If you’re a Washington woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and thinking about giving your baby up for adoption, the first thing you should understand from reading this article is that you aren’t alone. There are many other women who have faced or are currently facing this same decision, and you have the right to make whichever choice feels right to you regarding your pregnancy. No one can decide how to proceed except for you, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t resources dedicated to providing help.

At American Adoptions, we’re one of those resources. Sometimes it can be helpful for a woman thinking about putting a baby up for adoption in Washington to understand exactly how that process could look for her.  Please understand that it can differ in each scenario, as each adoption journey at American Adoptions is tailored to a pregnant woman’s exact wishes. Also, know that while it’s common to use phrasing that mentions “giving a baby up for adoption,” choosing adoption is not “giving up” in the traditional sense of the term. In no way is placing a baby giving up or throwing in the towel; to choose adoption is to selflessly put your child’s interests above your own. If this is something you’re considering for your child, we’ve included an outline below so you can learn what adoption could look like for you.

1. Is placing a baby for adoption in Washington the right move for you?

Considering adoption for your baby is a huge step in itself, and you’re the only one who knows whether or not it’s the right one for you. This is certainly one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and it can be hard to know how to decide if you want to put your baby up for adoption in Washington. Your family and friends may have opinions that they offer up in an attempt to help, but the reality is that this choice is yours and yours alone. If, however, you wish to speak with a neutral professional who can offer advice and resources, please don’t hesitate to call American Adoptions at any time at 1-800-ADOPTION. Your call is free and in no way commits you to the adoption process.

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

If you do end up deciding that placing your baby up for adoption in Washington is the right choice, it’s important to know that you’ll be in control of the entire process when working with American Adoptions. You will work with one adoption specialist from the time you first contact us, and she will help you to decide exactly how you want your adoption to go. If you don’t already know what your ideal adoptive family might be like, she’ll help you to consider that, as well as how much contact you wish to have with your child and their family, how you want your hospital visit to go, and more.

3. Choose an adoptive family for your baby.

One of the reasons you’re considering adoption for your baby is because you want to make sure they have the best life possible — but how to ensure that that’s exactly what they get? With American Adoptions, you’ll find the perfect adoptive parents for your baby. Whether you wish to place baby up for adoption in Washington or elsewhere in the United States, we work with hundreds of adoptive families across the country that have created two types of adoption profiles for your convenience.

The first is a print profile, which allows you to flip through a brochure-style printout to learn general facts about a family. If one catches your eye, you can view their video profile, which will allow you to see how they interact with each other in their home and get a sense of the environment that would surround your child.

It’s also relevant to know that all adoptive families who work with American Adoptions are thoroughly screened through background checks as well as home studies. Every American Adoptions family is 100 percent ready to grow through adoption.

4. Begin to develop a relationship with your child’s adoptive family.

Depending on where you’re at in your adoption research, you may not have yet learned that modern day adoptions are much different than in centuries and even decades past. At American Adoptions, we always recommend some degree of openness, or communication, in an adoptive relationship. If you wish to, you can still have a relationship with your child and their adoptive family for the rest of your life. Not only will you get to see your child grow and know how they’re doing, but they’ll have access to you and answers to any questions that will inevitably pop up about their adoption. Your child will always know how loved they are.

In the beginning of your relationship with the adoptive family, then, is a good chance to get to know them. You can communicate with them before your child is born via conference calls, emails, in-person meetings and more.

5. Work with your adoption specialist on your hospital plan.

Like every pregnant woman, you’ll come up with a birthing plan for your child. Depending on your personal preferences, you’ll choose your doctor, how you want to deliver, where you want to deliver and more. As a woman considering adoption in Washington, though, you’ll have a few additional things to think about. Your adoption specialist will help you determine every detail of how your day should go. Should the adoptive family be in the room with you? Would you like to spend time alone with your baby after giving birth? Who should leave the hospital first, you or the adoptive family?

Your adoption specialist will work with you to make sure you are in charge of the whole day, just as you are with the rest of the adoption process.

6. Continue to get to know your child and his or her adoptive family.

After you’ve placed your baby with their adoptive family, it may feel like your adoption journey is over. Really, though, it’s just beginning. Adoption is something that will be a part of you for the rest of your life, and if you opt to have any openness in your adoption, your relationship with your child and their adoptive family will evolve over time.

How much contact you have with the adoptive family depends entirely on you and your preferences. Some women find that in the beginning, they need a little space to grieve the loss of their child. If that applies to you, that’s completely okay. You may wish to communicate via texts and emails in the beginning and then switch to Skype calls or in-person visits as you become more comfortable. Remember, like any relationship, yours with your child’s adoptive family can grow and change as you need.

While reading about how to give a baby up for adoption in Washington may not have made your adoption decision for you, we hope it provided some insight into what the process could look like for you. For more information if you’re considering adoption in Washington, call American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION, or request free information here. 

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