As the birth mother, choosing adoption is one of the most life-changing, selfless decisions you’ll ever make.
At American Adoptions, we understand how important this decision and that’s why our adoption specialists are dedicated to helping you create a personalized adoption birth plan.
One thing to remember is that you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to your adoption birth plan. You get to choose what you’re okay with, who you want in the hospital room, where you want to deliver, and much more. When you create a hospital plan with American Adoptions, your adoption specialist will be by your side to help coordinate with hospital staff to make sure your hospital experience is the best it can be.
But with a decision this important, how does your adoption birth plan affect your hospital experience? Below are five reasons why you should make an adoption birth plan.
If you have any questions about making the hospital experience the best it can be, fill out our free contact form to get free information.
Why Making an Adoption Birth Plan Matters
Making a hospital birth plan is important because your voice matters. Every step of your adoption journey is essential, but one of the most critical parts of your adoptive journey is creating an adoption birth plan.
Your adoption birth plan will outline your preferences regarding the hospital stay when your due date arrives. Below are five reasons why making a hospital plan is a vital part of your adoption journey:
1. Eases Stress and Anxiety of Labor
When you go into labor, it can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Creating an adoption birth plan lets you prepare for what to expect when it’s time for childbirth.
Our adoption specialists are trained to help you feel confident and prepared for your hospital stay. Having an adoption birth plan in place tells your adoptive family and the hospital staff exactly what you want your labor and delivery experience to look like. This can ease any unwanted stress that you may be feeling during labor.
“She (the adoption specialist) walked me through everything that would happen and reassured me every step of the way, knowing that hey, if something doesn’t happen, we have a backup plan,” Birth mother Serenity said. “No matter what, they’re going to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible in the hospital.”
Watch a short clip about Serenity’s adoption experience here.
2. Puts You in Control of Who Will Be in the Hospital Room
One of the crucial parts of creating an adoption birth plan is deciding who you want in the hospital room during delivery. That can be anyone in your support team or even the adoptive family – the choice is all yours. Your birthing plan will depend on how open you plan to be with the adoptive family, which is also something you get to decide. If you want the adoptive family there during delivery or if you want space until it’s time for placement, it’s completely up to you.
“Amanda (the adoptive mother) never left my side – like, she barely went to the bathroom,” Birth mother Caitlin said. “She held my hand the whole time, and then, when he was born, I told her, ‘Cut the cord. You can do that; it’s okay.”
Read Caitlin’s open adoption story here.
Depending on the situation, your adoption specialist can also be there to offer emotional support. They will also be there to answer any questions you might have about signing your adoption paperwork.
3. You Decide How Much Time You Want to Spend with Your Baby
If you’re wondering, ‘Can I spend time with my baby after signing the adoption paperwork?’ the answer is yes. When you create your adoption birth plan, you have the right to spend those sacred moments after birth with your baby, should you choose. You also have the option to change your mind on the spot as well.
Your adoption birth plan can change and evolve as you go through the adoption process, and your adoption specialist will be there to walk you through all of it. Even after placement, our adoption specialists at American Adoptions will prioritize connecting you to resources that will help you cope with any emotions you may be feeling post-placement.
If you have any questions about how you control your adoption birth plan, call 1-800-ADOPTION to connect with an experienced adoption specialist.
4. It Allows you to Take Pictures with Your Baby and the Adoptive Family, Should you Choose
Not only does your adoption birth plan let you choose how much time you want to spend with your baby, but it also lets you decide if you want to take pictures with your baby and the adoptive family. You can choose to take photos with your baby separately so you can always have a piece of them with you.
If you choose an open adoption, you can snap a few pictures with the adoptive family and prepare for an everlasting connection that you will cherish for years to come.
Creating an adoption birth plan with American Adoptions will make you feel comfortable and prepared during these moments. Your adoption specialist will guide you through this process and will make sure you get any pictures that you want with your baby.
5. You Call the Shots
One of the most important reasons you should make an adoption birth plan is that it lets you decide how you want your hospital experience to be. The hospital stay can be one of the most emotional steps throughout the adoption process. While nothing can prepare you for this experience, your adoption specialist will be there to help you feel prepared and confident ahead of your hospital stay.
Your adoption specialist will work closely with you to come up with an adoption birth plan to outline exactly what you want your hospital experience to look like. Having this plan in place before labor prepares your adoption specialist, the adoptive family and the hospital staff for what to expect when it’s time for delivery.
Our adoption specialists will always be there for you to make sure your adoption birth plan is being followed exactly how you want.
If you have any questions about the adoption process or how your adoption birth plan can affect your adoption experience, fill out this contact form to get free information now.
