The time is finally here — the birth of your child. This can be an exciting moment for yourself and your entire family. But if you’ve been thinking about adoption, it can feel like time has just run out. You’ve started to think, “How fast can I give my child up for adoption?”
Last-minute adoptions, or same-day adoptions, are more than possible. Adoption agencies across the country have plenty of experience helping women who need to place their child for adoption as quickly as possible. Adoption is a brave and selfless choice, and we will do everything we can to help you through this difficult time.
If you’re wondering how to put a child up for adoption today, here is what you need to know.
Who Should I Call for a Last-Minute Adoption?
If you just gave birth, who to contact about adoption is likely your highest priority.
There are plenty of adoption agencies that accept infants after birth. Many women who place their child for adoption do so at the hospital or after they’ve already given birth and returned home with their baby. The best resource is to call an adoption hotline to contact an adoption specialist. No matter where you are, an adoption specialist will be able to help you with a last-minute adoption.
How Much Time Does a Last-Minute Adoption Take?
The first thing to know is that you won’t be completing your adoption plan alone. Your adoption specialist will be with you from beginning to end. So, if you don’t know a ton about the adoption process initially, you don’t need to add more stress on yourself while you’re already at the hospital. Your adoption specialist and adoption attorney will help explain everything to you.
As you can imagine, last-minute adoptions tend to be completed rather quickly, but it’s still a similar process to a normal adoption. Here are the steps to completing a same-day adoption with your adoption agency:
Step 1: Reach out to a professional.
You’ll contact an adoption specialist either from our website or by calling a 24-hour hotline like 1-800-ADOPTION. Normally, women that are calling about a last-minute adoption contact an adoption professional from the hospital. From there, they’ll quickly go over the process with you and discuss your options for a last-minute adoption.
Step 2: Complete adoption planning information.
You’ll be asked to fill out forms about your social and medical history. You’ll also be asked to fill out a form listing your preferences in an adoptive family. You can choose adoptive parents by age, gender, occupation, and more. Your adoption specialist will then send you a variety of adoptive family profiles. There are plenty to choose from, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t find one right away.
You should also be thinking about the kind of life you envision for your child. Do you want them to grow up in a different state, where they can have brand-new experiences? Is college a must? How important is religion to you? We know that it will feel extremely quick to place a baby up for adoption and pick a family all in the same day. But these are important questions to think about as you’re preparing for your last-minute adoption.
Step 3: Choose an adoptive family and get to know them.
Once you’ve picked the right family, you’ll start getting to know them. For a same-day adoption, you’ll get to know one another on the phone, mediated by your adoption specialist. If you believe this is the right family for you, the adoptive family that you pick will be ready to travel at a moment’s notice once they get the okay.
Step 4: Complete the legal paperwork.
At this point, your same-day adoption is almost complete. Once the family makes it to the hospital, you’ll start the placement process. After you’ve signed your consent to adoption and the adoptive family has completed their ICPC process, they’ll travel home with the newest member of their family.
Step 5: Continue your relationship with your baby after the adoption.
Even if you’re considering a last-minute adoption, your adoption specialist will still have plenty of time to go over your post-placement contact agreement. Most women that are considering adoption continue to have contact with their child and their adoptive family. This way, you’ll be able to watch them thrive in a loving and safe environment. You can share as much or as little as you’d like with the adoptive family.
Remember, the adoption process will always go at your pace. No one will make you speed things along to suit them, including your adoption specialist. However quickly you need to place your child for adoption, we can help with that. If you need to take it a little bit slower to get all of your thoughts in order for this life-changing decision, we can do that as well. Deciding to “give your baby up” for adoption at the last minute is a stressful and overwhelming process. Your adoption specialist will do everything they can to make sure your adoption is as stress-free as possible.
Are you ready to make an adoption plan for your newborn? No matter what time of day it is, adoption specialists are available around the clock for any last-minute adoptions. If you’re ready for this decision, then give us a call today.
