Are you considering adoption for your child, but don’t fully understand how the adoption process works? This article will provide you insight into every stage of the adoption process with American Adoptions, and some valuable supporting articles to read within each.

American Adoptions is currently one of the largest domestic adoption agencies of its kind in the United States, completing more than 300 domestic adoptions per year. We are a fully licensed, non-profit domestic adoption agency that works with both pregnant women and adoptive families  across the nation.

Every year, hundreds of expectant mothers entrust our Adoption Specialists with their adoption plans. Our large, qualified staff, many of whom have personal connections to adoption, provide outstanding, respectful and confidential support and step-by-step instruction throughout the adoption process. We are a full-service agency, which means we perform nearly every step of the adoption process ourselves.

From talk shows to books and even casual conversation amongst friends, the term "give up" has unfortunately become synonymous with adoption. Birth mothers are often referred to as women who chose to "give up" their babies for adoption. However, if American society stopped to think about what we were really saying, we would realize that it couldn't be further from the truth.

The reality of adoption is that birth mothers do not "give up" anything. When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, birth mothers wade through a sea of emotion, finding their inner strength and the courage to pursue adoption.

By choosing adoption, birth mothers do not "give up" their baby for adoption. Instead, they are choosing a life for their children - a life complete with all of the hugs, laughter and lullabies that they desire for them. Birth mothers choose to do not what is easiest for themselves, but choose the long, emotional path to adoption out of nothing but pure love for their child.

Today's adoptions are very different than those even one generation ago, let alone how adoptions were in the 1950s or 1960s. Gone are the days when a birth mother simply handed her baby over to an adoptive family, never to see or hear from them again - never knowing how her child grew up, never knowing how much her child was loved.

When deciding on adoption, one of the first things will be choosing which adoption professional who you will work with in finding an adoptive family for your child. They all have their pros and cons and all are divided into three categories.

1. Adoption Agency
2. Attorney
3. Facilitator

Adoption Agency - Adoption agencies are licensed and regulated by state authorities. This means they must follow certain standards to be able to continue providing services. State authorities review their files to make sure agency standards are kept at a very high level. Adoption agencies usually handle the entire adoption process for you. Adoption agencies can be divided into three categories.

• Small agencies - Usually one or two staff members are employed. The advantage is you can become very intimate with the staff at this agency. The disadvantages are that small agencies usually only serve a specific county or state. This complicates things if you wish to choose an adoptive family from another area or if you plan to relocate in the future. Small agencies are not typically able to serve beyond their geographic area. Furthermore, small agencies rarely provide support after regular business hours which can be frustrating to many pregnant women. You also need to check for religious affiliation as this can be uncomfortable for pregnant mothers who don't share religious views.
• Medium sized - Usually five or more staff members are employed. The advantage is medium-sized agencies usually serve a larger geographic area, which provides you more support and options. It is important to determine the areas served, because should you move outside their coverage area, you may not be able to receive support services.
• National agencies- Usually twenty or more staff members are employed. The advantage is national agencies typically serve all fifty states. They often have a wide selection of adoptive families who they screen and educate more than medium or small-sized agencies. This allows you to feel more secure in selecting a family who is going to be a great mom and dad. You can move to state and national agencies will either provide services to you or arrange for services to be provided. This is especially beneficial for adopted children - as they grow they can reach out and get answers to questions they may have about adoption. National agencies also provide around-the-clock service and often have one staff member who is your guide throughout the entire process. American Adoptions is a national agency. You can review the wide selection of American Adoptions adoptive family profiles here.

When deciding on adoption, one of the first things will be choosing which adoption professional who you will work with in finding an adoptive family for your child. They all have their pros and cons and all are divided into three categories.

1. Adoption Agency
2. Attorney
3. Facilitator

Adoption Agency - Adoption agencies are licensed and regulated by state authorities. This means they must follow certain standards to be able to continue providing services. State authorities review their files to make sure agency standards are kept at a very high level. Adoption agencies usually handle the entire adoption process for you. Adoption agencies can be divided into three categories.

• Small agencies - Usually one or two staff members are employed. The advantage is you can become very intimate with the staff at this agency. The disadvantages are that small agencies usually only serve a specific county or state. This complicates things if you wish to choose an adoptive family from another area or if you plan to relocate in the future. Small agencies are not typically able to serve beyond their geographic area. Furthermore, small agencies rarely provide support after regular business hours which can be frustrating to many pregnant women. You also need to check for religious affiliation as this can be uncomfortable for pregnant mothers who don't share religious views.
• Medium sized - Usually five or more staff members are employed. The advantage is medium-sized agencies usually serve a larger geographic area, which provides you more support and options. It is important to determine the areas served, because should you move outside their coverage area, you may not be able to receive support services.
• National agencies- Usually twenty or more staff members are employed. The advantage is national agencies typically serve all fifty states. They often have a wide selection of adoptive families who they screen and educate more than medium or small-sized agencies. This allows you to feel more secure in selecting a family who is going to be a great mom and dad. You can move to state and national agencies will either provide services to you or arrange for services to be provided. This is especially beneficial for adopted children - as they grow they can reach out and get answers to questions they may have about adoption. National agencies also provide around-the-clock service and often have one staff member who is your guide throughout the entire process. American Adoptions is a national agency. You can review the wide selection of American Adoptions adoptive family profiles here.

Adoption has had a broad history. Just as American society has evolved and changed through the generations, so has the process of adoption.

In the early 1930s, it was a widely held belief that adoption should be a discreet process, that secrecy should be maintained to protect not just the adoptive family, but also the birth parents. American society believed that a relationship between the child, the adoptive family and the birth parents would just cause undue stress and emotion for everyone involved. This was furthered by the societal view that being an unwed mother was shameful, and, as a result many women quietly snuck away to a maternity home and placed their baby for adoption.

However, by the early 1980s, society came to realize that this secrecy, guilt and shame only lead to resentment and depression. Not only did adopted children not have a sense of where they came from, but women who had placed their babies for adoption were forced to live their lives never knowing what happened to their baby.

As a result, the face of adoption is very different today. Instead of being shrouded in secrecy, today's adoptions are an open process in which birth parents, adoptive parents and the child embrace their relationship to one another.

Instead of simply handing over your baby to an adoption agency, birth mothers today formulate their own adoption plan, tailored to their own wants and desires for the birth and the life of their child.

As a pregnant mother, you will be able to hand-pick the adoptive family for your child. If you desire a family with no children, one of a specific religion or even one that lives in a specific state or region, the choice is yours. If you want to meet the family prior to the birth, you may specify that as part of your adoption plan. Likewise, if you want the adoptive family to be present - or not present - for the birth, the choice is yours.

The father of your baby may or may not choose to be a part of your decision-making process. Whether he is supportive or not, you are not alone – many women, just like you, have experienced situations similar to yours!

Remember, adoption laws vary by state, so it is important that you speak with an adoption professional about the laws specific to your state. If the father of your baby is supportive and willing to work with you as a teammate throughout this process, this is a wonderful thing. However, if he is less than supportive of the concept of adoption, do not feel discouraged. Though each state has different laws on “birth father’s” rights, as long as a professional – like American Adoptions – ensures that everything is carried out according to the law, there is little an unsupportive father can do to stand in the way of what you feel is best.

In the event of an unplanned pregnancy, some fathers exhibit wonderfully supportive behavior, and are willing to work as a team with the mother to do whatever both feel is best for the baby’s future. 

If the father of your baby falls into this category, embrace the opportunity to work together to choose what you both feel is the best life for the baby you have created together. In fact, if the father of your baby is supportive, it is likely that he will experience many of the same feelings of grief and loss that you find yourself experiencing. However, it is important to remember to take care of yourself. Although it is important to be there for him during this time, too, don't focus all of your attention onto how he feels. Take time out to focus on yourself, as well.

Once you have decided on adoption, you must make the decision about when to tell some or all of your family members.

Some pregnant mothers decide to only inform family members who they believe will be supportive of their feelings. It's your decision to make, but we all know how opinionated family members can be with the choices we make.

Talk about how you feel about this with an adoption counselor. They can help you with ways to approach certain family members.

Here are a few suggestions ...

• It is sometimes easier to approach one family member at a time. In this way, you won’t feel judgment or emotional reactions from several members at the same time.
• It is usually better to approach the family member who you believe will be the most sensitive and supportive of your feelings.
• It is important to understand that your mother and father will typically respond negatively to the idea of pregnancy, adoption or parenting. It usually is because their initial reaction is one of shock, and they must go through the stages of acceptance, just as you will. When they first learn about your pregnancy, they typically aren’t in the frame of mind to think about what is best for you and your baby. It is more common for the initial reaction to be a mixture of disappointment, frustration, anger or denial.
• If you haven’t told them about your pregnancy, then it might be a good idea to share that idea with them first. It is a lot to take in at one time if you learn that your daughter is pregnant and she is also choosing adoption. These two ideas at one time overwhelm some parents. Most parents are most frustrated with the news of an unplanned pregnancy so it is best to share that news separately. It allows them to have a clearer head rather than respond with emotions. If they ask you what you are going to do about your pregnancy, you can tell them that you are currently exploring your options.

It is not uncommon for a woman considering adoption to wonder if her child will resent her for choosing adoption. While not uncommon, the thought of your child one day hating you for placing them for adoption is a terrifying one - leaving you to wonder if adoption really is your best option.

It's almost comical how, when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, everyone in your life suddenly becomes an expert, lecturing you about what you should do next. People unsupportive of adoption will tell you just that - that your child will hate you for "giving them up." Perpetrated by fear of the unknown and of a lack of understanding about the modern adoption process, people often believe that an adopted child grows up lost and lonely, wondering who their birth parents are, never finding a sense of "self." 

However, that image couldn't be more untrue.

Adoption can impact a child's life in many ways. While it once thought that it was best to keep a child's adoption history secret, today adoption is celebrated by families across the world as a positive, beautiful event that makes each adopted child special.

For many generations it was often thought that adoption was a secret to be kept -- that women who placed a child for adoption should never speak of their child, that adoptive families should never share their child's adoption story and that it was in the best interest of the child to be kept in the dark regarding their history. However, this secrecy often lead to hurt, confusion and anger by each member of the "adoption triad" (the birth parents, the child and the adoptive family). This secrecy often cast a large shadow over adoption, often making it a negative aspect of a person's life, rather than a positive one.

However, times have changed. In today's world of adoption adoptive parents are more open about their child's adoption story. Many families even celebrate their child's adoption each year as a family tradition. Many children are taught from their earliest years that they were adopted -- and that being adopted meant they were immensely loved by both their adoptive parents and their birth parents. They are brought up knowing their adoption story from the very beginning and grow up to be proud of the fact that they were adopted and that their birth parents loved them so much that they made that difficult choice to choose adoption. Many are even so touched by their adoption story, that they grow up to be adoption professionals, such as Jennifer, an Adoption Specialist with American Adoptions:

American Adoptions is currently one of the largest non-profit licensed domestic adoption agencies in the United States completing over 300 adoptions annually. As a non-profit, licensed adoption agency American Adoptions provides a full range of services to adoptive families and birth parents across the country.

Read profiles and view photos of the staff of American Adoptions.