(800) 364-6933 Birth mother hotline

Adoption Truths for one faced with Unplanned Pregnancy

( By Terry Volk, Adoption Facilitator)

1. Adoption costs you nothing throughout the entire process.
2. You may speak to an attorney or agency worker, confidentially and without cost.
3. There are immediate answers to any question you have.
4. You may receive reasonable, birth related, living expenses.
5. You personally choose the adoptive parents(s), no one else.
6. You may meet the adoptive parents before you decide.
7. You may have contact with the adoptive parents pre-birth.
8. You may ask any question you wish of the adoptive parents.
9. You may choose the adoptive parents out of state.
10. If necessary, you may move during pregnancy, even out of state.
11. You may prepare information (photo album, etc.) before birth, to be given to the child by the adoptive parent (s) as he/she grows.
12. Choosing adoption is life giving! There is no shame in choosing life!
13. Studies show adopted children do as well or better than any child does.
14. The child never has to go into foster care!
15. The hospital placement is planned and designed for you, as you wish.
16. No One but you may sign adoption documents, even as a minor.
17. No One can legally stop you from placing your child for adoption.
18. The child is usually placed at birth directly from the hospital.
19. If you are unmarried, the father of the child may only object to the adoption, if he has done everything in his power to become a full-time parent to the child not deny paternity; pay birth related expenses, provide emotional and physical assistance to mother, prepares to raise the child himself, not by extended family; holds himself out publicly as father and, if necessary has filed a paternity case in court to become the legal father.
20. Less than 3% of the named fathers legally object to adoption.
21. Less than 3% of the mothers object to the adoption after placement.
22. Adoptive parents change their minds less than 1% of the time.
23. Adoptive parents are home-studied, investigated and fingerprinted.
24. Adoptive parents are good people, only looking to have a child.
25. The average amount of assistance to the birth mother is about $2,500
26. You may ask for an annual update/picture of the child.
27. You may speak to other birth mothers and receive counseling.
28. You may have your own attorney, but do not have to go to court.
29. You will be blessed for giving life to your child.
30. Adopted children are thankful for the gift of life and love to them.