If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may have considered what placing your baby for adoption would be like.

Although there are many positive aspects of adoption, you still may wonder: Is adoption right for me?

Only you can determine if adoption is right for you, your child, and your life plan. To help you make your choice, this guide highlights reasons why a prospective birth mother could consider adoption. But remember: only you can decide if adoption is best for your situation.

There are five questions to consider when figuring out how to know if adoption is right for you:

• Question 1: Am I ready to go through the adoption process?
• Question 2: Do I have a support system?
• Question 3: Do I want to parent my child for the rest of my life?
• Question 4: Am I financially able to care for a child?
• Question 5: What’s my life plan?

If you’ve already decided that adoption is best for your situation, you can reach out to an adoption specialist today for free.

However, if you still don’t know the answer to the question, “should I put my baby up for adoption,” continue reading to find out how adoption can benefit everyone involved with the adoption’s lives.

5 Questions to Consider When Deciding, “Is Adoption Right for Me?”

Question 1: Am I Ready to go Through the Adoption Process?

Before deciding “is adoption right for me,” you should research the adoption process.

The most important thing to know about adoption is that it’s a selfless, loving choice. It’s common for a mother experiencing unplanned pregnancy to question, “should I ‘give up’ my baby for adoption” and then feel like they are “giving up” on their baby.

When you place a child for adoption, you are providing your child with an opportunity to grow up in a loving, adoptive family that can provide them with resources you may be unable to provide.

The following are a few other aspects of adoption you should know:

• You can choose your child’s adoptive family: You always have the opportunity to choose your child’s adoptive family. This is always the case, no matter your situation.
• You can choose the type of adoption you want: You always have the opportunity to choose if you do or don’t want to have a relationship with your child and the adoptive family.
• You are in charge of your adoption plan and birth plan: You get to choose all the aspects of your adoption and birth plan.

If you work with an adoption agency (a regional or local agency or national agency), you will work with an adoption specialist. This adoption professional will help you through the adoption process.

If you choose to find an adoptive family on your own, you’ll work with an adoption attorney to finish the legal aspects of your adoption. However, adoption agencies often provide prospective birth mothers with more support and help them find financial assistance.

Question 2: Do I Have a Support System?

When considering the question, “how do you know if adoption is right for you,” it’s essential to consider your support system.

Many women decide to raise a baby on their own. However, just as many women question if they can (or want) to raise a child on their own. Having a positive support system – a supportive birth father and helpful family and friends – can make raising a child easier. However, sometimes having a support system is not enough.

Consider if your support system can help you raise your child, if you’re prepared to raise your child on your own, or if you want to raise a child at all. If you determine that you may not be able to raise your child with your support system or on your own, you may begin to consider adoption. 

Question 3: Do I Want to Parent My Child for the Rest of My Life?

Sometimes, a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy may try to convince herself that she wants to become a parent even though parenting was never in her life plan. It’s admirable and incredibly loving to choose to change your plans to raise your child. But, no prospective birth mother should force herself into parenthood.

So, if you begin to wonder, “is adoption right for me,” there’s no harm in researching adoption or reaching out to an adoption specialist for assistance.

Question 4: Am I Financially Able to Care for a Child?

It’s no surprise that raising a child is expensive. In fact, according to a 2015 study conducted by the USDA, the average cost of raising a child in 2015 was $233,610. And it has only increased since then. If you’re unprepared to finance your child’s needs, you may start to consider if adoption is right for you.

Adoption is always 100% free for the prospective birth mother. And depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial assistance. This assistance could cover various living expenses during and directly after your pregnancy. These expenses typically include:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Groceries
• Transportation
• And more   

Question 5: What’s My Life Plan?

We’ve already briefly mentioned that when you ask the question, “is adoption right for me,” it’s essential to consider your plan.

Your unplanned pregnancy does not have to change your plans. It’s also important to remember that you give your child the gift of a future filled with opportunity when you choose adoption. You don’t have to place your life plan on hold when you choose adoption. You can rest assured knowing your child is loved and cared for by an adoptive family.

How to Know if Adoption is Right for Me

We hope that this guide will help you better understand adoption and how it can positively impact your, your baby’s, and the prospective adoptive family’s life. Take your time thinking about if adoption is right for you, and know that you can reach out to an adoption specialist for free to get adoption guidance at any time.