As the most commonly practiced form of adoption in the United States, it is no secret that open adoption has its benefits both for the birthmother and adoptive parents. At Everlasting Adoptions, we believe that open relationships between birth and adoptive parents are a beautiful way to carry out any adoption, and strive to keep both parties educated on its benefits.
Open Adoption Gives You Options
Whether you are 9 days pregnant or 9 months pregnant, we can help you create an adoption plan that is right for you. In an open adoption, the choices are completely yours. This includes:
- Choosing an adoptive family for your baby
- Choosing who you want with you in the delivery room
- Choosing the amount of contact you’d like with the adoptive family after placement
Your Child Knows His/Her Roots
In an open adoption, a child grows up knowing where he/she came from, his/her medical history, and that the decision to place him or her for adoption was one made out of love. An open adoption can provide answers to a child’s questions such as “who do I look like?” and “why was I adopted?” If an adopted child knows his/her birthmother, it will be much easier for them to develop an identity and make peace with the reason(s) for being adopted.
Open Adoption Helps Develop Trust and Understanding
Meeting you and getting to you better before the birth helps adoptive parents develop a trust and understanding with you. Being selected by a birthmother to parent her child is an honor and an incredible feeling that adoptive parents spend months – and sometimes years waiting for. Meeting the adoptive parents is also beneficial to the you, the birthmother, as you will have the chance of getting to know their personalities and lifestyle before placement. Additionally, having ongoing contact after placement increases the opportunity to build on trust and establish a deep and open relationship.
There are no “Goodbyes”
In an open adoption, your relationship with the adoptive family and your child doesn’t stop after placement. Instead, you have the extraordinary opportunity to maintain a long lasting relationship with them. Moving forward, it is this ongoing, open relationship that enables you to heal as you see that your child is loved and cared for.
Every birthmother and adoptive family is different and no situation is alike. That is why the adoption coordinators at Everlasting Adoptions listen carefully and work with you to create a plan that works for your needs. Whether you are considering open adoption or closed adoption, at no point in time will we ever persuade you to make a decision – we will only offer guidance and support and let you make the decision that you feel is best.