How to “Give a Baby Up” For Adoption in Oklahoma [3 Steps to Consider]

Any woman in Oklahoma can choose to give her baby up for adoption. And you don’t have to go through the process alone.

An adoption agency will provide you with an adoption specialist who will help you through every step of the adoption process.

Because no woman should feel like they can’t choose adoption just because they aren’t familiar with the process.

Following these three steps can make learning how to “give a baby up” for adoption in Oklahoma easier.

• Step 1: Find an adoption specialist
• Step 2: Find an adoptive family
• Step 3: Consider post-placement life

If you’re ready to start the adoption process, you can connect with an adoption specialist today for free. If you aren’t quite ready to talk to someone, the following three steps will help you prepare for your future conversation with an adoption professional.

Step 1: Find an Adoption Specialist

After you decide that giving your baby up for adoption in Oklahoma is right for you and your child, it’s time to reach out to an adoption agency (local, regional, or national).

You can figure out the adoption professional you should work with by referencing what each professional does:

• Adoption specialist: An adoption specialist – also known as an adoption professional – works at a local adoption agency, regional adoption agency, or national adoption agency. This professional will work with you before and after your baby’s adoption placement.
• Adoption attorney: You should contact an adoption attorney if you find an adoptive family on your own. Your adoption attorney will make sure your adoption is legal and that you follow all Oklahoma adoption laws. While you can choose to work only with an attorney, you will miss out on many of the services provided by a fully licensed adoption agency (like counseling, financial assistance and more).

If you want to look into a few Oklahoma adoption agencies now, there are several you can consider:

• American Adoptions
• Deaconess Pregnancy & Adoption Services
• Adoption Choices of Oklahoma
• Catholic Charities

Your adoption professional will know how to put a baby up for adoption in Oklahoma, but this process is generally the same throughout the United States. The following are a few universal adoption steps your adoption specialist will help you through.

Creating Your Adoption Plan

When placing your baby for adoption in Oklahoma, you will work with an adoption specialist who will help you make your adoption plan. Each step of your adoption plan will consider what is best for you and what is best for your baby.

Your adoption plan will include:

• The qualities you would like the adoptive family to have: Consider the “perfect” adoptive family’s size, setting (where they live), cultural background, etc.
• Your hospital plan: You’ll figure out where you want to give birth, if you want the adoptive family in the delivery room, etc.
• The type of adoption you want: This includes open, semi-open, or closed adoption. We’ll discuss these options below.

Deciding the Type of Adoption That’s Right for You

One of the most important choices you will make when giving your baby up for adoption is deciding the type of adoption that’s right for you. Your adoption professional will help you figure out what type of adoption is best for your life plan.

Before you choose what type of adoption you’d like, it’s important to know that:

• You get to choose the type of adoption that’s best for you.
• You and the adoptive family must agree on the type of adoption you want —your needs matter. 
• The level of openness of your adoption can fluctuate depending on your needs.

The following are the types of adoption you can choose from:

• Open adoption: You, your child, and the adoptive family have each other’s personal information. You can communicate through texts, letters, calls, videos, in-person visits, and more.
• Semi-open adoption: You, your child, and the adoptive parents can communicate through your adoption specialist. No one will have each other’s personal information.
• Closed adoption: You, your child, and the adoptive family will have no contact. No one has each other’s personal information.

Following Adoption Laws in Oklahoma

Your adoption agency will provide you with an adoption specialist and adoption attorney. Both of these professionals – but specifically your attorney – will ensure:

• That your adoption is legal
• That your rights are upheld
• That your parental rights are correctly terminated
• That any financial compensation you receive (which will come through the adoption agency) is legal

Your attorney also will make sure that the baby’s birth father’s parental rights are upheld, and his parental rights are terminated correctly, too.

Step 2: Find an Adoptive Family

One of the first things that prospective birth mothers think about when questioning how to “give a baby up” for adoption in Oklahoma is how to find an adoptive family. You can find an adoptive family in two ways:

• Independently: Some prospective birth mothers choose to find prospective adoptive families on their own. If you find an adoptive family independently, you will need to hire an adoption attorney to complete the legal part of your adoption.
• With the help of an adoption agency: An adoption agency will provide you with an adoption specialist. Then, your adoption specialist will show you adoptive family profiles. You can look through as many adoptive family profiles as you would like. (Extra tip: If you work with a national adoption agency, you have access to more prospective adoptive families. If you work with a local or regional agency, you have access to fewer adoptive families, but get to work with your adoption specialist in person.)

If you work with an adoption agency, your adoption specialist will help you narrow down the adoptive family qualities that mean the most to you. Once you choose an adoptive family, you’ll get to meet the family via a conference call.

After your initial call, you can continue to chat via calls, email, or in person. The hopeful adoptive family can be as involved with your life, pregnancy, and your baby’s delivery as you’d like.

One interesting aspect of giving your baby up for adoption in Oklahoma is that there is no waiting period to place a newborn for adoption. So, you can consent to your adoption and terminate your parental rights right after you give birth.

Step 3: Consider Life After Giving Your Baby Up for Adoption in Oklahoma

After placing your baby for adoption, it’s time to acclimate to post-placement life.

Although your baby will leave the hospital with their adoptive family, this isn’t the last time you will see your child. If you choose an open adoption, you can continue to build your relationship with your child and the adoptive family.

After your baby’s placement, you can stay in contact with your child and their family by:

• Planning regular calls or video chats
• Texting and staying in touch via social media
• Planning in-person visits

Once your baby is with their adoptive family, you get to start the next chapter of your life. Enjoy your life and (if you choose open or semi-open adoption) begin to build your new relationships. 

Think About What You Want

If you’re not 100% certain that “giving your baby up” for adoption in Oklahoma is right for you, that’s okay! You have other options.

If you experience an unplanned pregnancy in Oklahoma, you have three choices:

1. Adoption (which we’ve covered here)
2. Abortion
3. Parenting

You should feel comfortable and at peace with whatever unplanned pregnancy option you choose.

You Aren’t “Giving Up”

When you first find out you’re pregnant and search the term “how to ‘give a baby up’ for adoption,” you may feel like you’re “giving up” if you decide to place your baby for adoption, but you aren’t! The act of putting a baby for adoption is selfless. When you choose adoption, you’re choosing to place your baby in a loving adoptive family. 

Remember: An adoption professional can answer all your questions about the adoption process.