What if I Don’t Have an Adoptive Family Picked When I Give Birth?

Deciding on the perfect adoptive family can take a huge weight off your shoulders. Instead of spending time combing through the adoptive family profiles you’ve been sent, you can take this time to focus on yourself, building a relationship with the adoptive family, and the healthy birth of your baby. But, what if finding the right match takes more time than you initially hoped?

This situation is more common than you think. We have had many women who are later in their pregnancy  panic and ask us, “What happens if I don’t find an adoptive family by the time my son’s born? What happens if you don't find an adoptive family at all?” If you’re worried about the fact that you don’t have adoptive parents ready for your baby, or that you may not find adoptive parents that live up to your dreams for your baby, don’t be! That’s where we can help.

Finding an adoptive family who’s perfect for you and your baby is possible at any point in your pregnancy, and even after you give birth. American Adoptions can help you find the perfect family for your baby — no matter how long it takes. If you’re ready to find a family now or learn more about the adoption process, please give us a call at 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our online form to get more information.

“When Do I Need to Have an Adoptive Family Chosen?”

No matter what stage you’re at in your pregnancy, or even if your baby has already been born, you can still choose your child’s adoptive family. You always have the right to pick parents who you feel are best for your baby. So, even if you feel like you’re in a rush right now, and you’re wondering, “What happens if nobody adopts my baby?” we will help you connect with an adoptive family that feels right to you. It is never too late to choose adoptive parents. 

You can choose adoptive parents for your baby:

• At any point in your pregnancy
• While you’re at the hospital, and the family will travel to meet you
• After the baby is born, even months later

Birth mother Casey parented her twin sons for two years before she decided on adoption to give them a better future. Even then, she was able to find the perfect adoptive family for her toddlers.

“I don’t regret the adoption because I know it’s what was supposed to happen,” Casey said. “I was supposed to raise them for two years so they could be with their family now. If I didn’t, they would never have had the chance to be with their wonderful family and to have all the opportunities they have in their lives.”

The benefit of choosing an adoptive family earlier is that you’d have more time to get to know them and feel comfortable with them and your decision. But sometimes things don’t always work out that way! There’s no real “deadline” by which you need to have your baby’s future family chosen, so don’t panic. You can start looking here and now.

“What If I Don’t Have an Adoptive Family Picked When I Give Birth?”

Many parents don’t choose adoption for their babies until after they’ve given birth, often while they’re in the hospital or even after they’ve taken their child home. Sometimes, you find that you simply don’t feel as prepared or as excited to be a parent as you thought you might be once the big day arrives. Or perhaps you just hadn’t found the right adoptive parents until the last minute. Whatever the reason, adoption is still 100 percent possible, even if you don’t have a family picked out right now.

Some women also ask, “Can parents give children up for adoption before someone wants them?” The answer to that is yes, you can start the adoption process even if you don’t know who you want to adopt your baby yet. We can have an adoption specialist show you adoptive family profiles that match what you’re looking for in an ideal family while you’re in the hospital recovering from your delivery, and a family for your baby can be there to meet you as soon as you’re ready.

If you choose an adoptive family while you’re still in the hospital, we’ll  tell the waiting parents to travel to your hospital, and you’ll be able to spend some time with them and introduce them to their baby once they arrive. You’ll be able to sign your sign your adoption paperwork for the adoption once the state-mandated waiting period has passed (at a minimum). This paperwork is a voluntary termination of your legal parental rights, meaning you’re permanently placing your baby with the adoptive family. Your adoption specialist and an attorney will be able to prepare you for this moment and walk you through this process to ensure that you understand everything, and that you’re confident in your decision.

“What Happens if Nobody Adopts My Baby?”

A fear that some expectant parents have expressed is, “What if I don’t have parents picked out, and then nobody adopts my baby? Can you give your child up for adoption even if a family doesn’t want to adopt it at the moment? What happens if you don't find an adoptive family that meets your criteria?”

This fear is perfectly understandable. You’re choosing adoption for your baby because you love them and you want the best for them. Prospective birth parents want their baby to have a loving family from day one. So, is it possible that no one will adopt your baby if you place him or her for adoption?

With us, the answer is no. Your baby will always be immediately adopted by parents who have been waiting and hoping for your child. They will go straight to their “forever family.” There is no foster care involved when you contact a private adoption agency like American Adoptions.

If this is something you’ve worried about, you can relax. Adoption is different than foster care. Even if you don’t have adoptive parents picked out right now, we always have waiting adoptive families to choose from, so your baby will always be adopted by a loving family. And if you’ve ever wondered, “Can parents give children up for adoption before someone wants them?” know that there’s no such thing as an unwanted child — American Adoptions has hundreds of hopeful adoptive families who have been waiting and longing to become parents for years. No matter your or your baby’s circumstances, there is a family out there who would be thrilled to adopt your child. And when you find “the one” you’ll know.

Carmen, one of our birth mothers, knew that she found the perfect family after looking through adoptive family profiles.

“I spent the next several weeks combing through what must have been dozens of wonderful families. Then, I found them — the couple that I immediately felt connected to,” Carmen said.

Our adoption specialists will help you find the perfect adoptive family you've been looking for. If you don't see the right adoptive parents' profile listed on our website, you can call our adoption specialists any time at 1-800-ADOPTION to talk about your needs and goals for your baby. We have many more families at different stages of the process whose profiles aren't listed on our website, and we have a national network of professionals we can partner with to ensure you find the adoptive family that is right for you and your child.

Find Adoptive Parents Now

Whatever you’re looking for in a future family for your baby, we can help you find it, even if you have limited time. When you work with American Adoptions, you won’t have to worry, “What happens if no one adopts my baby?” No matter what stage you’re at in your pregnancy, or even if your baby is already born, we can help you create an adoption plan and find the right family for your child.

Contact us now online or by calling 1-800-ADOPTION. We’re available 24/7, and adoption is always free for prospective birth parents. Start browsing profiles of waiting families here, or call us to view more waiting adoptive parent profiles. Your baby’s perfect family is out there! We’ll help you find them. 

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