If you’re considering giving a baby up for adoption in Michigan, the first thing you should know is that you aren’t alone. Many women have been in this position, and many will be in the future. And while no one can tell you what to do with your unplanned pregnancy, there are many resources out there to help you choose the best option for you.

As an adoption agency, we at American Adoptions consider ourselves to be one of those resources. In an effort to help you understand what it is that we do — and what giving your baby up for adoption might look like for you — we’ve put together this list of steps for Michigan’s adoption process.

Also, please note: While it’s common for people to use the phrase “giving a baby up for adoption,” this can be offensive to some. In no way, shape, or form are you “giving up” on your baby. Choosing adoption isn’t easy, and women who do so are placing their baby’s interests above their own. Putting a baby up for adoption in Michigan is an extremely selfless act.

How do I put my unborn baby up for adoption in Michigan?

 Step 1: Decide whether placing a baby for adoption is the right move for you.

Putting a baby up for adoption in Michigan — or anywhere, for that matter — is a huge decision. What you do with this pregnancy is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. And while we are more than happy to help you pursue the adoption process, we certainly won’t push you into giving baby up for adoption in Michigan. This is your choice and yours alone. Family, friends, and even the baby’s father may mean well, but you’re the only one qualified to make this decision. If, however, you’d like to speak with a social worker about your options and help with processing your feelings, you can always call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time.

Step 2: Create an adoption plan with your American Adoptions adoption specialist.

If you decide that putting a baby up for adoption is the right choice for you, know that you’ll be in the driver’s seat of the adoption process when you choose to work with American Adoptions. Your adoption specialist will work with you to help you determine exactly what you want for your child in an adoption scenario. You’ll describe your ideal adoptive family, determine the amount of contact you wish to have with them, how you want your hospital stay to go, and more.

Step 3: Choose an adoptive family.

American Adoptions has completed many baby adoptions in Michigan and throughout the U.S., and we’ve tailored our process to make it as easy as possible for pregnant women to find the perfect adoptive parents for their baby. Each of the hundreds of adoptive families we work with will create two types of adoptive family profiles — both a print profile and a video profile. The print profile will act as a sort of brochure for you to flip through. If you see a print profile that interests you, you can then watch that family’s video profile to get a sense of who the family is, how they interact with each other, and what kind of life they might be able to provide for your child.

It’s important to know, too, that adoptive families must go through certain steps before they can even create a profile for you to look at. Every family that works with American Adoptions has undergone home studies and various background checks, as well as moved on from infertility (if that’s something they struggled with).

Step 4: Get to know your child’s adoptive family.

As a woman thinking about adoption in Michigan, it’s important that you understand the dynamics of modern day adoptions. It’s still an option for you to have a lifelong relationship with your child and their adoptive family. At American Adoptions, we recommend open adoptions, which means you’ll be in contact with your child and the adoptive family for the rest of your lives. This allows you to feel comfortable in your adoption decision and eliminates the fear of not knowing how your child is doing, and it also allows your child full access to his or her adoption story and the many questions that may come with it. Your child will always know how much love you have for them.

At this stage, then, it’s important to begin to develop a relationship with the adoptive family. This could take place through conference calls arranged by your adoption specialist, emails, in-person meetings, and more. Your relationship with them can be whatever you want it to be.

Step 5: Develop your hospital plan.

Like any pregnant woman, you’ll develop a birthing plan for your baby. You’ll decide where you want to deliver, if you’d prefer a natural birth, etc. But a woman considering adoption has a few other factors to consider. Your adoption specialist will help you devise a hospital plan that outlines your preferences for how the day should go. Do you want the adoptive family in the room? Do you want time alone with your baby? Do you want to nurse your baby?

In Michigan, your parental rights to your child will not be terminated until the court reviews the request. To learn more about how to give consent to your child’s adoption, speak with your adoption specialist.

Step 6: Continue your relationship with your child and his or her adoptive family.

In Michigan, giving a baby up for adoption is not really the end of the adoption process. Adoption is actually a lifelong journey, and after your child has been permanently placed with their adoptive family, the remainder of that journey is working on your relationship with them. Every family that works with American Adoptions is excited to keep you updated on your child’s life, and how much contact you have with them depends on your preferences.

Keep in mind that, like any relationship, an adoptive relationship can change and evolve over time. If you need some space to grieve right after placement, you may want to communicate via texts and emails. Later, when you’re ready, that could transition to in-person visits or Skype sessions. Remember as you considering putting a baby up for adoption in MI that American Adoptions can work with you to make sure it goes exactly how you want it to.

For more information about placing a baby for adoption in Michigan, call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time, or request free information here. 

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