In Connecticut, you cannot sign consent to adoption until 48 hours after your baby is born. Once you sign, you can change your mind before the final adoption decree, which typically happens within 30 days of filing your consent.

This timeline protects both you and your child. The 48-hour waiting period ensures you have time to recover from delivery before making this decision. The window before finalization gives you time to be certain about your choice while also allowing the adoption process to move forward.

Talk to an adoption specialist who can walk you through every detail of the Connecticut adoption process.

Adoption Consent in Connecticut: What Every Birth Parent Needs to Know

Consent to adoption in Connecticut means you're legally agreeing to transfer your parental rights to the adoptive parents.

When you sign, you're confirming three things:

• You understand what adoption means
• You've had time to consider your options
• You're making this choice voluntarily, without pressure

Connecticut adoption law requires that your consent be witnessed and often needs court approval. Your adoption specialist will guide you through the paperwork and explain exactly what you're signing.

You have control over every aspect of the adoption process, including when and where you sign your consent. Don’t rush this decision. You can meet your baby, spend time considering your choice, and sign only when you're ready.

Can You Revoke Consent After Signing?

Yes. In Connecticut, you can file a petition to revoke your consent any time before the final adoption decree is entered, which typically happens within 30 days of filing your consent. To revoke, you must submit a written petition to the court explaining why you wish to withdraw your consent.

The court will consider the best interests of the child when deciding whether to grant your petition. If revocation is granted before finalization, your parental rights will be restored and your child will be returned to you.

Why Hormonal Shifts after Birth May Trigger Second Thoughts

Right after you give birth, your body experiences dramatic hormonal changes that can make you second-guess your decision, even if you felt certain about adoption during your pregnancy:

• Oxytocin floods your system, creating an intense urge to stay close to your baby
• Prolactin reinforces maternal instincts as your body prepares for breastfeeding
• Progesterone and estrogen levels drop sharply, triggering mood swings, anxiety, and doubt

These feelings are powerful and completely normal. But they're also temporary. As your hormones stabilize over the next few weeks, the emotional intensity will ease. What felt unbearable in the hospital often becomes clearer once your body has recovered.

Doubt Happens. Remember Why You Chose Adoption

If you're feeling uncertain, think back to why you chose adoption in the first place. Maybe you wanted your child to have specific opportunities. Maybe you wanted to finish school or focus on your career. Maybe you felt adoption would give your child the life you envisioned for them.

These reasons are still valid, even if your heart is pulling you in a different direction right now. Doubt is natural. It means you care deeply about your child's future.

You know what the right choice is for you. Take the time you need to be certain, and your adoption specialist will support whatever choice you make.

Talk to an adoption specialist if you have questions about your decision.

Hear from Birth Mothers Who Have Been In Your Shoes

Sometimes the best reassurance comes from hearing someone else's story. In this video, a birth mother shares her experience with adoption, including the doubts she felt and how she found peace with her decision.

She shares how she found peace with her decision and the support she received throughout her journey. Her story might help you feel less alone in what you're experiencing.

Through open adoption in Connecticut, you can stay connected and watch your child grow while building your own future.

After the Revocation Period: What Happens Next in Adoption?

Once the final adoption decree is entered, typically within 30 days of filing consent, the adoptive parents have full legal parental rights. This permanency gives your child stability and allows you to move forward with your life knowing they're cared for.

If you've chosen open adoption, finalization doesn't mean losing contact. You can still receive updates, photos, and even visits, depending on your agreement with the adoptive family.

Why Adoption Decisions Are Supported with Counseling

One of the most important safeguards in adoption is access to counseling. At American Adoptions, we provide free counseling to all birth mothers before, during, and after placement to ensure you feel emotionally prepared for the journey ahead.

Counseling gives you a safe space to talk through your fears, explore your options, and process the complex emotions that come with adoption. Your counselor can help you understand the difference between temporary doubt and genuine uncertainty.

They can also help you work through the emotions of adoption, including grief, relief, and hope.

What If I'm Still Unsure about Adoption?

If you're reading this and still feeling uncertain, that's okay. Adoption is one of the most significant decisions you'll ever make, and it's normal to have questions, fears, and doubts.

Here's what you can do if you're not ready to decide:

• Talk to someone. Whether it's your adoption specialist, a counselor, or a trusted friend, talking through your concerns can help you gain clarity.
• Sometimes just saying your fears out loud makes them feel more manageable.
• Revisit your reasons. Go back to the reasons you initially considered adoption. Are those circumstances still true? Have they changed?
• Understanding your current reality can help you make a decision that reflects where you are now, not where you were months ago.
• Explore your options. If you're unsure about adoption, consider your other unplanned pregnancy options in Connecticut.

Parenting and adoption are both valid choices, and you deserve to explore what feels right for you. The most important thing is that you feel supported, informed, and confident in whatever choice you make.

How American Adoptions Supports Birth Mothers

At American Adoptions, we understand that giving your baby up for adoption is one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make.

Here's how we support you throughout your journey:

You can choose a brighter future for your child while building the life you want for yourself. Your child will have every opportunity with a wonderful family, and you can focus on achieving your own goals and dreams.

Contact us today to speak with an adoption specialist.

Disclaimer
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