Putting Your Child Up for Adoption While in the Military [Adoption is an Option for You]

As a military member experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you may be wondering, “How do I put my baby up for adoption if I’m active-duty military?” We are here to tell you how and why adoption can be the right choice for you.

• Adoption is an option for you, even if you’re stationed abroad. 

• You can find the perfect adoptive family for your child. 

• You’ll experience a life-changing journey that provides your child a loving and nurturing home and gives hope for a better future for everyone involved.  

If you’re in the U.S. military and considering adoption for your baby, we can help. Whether that’s helping you explore your options or helping you to create an adoption plan that you’re comfortable with for your child, we’re here to provide you with the information, support and resources you need. 

Here’s what you need to know about “giving your baby up” for adoption in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force. 

If you’re ready to start the adoption process with our agency, or if you want more information on adoption, call us today at 1-800-ADOPTION or visit our online contact forms for prospective birth mothers and prospective adoptive parents. 

Can You Put Your Child Up for Adoption While in the Military? [Adoption is Always an Option]

Absolutely. If you’re pregnant and wondering, “can I put my child up for adoption while in the military?”, it’s important for you to know adoption options are available, and you get to experience the same joy, happiness and hope for a better future that thousands of other birth parents have over the course of our 30 years of experience. Adoption is a life-changing journey you’ll share with the perfect adoptive family.  

You have the right to do what you feel is best for your child, and if you feel that placing him or her with adoptive parents who love them is what’s best, then we’ll help you find the perfect family. Many of our adoption specialists have their own first-hand adoption stories, which gives us a unique perspective and ability to provide you with the service and support needed for your adoption journey.

The Adoption Process for U.S. Military Members 

Whether you are currently deployed, stationed in the U.S. or abroad, the basic steps of the adoption process for active-duty military members are generally the same as for any other prospective birth parent.

A few prospective birth parents have asked, “Can you put your child up for adoption while in the military and deployed overseas?” During the planning stages, yes. But, if you’re a pregnant woman stationed overseas and making an adoption plan for your baby with us, you’ll need to return to the U.S. for birth and placement. Your adoption specialist will help you create a personalized adoption plan and make those travel arrangements. 

While the exact steps will vary depending on your unique situation, here’s how giving your baby up for adoption in the Army, Navy or any other branch of the military usually works: 

• Step 1: You’ll contact American Adoptions to make an adoption plan. You’re 100 percent in control of your adoption plan. 

• Step 2: You’ll choose your baby’s future family. We’ve helped many military families to become parents through adoption, so you can even choose fellow U.S. military men and women to raise your baby if you prefer. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll help you find it. You can see some of our waiting families here. 

• Step 3: You can get to know the adoptive family before, during and after the adoption to whatever extent you feel comfortable with. This can involve phone calls, emails, letters and meeting in person. Nine out of ten birth parents choose to have an open adoption, so that they can continue to have a relationship with their child and their child’s family after the adoption. Again, that’s another option that’s available to you! 

• Step 4: When your baby is born, you’ll typically need to wait a minimum amount of time before you can legally complete your adoption paperwork. That waiting period varies depending on which U.S. state you give birth in. It’s important to understand that adoption is permanent. When you sign the adoption paperwork, you’re legally terminating your parental rights and placing your baby with their adoptive parents. A legal representative will be with you at this time to make sure you fully understand everything. 

• Step 5: After the adoption, remember that you can always seek counseling and emotional support through the military or through American Adoptions if you need help addressing the complicated emotions that birth parents often experience after placement. You can continue to have a relationship with your child and their family if you choose to have an open adoption, and communicate however you’re all comfortable with, even during periods of deployment. 

Remember that you always have options. That also extends to parents who are currently raising a child, but no longer feel that they’re able to care for their child. However, if you’re currently raising a child and feel that you’re no longer able to care for him or her, the age of your child may affect which options are available to you.

For example, our agency is only able to work with infants and children younger than a few years old, so you may not always be able to place an older child for adoption through our agency. But you may be able to place your child with a trusted friend or family member in a relative adoption, or arrange a temporary guardianship until you can get to a more stable point in your life and you feel more able to parent your child. 

Start Your Adoption Journey Today [Your Adoption is a Life-Changing Experience]    

Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, is ready to answer any questions you have about Military members giving kids up for adoption. 

“I am available to answer any questions that arise, particularly from birth moms, as I have been in your shoes and know how you are feeling,” Michelle said. “It was most helpful to me when I had someone to talk to who would just listen to me without making any judgments or conclusions about who I was as a person.”      

You can ask Michelle questions about the adoption process online. You can also call us for free at 1-800-ADOPTION, or get free information with our online contact form for prospective birth mothers considering adoption here. Adoptive families wanting more information on adopting a child can click here to get more information. 

Disclaimer
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