What to Expect When Placing Your Child for Adoption with A Child’s Hope

Stephanie shares her experiences in placing a child for adoption.

“I believe that adoption is the most loving choice that is available. Adoption is not ‘giving up’ a baby, but instead I view it as ‘giving to’ a family and ‘providing for’ a child.”
– Cheryl, 26, birth mother

If you are pregnant and considering adoption for your unborn baby, you have probably come across the term “giving baby up for adoption” in your search for more information. It is a phrase commonly used to describe a mother’s difficult choice to make an adoption plan for her baby.

But the truth is, “giving a baby up for adoption” diminishes the gravity of the choice you are making. It dismisses the time, effort and emotion you will put into your adoption plan to give your baby the best life possible.

At A Child’s Hope, our goal is to empower you to make the best possible choices for yourself and your baby. The following describes the one-on-one support you may receive from our counseling team through this challenging time.

Receive One-On-One Support Throughout the Adoption

Each woman who makes an adoption plan with A Child’s Hope will meet in person with one of our easy to talk to counselors. Wherever you are in North Carolina, there is one of our counselors within easy driving distance to meet with you in person. We have eight adoption counselors spread throughout the State. Our counselors live in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Gaston, Statesville and Raleigh. You will be working directly with an experienced adoption professional that is familiar with your community and can meet you in person to provide the services and support you need.

You select a family and meet them in a match meeting. Match meetings are held in your city or a city near you that you are comfortable with. So if you live in Asheville, but want to meet and have privacy, the counselor may suggest a match meeting in nearby city such as Waynesville, Canton, Candler, Swannanoa or Weaverville. If you live in Charlotte she might suggest you meet in Matthews, Davidson, Concord, Hickory or Huntersville area.

We believe that the best counseling is done in person. With A Child’s Hope, you will not just be a name or a voice on the other end of a phone call. When you work with us, we will be there to:

• help you decide if you wish to parent or place your baby for adoption
• take you to your doctor appointments
• help inform the birth father of the pregnancy and your adoption plan and obtain his DNA and relinquishments
• help you choose and meet adoptive parents
• set up a budget so you can receive financial help with living and medical expenses related to your pregnancy
• help you prepare emotionally for placing the baby at the hospital
• assist you in any way possible during delivery
• help you communicate your adoption plan with the hospital and help you get home after delivery
• set up a plan for future contact with the adoptive parents and your child
• help you create a plan that will allow you to see your baby after placement

 “A Child’s Hope had a family feel and made it easy for me to choose. The agency gave me hope, deflected my fears and even provided me reading material to help me afterwards through my healing process.” – Pamela, birth mother (placed 2014)

How to Give a Baby Up for Adoption – Making an Adoption Plan

Since 2000, A Child’s Hope has been there for more than 315 pregnant women and birth mothers throughout all of North Carolina.

We view each child as a precious gift to a family longing to adopt. We view each birth mother as a brave woman who has made a selfless sacrifice so that her baby can have the best life possible. And finding a family for your child in a loving home is our number one priority.

At A Child’s Hope, this is your adoption plan – you are always in control. We are here to support you, provide information and counseling, and walk you through each of the following steps for giving a baby up for adoption:

• Talk with our friendly hotline operator. She will get some basic information about you and put you in touch with the adoption counselor near you.
• Meet in person with one of our easy-to-talk-to counselors. You can meet at your home or another location — whatever is most comfortable for you.
• Your adoption counselor will get more information about you, including your medical records, and go to prenatal appointments with you.
• We will notify your baby’s birth father of your adoption plan. Your counselor or a private investigator will meet with him to sign documents and obtain his DNA.
• We will help you create a budget to identify your financial needs and provide financial support.
• We will find waiting families who may be a good fit for you and your baby. You can review these families’ adoption profiles.
• You select a family and meet them at a match meeting. Your counselor will be there to provide the support and encouragement you need.
• Your counselor will help you create a birth plan, which explains your wishes for your hospital stay and delivery experience.
• Your counselor will always be in touch through delivery and provide the emotional support you need.
• Your counselor will guide you through document signing at the hospital.
• You will be invited to join the adoptive parents and baby in our office for placement day.
• You choose how often you want to receive letters, pictures and visits with your child over the years.

Remember that through each step of the adoption process, you are in control of your adoption plan. You will make many important decisions about the type of adoptive family you want for your baby, the relationship you want to have with your child after placement, and more.

In addition, you are never obligated to continue with the adoption process. You can change or choose to discontinue your adoption plan at any point prior to signing the adoption documents after your baby is born.

Taking the Next Step, But with No Obligation

If you are pregnant and considering adoption for your baby, we’d like to encourage you to contact A Child’s Hope confidentially and with no obligation.

One of our adoption counselors will reach out to you to answer any questions your might have about this important decision. Only when you are ready will we take the next step to help you create an adoption plan.

For more information about placing your baby for adoption, see our Frequently Asked Questions or visit other birth mother resources below:

• Birthmom Buds
• Birthchoice
• Pregnancy Medicaid
• Triangle Pregnancy Support
• Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center
• Considering Adoption
• Childwelfare.gov

“Finding a family for my child with adoption planning”

Rebecca Tells Her Open Adoption Story

Learn about Rebecca’s experience with open adoption, in her own words, and how A Child’s Hope helped her make a decision she knows was the right one.

Not sure when you’re due?

Check out the pregancy due date calculator.

Giving your child up for adoption is one of the bravest decisions an expecting pregnant young mom will ever make. We want to be there to help and support you through that adoption process with loving care, and most importantly, find a family to adopt for your beautiful baby in a loving home. Planning for your adoption is our business here at A Child’s Hope, which means finding a home for your baby, and we’ve been helping mothers throughout North Carolina for over 15 years. There are alternatives to abortion and options for unplanned pregnancies, finding loving families waiting to adopt your beautiful child.

Speak with one of our adoption counselors. 


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