.

Step 4: Begin communication with your chosen adoptive family.

A professional from your Santa Fe adoption agency will mediate your first contact with your child’s adoptive family. During this first phone call, you will get the chance to ask any questions you have to get a better sense of who they are. From there, you will get to decide what interactions you are most comfortable continuing.

Common ways that birth mothers and adoptive families can communicate are:

• Pictures and letters
• Emails and text messages
• Phone calls and video calls
• In-person visits

Step 5: Give birth to your baby and sign adoption placement paperwork.

When you get ready to go to the hospital to have your baby, you will be equipped with a hospital plan that will outline your preferences for labor, delivery, and post-adoption interactions. This will ensure that your needs will be priority number one.

Following the delivery of your baby, you will sign final adoption paperwork to consent to adoption placement. When completing an adoption in Santa Fe, this adoption paperwork must be signed at least 48 hours after the birth of a child.

Step 6: Continue a relationship with your child and their adoptive family.

The adjustment period after “giving up” baby for adoption in Santa Fe is difficult for some women, but having a post-adoption contact agreement that outlines the way that you want your relationship to look can really help ease anxieties. You get to determine the frequency and mode of your interaction with your child’s adoptive family. And while most modern adoptions are open or semi-open, some women require a closed adoption. Whatever it is that you need is OK.

Santa Fe Adoption Agencies

One of the first steps you will take on your adoption journey is to choose an adoption professional to work with. It is important that you partner with an agency that is reputable and licensed in New Mexico.

Some adoption agencies in Santa Fe are:

• American Adoptions
• Adoption Resources Santa Fe
• Adoption Assistance Agency

The two main types of agencies are national and local.

National agencies have more resources and a wider selection of adoptive families. With them, you could be given dozens or even hundreds of family profiles to consider.

With a local adoption agency in Santa Fe, you might have a greater chance of finding an adoptive couple in Santa Fe, but national agencies can search locally for you too.

No matter the Santa Fe adoption agency you choose, you should expect the following services:

• Unplanned pregnancy help
• Guidance while creating your adoption plan
• Help finding families who want to adopt
• Legal counsel
• Post-adoption support
• And more

Finding an Adoptive Family in Santa Fe

When you “give up” a baby for adoption in Santa Fe, you are in control. The choices about your Santa Fe adoption are yours to make.

• You choose the right adoption professional.
• You choose the details of your adoption plan.
• And – perhaps the most powerful choice – you choose the adoptive family for your baby.

Your adoption professional will work on your behalf to compile a list of adoptive families that meet your needs and will give your child the life that you envision for them. Your first introduction to them will be through a family profile. You will take your time to review the profiles, ask your adoption specialist for more if needed, and choose the perfect adoptive family for your child.

From this point, you will get the chance to interact with them and get a feel for what a post-adoption relationship could be like with your child’s adoptive family.

Getting Adoption Financial Assistance in Santa Fe

As you consider adoption in Santa Fe, you might have wondered about the financial aspect of this decision. Some common questions that Santa Fe adoption agencies receive about this topic are answered below:

“Is adoption free?”

Yes. Adoption is free of cost to any birth mother. There are no hidden costs and there is even financial assistance for adoption that covers expenses for birth mothers in Santa Fe.

“Can I get paid for “giving up” my baby for adoption in Santa Fe?”

No. You cannot receive any direct payments in exchange for “giving up” a baby for adoption in Santa Fe – or in any other city in America. However, there are many acceptable ways to receive financial assistance during your pregnancy.

“Is there available adoption financial assistance for birth mothers in Santa Fe?”

Yes, and you will receive it. The financial assistance that is universal for birth mothers is:

• Services given through your adoption agency (everything is free)
• Coverage of pregnancy-related medical costs
• Legal representation is offered, and counsel is free

Other living expenses that are sometimes paid for depending on your circumstances are housing costs, utilities, groceries, phone and internet services, counseling, and childcare. If you are curious about what you might be eligible to receive, reach out to a Santa Fe adoption professional for more details.

What’s Next for Your Unplanned Pregnancy?

If you are still unsure if adoption is right for you, you may want to take some time considering the other unplanned pregnancy options: abortion or parenting. You might want to reach out to an unplanned pregnancy counselor who can help you determine the right path for you and your current situation.

If you have made your decision and are going to pursue adoption your next steps are:

• Preview some waiting adoptive families to get an idea what kind of life you want for your child.
• Determine if you would prefer to work with a national adoption agency or a Santa Fe adoption agency.
• Contact an adoption professional to start developing your adoption plan!

Wherever you find yourself in this life-changing decision, you can always gain insight by reaching out to an adoption professional. You will be given the empathy and information you need to move into the next stage of your adoption – or to make a different decision that is best for you.