How do I Know if Adoption is Right for Me?
If you’re unexpectedly pregnant and considering adoption, you may wonder: How do I know if adoption is right for me? Adoption is a beautiful and life-changing decision. Understanding what adoption might mean for you can give you the confidence to make the decision that’s best for you and your baby.
Contact an adoption professional to learn more about adoption.
If you’re wondering how to know if adoption is right for you, consider the following questions.
Question 1: Am I Ready to be a Parent?
This is the first question you will likely ask yourself when figuring out how to decide if you want to put your child up for adoption.
There’s a lot to consider when answering this question:
- Will you be able to continue with your education or career aspirations if you have a child now? It is possible to achieve your goals while parenting; many women do this every day! However, it’s also true that pursuing your personal goals is more challenging if you’re caring for and raising an infant.
- Can I afford to raise a child right now? According to Brookings, the “total average family expenditures on a child born in 2015 to a middle-class family with two children, adjusted for higher expected future inflation, [is] $310,605.” Although raising a child is expensive, it’s well worth it to experience the joys of parenthood.
- Do you want to be a mom right now? Do you want to be a mom at all? It’s okay to know that you don’t want to be a mother; not everyone does. Whether you think you may want a child later in life or you know you’re not destined to be a parent, it’s okay not to want to raise a child.
Question 2: Do I Understand the Adoption Process?
If you’re wondering how to decide to give your child up for adoption, it’s essential to understand how the adoption process will proceed.
First, we want to stress that choosing adoption is not “giving up” on your child. When you choose adoption after considering your unplanned pregnancy options, you’re deciding to give your child all the opportunities you may not be able to provide right now.
Second, when you choose adoption, you’re completely in charge of the adoption process. The following are just some of the things you’ll be in control of:
- Choosing adoptive parents for your child
- Deciding the type of relationship you’d like to maintain with the adoptive family and your child
- Making your adoption plan and hospital plan
- And more
You can choose adoption at any point, before or after your baby is born. You will work with an adoption professional to determine what you’re comfortable with at every turn.
Question 3: Do Finances Play a Part in Determining How to Decide if You Want to Put Your Child Up for Adoption?
Although raising a child is expensive, you should never feel financially forced to place your child for adoption. If the only reason you’re wondering how to know if adoption is right for you is because of finances, there are resources available to help you raise a child.
- Food stamps
- Low-income housing
- WIC
- And other resources
Adoption is Free for You
If you’re wondering, “How do I know if adoption is right for me,” because you’re worried you can’t afford adoption, know that adoption is free for prospective birth mothers. You also may be eligible for financial assistance.
Question 4: Am I Ready to be a Parent Right Now?
Sometimes, women wondering, “How do you know if adoption is right for you?” choose adoption because they aren’t quite ready to become a parent. A few reasons people determine they aren’t ready to become parents include the following:
- A lack of an immediate support system
- Knowing you may not be prepared to give your child the opportunities you want them to right now
- And more
It’s okay to know that you aren’t quite ready to parent. Choosing adoption will allow you to give your child everything they need right now. And you can build your relationship with them still.
Question 5: Have I Considered All Aspects of My Adoption Decision?
Ultimately, the only person who can determine the answer to the question, “How do I know adoption is right for me?” is you.
Your family, friends, and even the baby’s father may want to weigh in on your decision, but ultimately, you are the only one who knows what’s right for you and your baby.
Starting Your Adoption Journey
There is no easy route to navigating an unplanned pregnancy — parenting, abortion, and adoption are all difficult choices in their own ways. Each has pros and cons and is a viable option for you. Only you can decide which choice is ultimately the right one.
To determine how to decide if you want to put your child up for adoption, reach out to an adoption professional for help. These professionals can help answer any remaining questions you may have.