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Giving Your Child Up for Adoption in Buddhism

If you’re a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, it’s reasonable to assume there’s a lot running through your mind. You’re facing one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and your choice will impact both you and your child forever. For a lot of women, religion plays a part in the decision-making process as well. If you’re a Buddhist, you may currently be wondering: Can I give my baby up for adoption in Buddhism?

While no one can tell you what to do with your unplanned pregnancy, American Adoptions can absolutely help a Buddhist give a baby up for adoption. Our first recommendation to you if you are struggling with pursuing adoption as a Buddhist is to talk to someone you respect in your religious community. They’ll be able to give you valuable insight into adoption as it aligns with your faith.  Our second recommendation is to learn as much as you can about the adoption process to decide for yourself if it aligns with your Buddhist principles. We want every woman to feel comfortable in her decision, no matter what faith she practices.

Every adoption is unique. If you have any questions about the adoption process as a Buddhist, please give us a call at 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with a helpful adoption specialist. We would be more than happy to listen.

How can a Buddhist pursue adoption for her baby?

When a woman decides to place her child for adoption with American Adoptions, we tailor the process to fit her needs. You are always in charge of your child’s adoption, so keep in mind that the following is a general outline of the process. It can always be tailored to meet your religious requirements. However, the following steps are fairly common for most women pursuing adoption:

Step 1: Choose adoption for your baby.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to believe that adoption is the best choice for your child before you begin to craft a plan. Whether you aren’t sure that you can give your baby the life you want for them or you know that becoming a parent could take away from other important aspects of your life, it’s important to feel confident in your adoption decision. At this phase, we encourage you to talk to respected members of your religious community. You are also always welcome to call 1-800-ADOPTION to talk things out (at no cost) with a licensed social worker.

Step 2: Work with your adoption specialist to create an adoption plan.

At American Adoptions, you’re in the driver’s seat of the adoption process. Your adoption specialist will help you to come up with an adoption plan that meets all of your needs and preferences as a Buddhist woman. If there’s any part of the adoption plan that you don’t feel comfortable with, or that you don’t believe aligns with your faith, don’t be afraid to let your adoption specialist know.

Step 3: Find a Buddhist adoptive family for your baby.

You absolutely get to choose your child’s adoptive parents, and one of the factors that you can decide on is religion. If you want to place your child with a family that shares your faith, your adoption specialist will help to connect you with Buddhist families pursuing adoption, and you’ll be able to learn more about each of them before deciding to contact the one you feel is right.

Step 4: Get to know your child’s prospective adoptive family.

We always recommend at least some degree of openness, or communication, in an adoptive relationship. This benefits everyone in the adoptive relationship, particularly the child, and contact can occur via in-person visits, phone calls or emails — whatever you’re comfortable with.

Step 5: Develop your birthing plan.

This will be a little more involved than it is for most pregnant women, because you’ve got to factor in some additional details. Your adoption specialist will help you to determine the answers to questions like: Do you want the adoptive family in the room? Do you want time alone with your baby? Do you want to nurse your baby? Thinking of all of these things ahead of time will help to ensure that your day goes exactly as you want it to.

Step 6: Continue to share a relationship with your child’s adoptive family.

While your comfort levels may vary, it’s important that you continue to work on the relationship you’ve begun to build with your child’s adoptive family. Many women feel the need for a little more space to grieve in the beginning, and then grow more comfortable with regular contact. Remember that whatever your needs are, your adoption specialist will help you to make sure they’re met.

To learn more about pursuing adoption as a Buddhist, please contact American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is American Adoptions the right adoption agency choice for many birth mothers?

American Adoptions is one of the largest licensed adoption agencies in the United States. Each year, we work with thousands of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy and offer assistance to these women. Our large, caring staff is able to assist you seven days a week and provide you with one-on-one counseling about your pregnancy and available options.

You should choose an adoption agency where you feel completely comfortable with their services and staff. With American Adoptions, you will work with an Adoption Specialist who is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Adoption Specialist will be your advocate and will provide support and guidance as you create an adoption plan that is right for you.

How will the family tell my child about me and the adoption when my child is older?

Each family has their own style of introducing adoption to the child. When you are matched with an adoptive family, you can ask them this question. If you would like your Adoption Specialist to discuss it for you, just let her know. He or she can share your wishes or provide good ideas from other adoptive families.

You will also be able to share what you want your baby to know about you. You can complete a keepsake booklet to share hobbies, stories, photos of you and your family and a letter to your baby. The adoptive family can provide this to your child as he or she grows older. Be as creative as you like! Some birth mothers have even knitted a special blanket as a gift to their baby or given a similar symbol of their love.

The father of your baby can fill out the birth father's keepsake booklet or write a letter too. You may have other family members who would also like to share photos or a letter to the baby. This is your opportunity to pass on your and your family's love and to share your personality, history and reasons for choosing adoption. The adoptive family will treasure whatever information you provide and will share it with the baby at an appropriate age. In most adoptive homes, the word adoption is in the child's vocabulary early on, and adoption is celebrated in their lives.

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