If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you are trying to make a very difficult decision. Considering adoption in Maine for your baby is a hard thing to do, and you probably have a lot of questions.

What does giving a baby up for adoption in Maine look like? Is adoption right for my baby? How do I give my baby up for adoption in Maine?

To get answers to these questions, fill out our contact form or call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time to speak with an adoption professional.

First things first — this is your decision. As you explore the possible options available to you, know that you have the full power to decide on the best path for your situation. Adoption in Maine is always an option to you.

And while it is common to hear people talk about “giving a baby up,” the truth is that you are not giving up. You are making a brave decision out of love in the hope that your choice will provide your baby with a better life. That’s not giving up — that’s giving life.

You should also know that you’re not alone. American Adoptions’ dedicated adoption specialists work with hundreds of expectant mothers every year, and even more women than that choose adoption for their baby each year in the U.S. In fact, more than 300 children were adopted in Maine in 2015 (the most recent year with information available).

Even in your area, you’re not the only one. There’s no easy way to handle an unplanned pregnancy, especially when the timing isn’t ideal for your life. But you aren’t the only one who is going through this process. In the meantime, this list of general information about placing your baby for adoption in Maine should help you get started in your decision-making process.

How do I Give Up a Baby for Adoption in Maine?

The adoption process is better than it has ever been for birth mothers. A shifting cultural and professional understanding of adoption has resulted in a process that gives you not only control but the respect and protection you deserve while making such a hard choice.

This means that your voice matters at every step of the process. You set the terms, you choose the family and you decide what is best for your baby.

Let’s look at that process in a little more detail.

Step 1: Deciding if Adoption is Right for Your Baby

This is a difficult decision. If you’re experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, there’s a lot to consider and several different paths you can choose.

You have to decide what is best for you and for the child and which option can accomplish both of those things. Before deciding to give a baby up for adoption in Maine, it’s important to find out as much as you can about all of your options.

Those options are: adoption, abortion and parenting.

If parenting is impossible in your situation, adoption provides a chance for your baby to have a life filled with love and opportunity. Adoption is not an easy alternative to abortion, as you may see it presented in some media. But American Adoptions believes it is worth it, even though it’s not easy.

Step 2: Create an Adoption Plan

If you have considered your options and decided, “Yes, I want to give my baby up for adoption in Maine,” then your next step is to create an adoption plan. American Adoptions’ team of adoption specialists is here to help you through this step. You can call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time to speak with a specialist and begin creating your adoption plan.

There are several factors involved in creating a plan to give a baby up for adoption in ME:

• What adoption professional do I want to work with?

• How open do I want my adoption to be?

• What am I looking for in an adoptive family?

• Where will I give birth and what will my hospital plan be?

• And more

You don’t have to make all these choices in a day, and you will have help from your adoption specialist. The good news about this step is that you are in control of what your adoption will look like.

Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family

Once the rest of your adoption plan is ready, you will have the opportunity to choose the family who will adopt your baby. American Adoptions’ media specialists work with adoptive families to put together written and video profiles so that you have the opportunity to get to know a family before selecting them.

Even when a mother chooses not to parent, you still have dreams for your baby. You want them to experience compassion, love, joy and opportunity. And you get to choose the family who seems most likely to help those dreams come true.

Step 4: Complete the Adoption

After you choose an adoptive family, you’ll have a series of pre-placement interactions, depending on the level of openness in your adoption plan. During this time, you’ll be able to get to know the family even more beyond their profile.

Then, when the time comes, your hospital plan will kick into action and you’ll give birth to your baby. The hospital stay and following placement with the adoptive family is a highly emotional time for everyone. Once again, you are the one who creates the hospital plan, so you are in charge of how this time goes.

After your baby is born, you will be required to officially consent to the adoption. In Maine, there is no required wait time after birth before you may give consent. You can do this any time after the baby is born, and consent must be given in the presence of a judge. Once your consent is given, your baby will be placed in the care of the adoptive family, who will love and cherish them with incredible dedication and happiness.

Step 5: A Continuing Relationship

Thanks to the increasing commonness of open adoption, goodbye doesn’t have to be forever. All the way back in Step 1, you had the option to set a level of openness in your adoption plan. This includes post-placement contact, which can range from photo and letter updates to Skype calls to in-person visits.

Your connection to your child doesn’t have to be cut off after placement. Many mothers find a lot of peace in knowing their child is being loved like they hoped.

You most likely still have a lot of questions about giving a baby up for adoption in Maine. Remember, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time to speak with an adoption specialist, and you can request more free information here.

Disclaimer
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