If you have found yourself faced with an unplanned pregnancy and considering “giving your baby up” for adoption in Washington, D.C., it’s reasonable to assume that you’re going through a range of very intense emotions. A pregnancy is a life-changing event, whether you were planning for it or not, and it can be especially disquieting if you haven’t been preparing for it. Our first advice to you if you find yourself unexpectedly pregnant is to breathe. It’s going to be okay. You aren’t the first woman in D.C. to experience an unplanned pregnancy, nor will you be the last.

Our second piece of advice is to research your options if you’re unsure what you want to do. Every pregnant woman ultimately has three:

1. Parenting

2. Abortion

3. Adoption

Please know that no one should ever tell you which path to take. As an adoption agency, you might assume that we would encourage you to pursue adoption first and foremost, but adoption is not right for everyone. It’s important to remember to listen to your own instincts alone, despite the fact that your family members, friends and even the baby’s father may mean well. If, however, putting a baby up for adoption in Washington, D.C., is something that you’d like to consider, we encourage you to learn as much as possible about the process.

By learning how to give your unborn baby up for adoption in D.C., you’ll have more information at your disposal to help you make your decision about your pregnancy. Below, we’ll outline the steps used to put a baby up for adoption in D.C., but there is something we’d like to address first. It’s common in adoption discussions to see the phrase “giving baby up for adoption,” and this can be seen as offensive. If you do choose to “give a baby up for adoption” in D.C., in no way are you actually giving up in the traditional sense of the phrase. You are making an extremely hard decision to ensure that your child gets the best life imaginable; in no way is that “giving up.”

How do I put my unborn baby up for adoption in Washington, D.C.?

You’ll complete these seven simple steps to put a baby up for adoption in the District of Columbia:

Step 1: Determine that it’s the right choice for you to place a baby for adoption in D.C.

Like we said earlier in this article, every pregnant woman has three choices: parenting, abortion or adoption. This decision is entirely up to you and no one else. However, if you do wish to speak with a social worker for unbiased advice, you are always welcome to call American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION. Rather than pushing you toward any specific choice, our staff can make sure you have access to reliable information regardless of the route you choose. If you do opt to give your baby up for adoption in the District of Columbia, you’ll continue with the next steps in the process.

Step 2: Work with your American Adoptions specialist to create an adoption plan tailored to you and your needs.

If you do choose to place a baby for adoption in D.C. and work with American Adoptions to do so, you’ll be in the driver’s seat of the entire adoption journey. When you contact American Adoptions, you’ll be paired with an adoption specialist, who will work with you throughout the entire adoption process to ensure that it goes exactly according to your needs and wishes.

Step 3: Choose an adoptive family for your baby.

If you choose to put your child up for adoption in D.C., it’s a choice you’re making in order to ensure that he or she gets the life you imagine for them. You’re going through a lot to make sure your baby gets that, and it’s your right to hand-select your child’s adoptive parents. When your adoption specialist goes to show you different families, you’ll be able to watch an adoptive family video profile for each one. This way, you can learn more about a family, their home environment, and how they interact with each other before even committing to speaking to them. Once you’ve found a family you think may be right for your child, your adoption specialist will arrange a phone call so that you can learn more.

Step 4: Begin to develop a relationship with your baby’s future adoptive family.

After you’ve selected the perfect adoptive family for your child, we recommend that you opt for some degree of openness in your adoption situation. An open adoption involves sharing communication with your child’s adoptive family as he or she grows up, allowing you to develop a relationship with them as well as your child and to always know how he or she is doing. The more you get to know your child’s adoptive family during your pregnancy, the easier it will be to work on that relationship after placement.

Step 5: Make a hospital plan.

There are certain details that every pregnant woman needs to work out before she goes to the hospital to have a baby. You’ll need to line out things like doctors and plans for pain medication just as anyone else does. However, as a woman giving a baby up for adoption in Washington, D.C., you’ll have a few more things to consider. Along with your adoption specialist, you’ll devise a plan for exactly how your hospital stay should go. Do you want time alone with your baby? Who should be in the delivery room? Do you want to see the adoptive parents during your stay? This day is entirely about you and your comfort.

Step 6: Give consent to place a baby for adoption in the District of Columbia.

Before giving a baby up for adoption in D.C., your adoption specialist will help you to make sure you properly consent to his or her adoption. In the District of Columbia, your consent will be required unless the court or the Mayor terminates your parental rights. While there are no statues in D.C. law that say explicitly when you must give consent, your adoption specialist will help you to give a statement of consent that is properly signed and acknowledged.

Step 7: Continue to strengthen your relationship with your baby’s adoptive family.

After your child has been placed with his or her adoptive family, it will be time for you to heal and to strengthen your relationship with them, if you choose to do so. If you, like many other women, feel that you need space to grieve right after giving your baby up for adoption in Washington, D.C., it is entirely okay to take that time for yourself. When you’re ready, you can begin to work on your relationship with your child and their adoptive family in whatever method works best for you — phone calls, emails, in-person visits, and more.

To learn more about giving a baby up for adoption in the District of Columbia, please contact American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION. 

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