We are a licensed, first‑party adoption agency. Our focus is your safety, your choices, and your timeline.

You deserve an honest and transparent process – we’re here to walk you through it. With American Adoptions, you can choose the family, set the tone for the hospital, and it’s your call on how much contact you want later on. Our job is to explain each step and take care of the logistics.

Start when it works for you. Contact a Missouri Adoption Specialist — confidential and no obligation.

What Happens to My Baby After Adoption in Missouri? Hospital Steps and Consent Timing (48 Hours)

You can set the details for delivery and the hours after birth. We share your written plan with hospital staff so everyone stays aligned.

• Who you want in the room
• Whether you hold and name your baby
• How much time you want together before discharge

You can change it anytime before discharge. If you are wondering what happens next at the hospital, the plan you set leads. We support it. Missouri law allows you to sign consent only after your baby is 48 hours old. That 48-hour window exists so you aren’t asked to decide right away.

After you sign the Missouri consent forms, we’ll arrange the discharge details with your plan in mind.

Your baby leaves with the adoptive family you chose or, if you prefer a slower transition or need more time to match, with cradle care — temporary, licensed care coordinated by our team, not state foster care. After you sign consent (48+ hours after birth), your baby goes to the pre‑approved family you chose—not into foster care.

Questions during discharge? Our team is available.

Who Cares for My Baby After I Sign? Direct Placement, Not Foster Care

When you work with American Adoptions, placement happens directly with the fully screened family you select. We prepare that family for hospital etiquette, first‑day bonding, and respectful communication so the handoff feels calm for everyone.

If you want more time, we can arrange cradle care. You set the handoff time and place. See families now: Find an Adoptive Family in Missouri.

How We Vet Adoptive Families in Missouri: Home Study and Background Checks

Every family completes a licensed home study and background checks before matching. A typical home study includes:

• Interviews and a home‑safety review
• References and medical clearances
• Background checks at the state and federal level
• Proof of income and a review of how the family plans to parent

We also provide education and counseling on openness, positive adoption language, and trauma‑informed care. If you are asking what happens next, part of the answer is that we only match with families who meet these standards and are prepared to support lifelong connection.

How open, semi‑open, and closed adoption work.

Missouri Adoption Finalization: Custody, Post‑Placement Visits, and Court Day

After placement, adoptive parents have legal custody and handle day‑to‑day and medical decisions.

When you choose to sign, Missouri law generally makes that decision permanent.

Your attorney will walk through this carefully so you feel certain before you sign.

A social worker checks in with the family and your child during the first months and then updates the court. After those visits, the judge sets a finalization date.

Timing varies by county. You’ll get updates with dates and next steps.

An independent attorney—provided at no cost to you—represents your interests, explains your rights in plain language, and reviews each document with you before you sign. If questions come up later, our team can connect you with legal or counseling support.

Learn more: Closed adoption basics.

Staying in Contact After Placement: Open Adoption Options in Missouri

Open adoption gives you options for staying connected. Many birth parents start with photos and messages and, if everyone is comfortable, add video calls or visits later.

You choose a family that shares your contact preferences, and we help set clear expectations so the plan is easy to follow.

In Missouri, courts can recognize contact agreements when they serve your child’s best interests. If you ever want help adjusting the plan or taking a pause, we can mediate. Learn More About Open Adoption.

After‑Placement Support for Birth Parents: Counseling and Allowed Expenses

You are not on your own after placement. You can access counseling with licensed professionals who understand birth‑parent grief and adjustment. Some parents book a few check-ins; others reach out as needed—both are available.

Missouri allows adoptive families to cover certain expenses, including medical, legal, and counseling for a reasonable time after placement, plus reasonable living expenses subject to court review. In many cases, support continues for up to six weeks postpartum based on need and approval.

We’ll manage the court paperwork so you do not have to keep receipts or manage forms.

If you want help maintaining boundaries or managing contact, we can step in to pass updates or reset expectations. If you're still thinking about what happens next in the months that follow, know that contact can be flexible and supported.

How American Adoptions Supports Missouri Birth Mothers—Before, During, After

Our team offers:

• A large pool of fully screened families so you can match on values and openness
• A step‑by‑step plan for the hospital, consent, and placement that follows Missouri law
• An independent attorney at no cost to you
• Counseling and coordination of allowable expenses and practical logistics
• Ongoing tools and mediation for open adoption

We also manage everyday logistics—rides to appointments, help gathering documents, and reminders for key dates. If your situation changes, we adjust the plan so your support doesn’t drop off.

Have questions now? Find the Help You Need in Missouri.

Talk with a Missouri Specialist Today

Missouri adoption unfolds step by step—your hospital plan, consent after 48 hours, placement with the family you select, and court finalization.

Our team explains each step, arranges the details, and supports the level of contact you want now and later. If you’re still weighing options or ready to move forward, a private conversation can help you decide what fits your life today. Contact a Missouri Adoption Specialist.

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