Open adoption is the most commonly practiced form of adoption in the United States. There are several reasons why open adoption has become the trend, and why it has become an attractive option for birthmothers and adoptive families alike.
You Choose the Adoptive Parents
Choosing an adoptive family is extremely important to birthmothers. This gives you the opportunity to choose a family based your own hopes and wishes for your child. Placing a baby for adoption is a difficult process, but choosing the adoptive family is a way for you, the birthmother, to feel connected to the process and take comfort in knowing you chose the best family for your baby.
You Can get to Know the Adoptive Family
Different from a closed adoption which involves zero identifying information to be shared between birth and adoptive parents, an open adoption opens the door to get to know each other. The birthmother will have some information about the adoptive parents based on their adoptive family profile. Once she chooses a family, identifying information such as names, emails, phone numbers and addresses may be exchanged.
You Can Meet the Adoptive Parents
In an open adoption the adoptive parents and birth parents have the opportunity to meet. This creates a deeper connection between both parties, as well as calms the nerves. Many birthmothers find comfort in meeting the adoptive parents because they are able to get a true sense of who they are, why they chose to adopt, and how the child will fit into their lives. Depending on the comfort level of both the birth and adoptive parents, families may even decide to tag along for doctor’s visits, which involves them in both the pregnancy and adoption.
There is Ongoing Contact
Adoption doesn’t end at the hospital. An open adoption includes varying degrees of ongoing contact between the families, often involving the exchange of photos, letters, emails and in person visits. Having this contact is important to many birthmothers, as it aids them in their post-adoption plan by knowing their child is well cared for.
