Important Steps You Need to Know When Creating Your Adoption Plan in Texas

If you are a pregnant woman in Texas considering adoption, you likely have a number of questions about the adoption process. You may be wondering what adoption will look like for you and your child, or where to even start in creating an adoption plan. While navigating the adoption process can be very difficult and stressful, Adoption Choices of Texas is here to offer help and support along your journey.

The most difficult part of creating an adoption plan in Texas is often knowing where to start. At Adoption Choices of Texas, however, our adoption counselors and caseworkers will be here for you throughout the adoption process, as no mother should navigate her adoption journey alone.

If you need help with adoption now, you can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here.

Step One: Choosing an Adoption Agency

Choosing your adoption agency is an important part of any adoption plan. While some pregnant women choose to make their adoption plans without help, an adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Texas is able to provide you with valuable assistance throughout your adoption process.

By choosing to work with our adoption agency, you will be able to work with an adoption caseworker to make many of the important decisions in your adoption plan. Through your adoption caseworker, you will have access to a wealth of knowledge about the adoption process, and they will be able to advise you as you decide on your child’s adoptive family and the amount of contact that may remain between you and your child. Our adoption agency will additionally be able to provide financial assistance to you as the birth mother for many pregnancy related expenses.

Step Two: Finding an Adoptive Family for Your Child

One of the most important decisions you will make throughout your adoption process will be choosing your child’s adoptive family. At Adoption Choices of Texas, we understand that this can be a difficult decision, but your adoption caseworker is here to help you find the adoptive family that is right for your child.

While you are considering potential adoptive families for your child, it is good to think about what kind of family you would want your child to be raised in. Do you want your child to live nearby, or in a culture that is similar to your own? What kind of values would you want them to believe in and teach your child? After thinking about your own adoption preferences, you will then discuss what you are looking for with your adoption caseworker. Your adoption caseworker will then be able to show you some prospective adoptive parent profiles based on your preferences, and you will be able to choose the family that is best for your child. Once you have chosen your adoptive family, you may even be able to meet them in person and build a relationship before your child is born, depending on whether your adoption is open or closed.

Step Three: Deciding the Amount of Contact between You and Your Child

As the birth mother, you will be able to choose the amount of contact you wish to remain between you and your child post placement. If you decide that you want to be a part of your child’s life, you will be able to place your child in an open or semi-open adoption, where you can determine the level of contact between yourself and the adoptive family, whether it is simply sharing pictures and life updates or even in-person meetings.

While open adoptions have become increasingly common, there are still many birth mothers who may choose to place their child in a closed adoption, or an adoption where there is no contact between birth mother and child. There are many reasons why you may decide on a closed adoption. Maybe you want a sense of closure following the circumstances surrounding your pregnancy. Maybe you are concerned with you and your child’s privacy and safety. Whatever your reasons, a closed adoption can provide a sense of security, as the adoption record will remain sealed from your child, their adoptive family, as well as anyone else.

Step Four: Making A Hospital Plan

When it comes time for your child to be born, it is important to have a hospital plan — also known as a birth plan — in place. Your child’s delivery is likely to be an emotional process for everyone involved, so it is good to think about what might make your hospital stay more comfortable. As the birth mother, you should remember that your support group is here to encourage and comfort you, whether they are family, friends or even your adoption team.

While you are planning for your child’s birth, you should consider whether or not you want your own family or your child’s father present, or if you would like the adoptive family to be with you. You may also want to think about whether or not you would like to spend time with your child prior to their placement. 

Creating an Adoption Plan in Texas

The process of creating an adoption plan as a birth mother in Texas can be very difficult and confusing, especially if you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or are unfamiliar with the adoption process. At Adoption Choices of Texas, however, we want you to feel supported and informed throughout your adoption journey. We are here to help you create the best adoption plan for you and your child.

As an expectant woman or birth parent, to learn more about adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Texas. You can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here. If you are hoping to adopt, please visit us here. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!

Meet the Author: Jennie Knuppel is a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying English Literature. She is currently enrolled in the English Honors Program, for which she is writing a thesis in comparative literature prior to graduating in the spring of 2022. Jennie has previously taken courses in literature and both creative and technical writing, and she spent four years working in her high school’s journalism department. 

Jennie is also currently working as a barista, and, in her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family and pets.