Types of Adoption
Open Adoption
This is a common choice for many women. The adoption is “open” because the birth mother (and birth father, if involved) pick the adoptive family, you know who they are, and you decide what kind of relationship you want to have with them. You are free to start building this relationship before delivery. This may include phone or video calls with the child and their family members.
For open adoptions, depending on how your connection progresses, you may want to exchange direct contact information with the family, such as phone numbers and email addresses. After delivery, you may want to spend time with the family and the baby at the hospital—depending on how you feel and what you think is best. Then, you may want to keep up with the family through direct contact (phone calls, texts), and you might even visit with them down the road. But you may choose not to do these things, or simply to do them in your own way. You are in control. You decide. All adoption plans are unique—and yours will be too.
SEMI-OPEN ADOPTION
After delivery, you have the option of spending time with the baby while you’re at the hospital — again, this is entirely your choice — and in the months and years ahead, you may (if you want) receive pictures and letter updates, but there will be no personal visits or contact.
This is another common option. You can choose a family that best fits the hopes and dreams that you have for your child. You can decide if you want to meet them and build a relationship before delivery. The adoptive family can send letters and photos as your child grows, to help you feel at peace.
Closed Adoption
If you want the infant adoption to be “closed,” you will usually ask us to pick a family for you. After the family is chosen, you typically won’t meet or have a relationship with them, you won’t have any visits once the baby is born, and you won’t receive any pictures or updates later on.
This kind of adoption is less common nowadays. Even with a “closed” adoption, however, you can still choose just how “closed” you want the process to be. Every adoption plan is unique and reflects what you want.
The Power to Choose
First off, private adoption puts the power in the expectant mother’s hands by allowing her to choose the type of adoption she is looking for. Prospective parents can also let a private adoption agency know what type of adoption they would prefer.
The agency can then find a match between the prospective adoptive parents and expectant mother looking to place a baby for adoption who share the same goals. An expectant mother looking for an open adoption in Texas could be presented with a couple in another part of the state who is also looking for an open adoption in Texas. The agency facilitates the adoption process and ensures that the needs of both groups are met.
The Advantages of Different Types of Adoption
The adoption process can take various forms, each offering unique advantages for adoptive families and birth families. The three primary types of adoption—open, semi-open, and closed—offer varying degrees of contact between the adoptive family and the birth parents. Here’s a look at the advantages of each adoption type.
Open Adoption
- Maintained Relationship with Birth Parents: In open adoption, the adoptive family, child, and birth family maintain some level of contact, which may include visits, phone calls, or exchanging pictures and letters. This ongoing relationship can help answer questions about the child’s background and heritage, giving the child a sense of identity and connection.
- Emotional Security: Children in open adoptions often feel more secure knowing where they come from. Having access to their birth parents allows them to ask questions directly and avoid the mystery surrounding their origins which can sometimes create feelings of abandonment.
- Cooperative Relationship: Open adoptions can foster a cooperative, trusting relationship between the adoptive family and birth parents. Birth parents may feel comforted by knowing their child is well-cared for, while adoptive parents can benefit from the insights the birth parents can provide.
Semi-Open Adoption
- Controlled Communication: Semi-open adoption offers a middle ground, where communication occurs indirectly, typically through an adoption agency or mediator. This can help maintain the child’s connection to their birth parents while keeping some distance for all parties.
- Privacy and Protection: Both birth parents and adoptive families can maintain a degree of privacy. Semi-open adoption allows for sharing important updates without direct contact.
- Sense of Connection: For the child, having some level of contact with the birth parents, even if indirect, helps provide answers to questions about their origins, potentially easing any identity-related concerns.
Closed Adoption
- Clear Boundaries: A closed adoption establishes clear boundaries from the beginning. There is no contact between the birth parents and the adoptive family.
- Privacy: Birth parents in closed adoptions are assured of privacy, which can be especially important in cases where they want to keep their decisions confidential.
Each adoption type comes with its unique set of advantages and the best option should be considered with the needs of the child prioritized first and foremost.
Access to Important Information
Another thing that makes private agency adoptions unique is that the expectant mother has access to relevant information about the families that are hoping to adopt. Thanks to adoptive parent profiles, an expectant mother can learn about the couples who want to adopt the child.
Plus, she can request more information about them from the agency. This allows her to make a well-informed decision about who will raise the child. Though this information is accessible to the expectant mother, she does not have to request it. This depends on the type of adoption she chooses.
The access to information also allows adoptive parents to learn about the child they will be adopting. An adoption agency can provide adoptive parents with information about the pregnancy, as well as family medical history and other important details about the child, not often available in public adoption.
A Dedicated Support System
Lastly, access to an adoption specialist is a great benefit of private adoption agencies. An expectant mother will have a dedicated specialist to help her form an adoption plan and support her every step of the way. Many expectant moms develop deep and lasting relationships with their adoption specialist.
We're here to help.
We know this can be a very tough time. Texas Adoption Center is here for you during this process and we’d love to help. If you have any questions, please reach out anytime to learn more about agency adoption.