What You Need to Know About Open Adoption in Tennessee [Complete Guide]

Choosing open adoption in Tennessee means you get to have a relationship with your child

Choosing adoption for your baby doesn’t have to mean “goodbye” forever. Instead, you can keep a lifelong connection with your baby through open adoption in Tennessee.

If you’re pregnant and considering adoption in Tennessee, you may have many questions. Open adoption is a new idea for a lot of people, and that’s why we created this guide. We’re going to cover:

• What open adoption is
• How it works
• Who can choose open adoption in Tennessee
• Open vs closed adoption

If you’d like to learn more about how open adoption in Tennessee could work for you, contact us today.

Adoption has changed quite a lot since the process originated. Thankfully, these changes greatly benefit you, the prospective birth mom, and the adoptive family. Modern adoptions are all about choice, and you are the one who is in control.

The following are a few positive aspects of modern, open adoption in Tennessee:

• Unlike closed adoption, open adoption allows you to have a relationship with your baby.
• Open adoption allows you to get to know your baby’s adoptive family.
• You can choose how “open” your open adoption is.

Open Adoption vs. Closed Adoption in Tennessee

To understand the differences and the pros and cons of open adoption and closed adoption, let’s go over how each process works.

Open Adoption in Tennessee

If you choose open adoption in Tennessee, you will have an ongoing relationship with your baby, as well as your child’s adoptive family. No one open adoption is the same. You, the prospective birth mother, are in total control of your adoption. You get to decide how much information you share with your baby’s adoptive family.

According to American Adoptions, a national adoption agency that serves prospective birth mothers and adoptive families in Tennessee, nine out of 10 prospective birth mothers who use the agency choose “some level of openness in their adoption.”

There are many benefits of open adoption in Tennessee. The following are a few open adoption benefits to consider:

• You can watch your baby grow up: When you choose open adoption in Tennessee, you get the opportunity to see your baby grow. Depending on the level of openness you choose, you get to see videos of your baby’s first few walks and photos of their playdates. You can receive as many updates about your baby as you want. When you choose open adoption in Tennessee, you get the opportunity to build a relationship with your child that fits your comfort level.

• You can build a relationship with your baby’s adoptive family: Modern adoption allows the prospective birth mother to choose and get to know your baby’s adoptive family before giving birth. You can set up calls, video chats, and in-person meetings with your baby’s adoptive parents. You even can arrange for your baby’s adoptive family to be at the hospital when you give birth. You can start building these important, life-long relationships now.

• You can answer any adoption questions your child has: You put a lot of love, care, and thought into your decision to place your child up for adoption. When you choose an open adoption, your child will have the opportunity to talk to you about their adoption. You’ll have the chance to answer any lingering questions your child may have about their adoption. With open adoption, you also are allowing your child an opportunity to build a different yet equally special relationship with you, too.

• You and your child can develop a relationship: When you can see your baby post-adoption, you can build a new type of relationship with your child. You both can get to know each other and continue to share as many aspects of your lives as you’d like. When you choose an open adoption, you get the opportunity to grow your relationship on your and your child’s terms.

Closed Adoption in Tennessee

Open adoption (and semi-open adoption) allows you to have as much contact with your baby as you choose. When a prospective birth mother chooses a closed adoption, they have decided they do not want to get to know or have any communication with their baby or baby’s adoptive family. This was the most common type of adoption many years ago.

Once a child turns 18-years-old, they may be able to find out the identity of their birth mother by looking through state adoption records. You can choose whether to release your information to a child for this purpose.

Selecting a closed adoption is the right decision for some prospective birth mothers. But thanks to modern adoption, you can now choose which option is right for you.

What to Know About Closed and Open Adoption Pros and Cons

Reputable adoption agencies employ adoption specialists to help you make your adoption plan. These professionals can also help you choose the level of openness for your adoption.

If you have questions about which option is right for you, talk to your adoption specialist. They’ve worked with many women in similar situations, and they can help you understand the “advantages” and “disadvantages” of open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption.

Don’t have an adoption specialist? Click here and we’ll connect you with one today.

If you choose an open adoption, agencies will understand that you desire to have some level of contact with your baby and your baby’s adoptive family before and after you give birth.

Open adoption is an excellent option for prospective birth mothers because it lets them get to know their baby’s adoptive family. American Adoptions notes that although every open adoption is different, many birth moms and adoptive families view each other as extended family.

There’s truly no right way to “do” adoption. The pros and cons of open adoption and closed adoption are entirely dependent on your personal preferences.

So, start to think about what you want.

• Do you want to have a relationship with your baby?
• Would you like to get to know your baby’s adoptive family?
• Do you prefer to choose a family and not continue your relationship with your baby or your baby’s adoptive family?

If you still feel unsure about your answer, don’t hesitate to reach out to an adoption specialist at an adoption agency. Or, if you’d like immediate assistance, you can contact us now by filling out our online form.

Know that all reputable adoption professionals will help you decide what type of adoption is right for you. Because there’s no wrong choice, the right adoption choice is the type of adoption that makes you feel comfortable.