Choosing adoption for your baby is a major decision, and one that you might be on the fence about. Many women thinking about adoption worry that they might come to regret this decision. Right now, you might be wondering, “What if I change my mind about adoption? Can I adopt out my baby and get her back if I want to?”
At the end of the day, adoption is your choice. If your intuition is telling you that the adoptive couple you picked isn’t right, make sure to tell your Adoption Coordinator. She’s here to help you as you decide if the couple is right for your child.
Adoption Laws
After your baby is born, you have a set amount of time to change your mind about adoption. The amount of time depends on the state you live in. An adoption lawyer can make sure that you know your right and are fully informed before you sign anything.
Remember Your Reasons for Choosing Adoption
Before you stop the adoption, take a step back and think about why you chose adoption for your baby. What’s changed in your life that would make parenting easier? Why don’t you want to do adoption now?
A few of the most common reasons women choose adoption are:
- Can’t afford to support another child
- Environment is unsafe for a child
- Lack of support from the father
- Too young
- Parenting would get in the way of future plans
- Desire to provide child with a better life
Take some time to really consider your plans, feelings, and what’s going to work in the long-term. Then, be upfront and honest with your adoption agency and the adoptive couple you’ve already selected for your baby.
Remember, it’s never too late to choose adoption. If your parenting doesn’t work, you can always explore adoption again.
Speak With a Therapist
Lifetime encourages you to seek counseling during your adoption planning process. We can connect you with a licensed third-party counselor, for free. (“Third-party” means that the counselor has no personal interest in whether or not you do adoption.) The therapist merely is there to help you sort through the variety of emotions you might be facing.
Free peer counseling is also available to you. With peer counseling, you talk with a woman who chose adoption for her child. Since she’s been where you’re at right now, she can let you know what to expect as you get closer to your due date. If you’re having doubts about adoption, you can vent those to her.
Get Informed
Right now, the best thing you for yourself is to get as much information about adoption as possible. Reading this blog is a great place to start, as is going through all the info that your Adoption Coordinator at Lifetime sent you. Seek support from a counselor or a close friend as you’re making your adoption decision. Here at Lifetime, we realize that adoption is a tough choice to have to make. You might have moments of doubt even when you’re on the right path.
Know that Lifetime Adoption Agency isn’t here to push you into choosing adoption. The adoption decision is up to you!
