8 Times to Be Honest with Your Adoption Professional

If you’re a woman considering adoption, it’s so, so important that you’re honest with your adoption professional from the very beginning. We know that opening up to someone you’re just getting to know can be scary, but, most of all, we want to reassure you that your adoption professional is dedicated to helping you every step of the way. If you’re asking yourself when it’s time to ask for help, here are eight times to be honest with your adoption professional.

1. When You’re Unsure if Adoption is Right for You:

Questioning your decision is normal, especially in an adoption. This is a huge, emotional undertaking, so it’s no surprise if you’re wondering if this is the right decision. If you’re having doubts, please talk to your adoption specialist as soon as you can. They’re here to help you in any way they can, they understand that adoption might not be the right option for every prospective birth mother, and they will never pressure you into a decision that you’re not comfortable with. Your adoption specialist can give you plenty of information on your other unplanned pregnancy options if you think adoption might not be right for you.

2. When You Think You’ve Chosen the Wrong Family:

As a prospective birth mother, you have to right choose the best family for your baby. While an adoption professional will work closely with you to help you find the right family the first time, if you think the adoptive family that you’ve chosen doesn’t quite measure up to what you were hoping for, you can absolutely change your mind at any time. If you’ve decided that the adoptive family that you’ve chosen isn’t right for you, your adoption specialist will help you reevaluate what you want and continue to help you find the perfect family for your baby.

3. When You’re Worried About Your Family Medical History:

One of the first things your adoption professional will ask you to fill out is your social and medical history form. For many prospective birth mothers, this is the cause of plenty of stress, especially if they’re worried about divulging a history of any substance use. In this case, we want to remind you that your adoption specialist is not here to judge you. The reason that they ask these questions is not to scare you, but to make sure that you and your baby are getting the right amount of care.

4. When You Need to Talk About the Birth Father:

Of course, an ideal situation would include having a birth father 100 percent on board with your adoption plan, but this isn’t always the case. Maybe your baby’s father doesn’t agree with your adoption decision, or maybe you’re not entirely sure who the birth father is. You may simply be in a situation where you’re scared to tell the birth father about your unplanned pregnancy, in fear of his reaction. Your adoption professional is there to help you through all of these potential scenarios and more.

5. When Your Living Situation Hasn’t Panned Out the Way You Hoped:

You might not be in the same living situation throughout your entire pregnancy. It’s incredibly important that you let your adoption professional know as soon as possible, not just for your baby, but for your own mental health. Finding a new place to live is stressful enough as it is, but your adoption agency can help you find housing options and financial support during your adoption if something in your situation changes.

6. When You’re Considering a Closed Adoption:

Even though most modern adoptions have some degree of openness, many women have questions about the possibility of a closed adoption. While it is more than possible, we recommend speaking with an adoption professional first. There are numerous benefits to an open adoption, so it might be helpful to weigh the pros and cons before making your decision.

7. When You Need to Talk About Your Adoption Plan:

If you decide to make an adoption plan for your baby, you’re going to have a lot of information thrown your way. If you ever have any questions about your adoption plan, or you want to change anything, your adoption specialist is always ready to help.

8. When You Just Need Support:

Adoption is an emotional journey, and you’re going to need the support of family, friends, and especially your adoption specialist. A kind word of advice or just having someone to listen to what you’re going through goes a long way.
Remember, your adoption professional is always here to help. No matter what the situation is, you can always reach out to them. If you identify with anything on this list, reach out a professional as soon as you can.