If you are a pregnant woman considering adoption in Maryland, it’s important to know you aren’t alone. It’s not uncommon for women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy to have feelings of shame, but we hope you’ll check those at the door as you read this article.

Many other women have considered “giving a baby up” for adoption, and many will in the future. It’s not something to be ashamed of. If a woman does choose adoption for her baby, it’s because she’s made an incredible sacrifice and put her child’s interests above her own.

If you’re unexpectedly pregnant and thinking about adoption in Maryland, it’s likely that there’s a lot going through your head at the moment. No one can tell you what to do with this pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of resources to help you make the best decision for yourself and your child. We at American Adoptions are one of those resources.

While, of course, we are an adoption agency, please know that this article is not intended to sway you toward anyone unplanned pregnancy option. Adoption is not right for everyone. It can, however, be an amazing choice for you and your child.

If placing a baby for adoption in Maryland is something you may be interested in, it can be helpful to know just exactly how that process works. For more information, please call American Adoptions anytime at 1-800-ADOPTION to get in touch with an adoption specialist.

To that end, then, the following is an overview of the necessary steps when putting a baby up for adoption in Maryland. 

How do I put my unborn baby up for adoption in Maryland?

1. Decide that placing a baby for adoption in Maryland is the best choice for yourself and your child.

It may seem obvious, but the first step in placing a baby for adoption in MD is to decide that this is truly what’s best for you and your child. You are the only one who can make this decision. While your family, friends or even the baby’s father may believe they know what’s best for you, the choice is ultimately up to you and you alone. If you need help, however, or simply someone to talk to, you are always more than welcome to work through your thoughts and emotions with a social worker at 1-800-ADOPTION.

2. Work with your American Adoptions adoption specialist to create an adoption plan.

At American Adoptions, you’re in the driver’s seat of the adoption process. Should you determine that putting a baby up for adoption is the right choice for you, you’ll work with your adoption specialist to decide exactly what type of adoption situation you want for your child. You’ll get to decide what traits are important to you in an adoptive family, decide how you want your stay in the hospital to go, and more.

3. Choose an adoptive family for your baby.

That’s right; you get to choose your child’s adoptive family. At American Adoptions, we’ve completed many baby adoptions in Maryland and throughout the United States. Each of the hundreds of families we work with at any given time will complete two kinds of adoptive family profiles for you to peruse. The first is a print profile, which will serve as a sort of brochure that will tell you all the basics about the family. If the print profile catches your interest, you’ll also be able to watch their video profile, which will let you see how the family interacts with each other.

4. Get to know the adoptive family you choose.

Adoptions in the 21^st century are different than they have historically been. At American Adoptions, we always recommend some degree of openness, or communication, in an adoptive relationship. This means that you can still maintain a lifelong relationship with your baby even after placement. Not only does this allow you to watch your child grow and know he or she is safe, but it will also allow your child the chance to ask any questions and understand the love that you have for him or her.

After you choose an adoptive family for your child, then, it’s important that you begin to develop a relationship with them before your baby is born. The communication you have with them can take place through conference calls, emails, or even in-person meetings. It’s entirely up to you.

5. Create your hospital plan.

As any pregnant woman would, you’ll develop a birthing plan for your baby. This will include details such as which hospital you wish to deliver in, what medications you’d like to use, which doctor will be in the room, etc. But a woman considering adoption in Maryland also has a few other details to line out. The entire day should go exactly as you want it to, so this means your adoption specialist will have you consider questions like the following:

• Do you want the adoptive family in the room with you?

• Do you want any time alone with your baby?

• Do you want to nurse your baby?

• Do you want to leave the hospital before or after your baby and their adoptive family?

6. Continue to build your lifelong relationship with your baby and his or her adoptive family.

Giving a baby up for adoption doesn’t mean the adoption process ends when he or she goes home with their adoptive family. Since open adoptions allow for communication after placement, adoption is a lifelong journey. Your relationship with your child and his or her adoptive family will take work, like any other relationship, and it can evolve as much as you want it to. 

If there are times when you need space to grieve, that’s okay. That doesn’t mean you can’t get back in the swing with regular phone calls or in-person visits. As you plan to put your baby up for adoption in Maryland, remember that American Adoptions will help to match you with a family who wants the same things out of an adoptive relationship.

To learn more about placing a baby for adoption in Maryland, please call American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION, or request free information here.

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