I can't just give my baby away.

This is probably the biggest concern felt when first considering adoption. It's a natural instinct to have this concern, and it shows that you want the best for you and your baby. In days past, adoption was often forced on unwed mothers. Many of us can picture a scene similar to this: A woman has just given birth and is still lying on the table. She hears her baby cry, but the baby is quickly whisked away before she can even get a look at his or her face. Thankfully, those days are long gone, and with a small amount of research, you'll find that adoption is no longer "giving away" a baby.

 

The best way to work through this concern is to explore the option of adoption further. Reading about it online is a great first step, and after this, calling a reputable local adoption agency and discussing your specific situation with an adoption counselor who is familiar with the laws in your state will be very helpful. As you learn more, you will begin to feel empowered if this is the right choice for you. You'll see just how much input you have in the decisions that will be made for your child. You'll begin to see that you are not simply handing your baby away.

 

Adoption is not something that you need to decide on quickly. Sometimes a good first step is deciding whether or not to remain pregnant first. Once you decide you want to remain pregnant, you can keep the options of parenting and adoption open until you can narrow them down further. After tentatively making the decision to place your baby for adoption, you are still able to change your mind at any point - even after your baby is born.

 

In addition, the adoption process is almost entirely controlled by you. You are this baby's mother, and what you say goes. You may decide that you don't want a ton of interaction or contact. This is called a closed adoption. For the woman who is concerned about "giving her baby away," however, a semi-open or open adoption might be more comforting. In this setting, you are able to decide on a number of different factors that are important to you, and you are able to handpick the parents of your child. Depending on your preferences, you can set up visits with your child, receive updates on him or her at pre-established times, or various steps in between. You can know where your child lives, where he or she goes to school, and what he or she looks like. Today's adoption process is much different than it used to be. You are in control each step of the way.

 

To help you explore this option further, please read about the types of adoption here, and locate a reputable adoption agency near you to help you look into this option further.