Should I Choose a Closed or Open Adoption?
So you have decided to make an adoption plan for your baby — now what?
One of the important pieces in making an adoption plan is deciding what you want your relationship with your child and the adoptive parents to look like in the future. As the parent of this child, YOU have the power to vocalize what your desires are for your relationship.
So, are you interested in a closed or open adoption? Let’s take a look at what they are.
A closed adoption is an adoption where the baby is placed with an adoptive family and you have no contact after the placement. There are no further updates, pictures, or information passed between the adoptive family and biological family. Closed adoptions are not nearly as common as they used to be, making up only 5% of adoptions.
This is largely because of the improvements to adoption over the last few decades. There is no longer the same stigma attached to adoption. Research has also proved that open adoptions are beneficial for the adoptive family, child, and birth parent(s). That’s because an open adoption allows some level of communication between the adoptive family and birth family. The openness can look different for each family, based on how comfortable they both are. You could receive pictures and letters from the adoptive family on a regular basis, or request yearly visits to see one another. Sometimes, this relationship grows naturally over the years and the adoption can become even more open.
Here are just a few of the benefits of any level of open adoption:
- Your child will grow up with a better understanding of their story. They won’t have to guess at who their birth parents are or what they look like. They won’t think that their birth family “gave up their baby for adoption,” but will know that they made an intentional and loving plan for their baby, to ensure they had the best life and possibilities.
- You can build a relationship with your child. If you are meeting or communicating as your child grows, you’ll be able to naturally build a relationship with your child.
- It can be healing and helpful to see that your child is thriving and doing well. You are able to feel confident in the decision that you made for your child.
- Your child will always have access to past and future medical history. While the adoptive family receives some background information, there are things that might not be included. There could also be health developments that occur after placement.
There are a lot of things to think through as you decide whether you want to have an open or closed adoption. If you decide you want an open adoption, then you need to decide on HOW open you want it to be. Remember, when you pick an open adoption, there is plenty of time for a relationship to grow naturally with the adoptive family and your child.
Our Pregnancy Counselors are trained and experienced in walking women through this process to make sure your priorities are made clear as you find families for your baby. If you would like to talk with one of our local pregnancy counselors, reach out to our 24/7 FREE, HOTLINE by live chat, text, or phone at 1-800-875-5595. Or you can submit a request for one of our Pregnancy Counselors to reach out to you.