It’s not an easy decision to place your baby for adoption in Delaware. A common thought when considering adoption is that you’ll never see your baby again once they’ve been placed with their adoptive family.

But, there’s good news: you don’t have to say goodbye when you choose adoption.

You can choose to have a lasting relationship with your child and the adoptive family long after placement, all through open adoption in Delaware.

What is open adoption? Through this type of adoption, you can continue to have open contact and communication with your child and the adoptive family.

As the birth mother, you get to decide if you want any post-placement contact or any kind of relationship with your child. There are many benefits of open adoption, including allowing you time for healing and processing everything while still being able to watch your child grow.

To speak with an adoption professional about open adoption in Delaware today, you can contact us online to get started.

What is Open Adoption in Delaware?

In Delaware, open adoption means that you and the prospective adoptive family will share identifying information and have direct contact before and after placement. The type of communication can vary in a Delaware open adoption, including:

• Emails
• Phone calls
• In-person visits
• Video calls
• And more

How you decide to communicate with the adoptive family and your child depends on what you’re most comfortable with. After the adoption placement, some open adoptions focus on photo and letter updates, while others take a more direct approach with more in-person visits.

For your Delaware open adoption, you’ll work with an adoption specialist to determine what kind of post-placement contact you’re comfortable with, and they and the adoptive family must respect your wishes.

What is Closed Adoption in Delaware?

If you choose adoption for your baby in Delaware, you have the option to not have any communication with your child or the adoptive parents after placement. If you choose this type of adoption for you, you are choosing a closed adoption.

While many experts have found that open adoption is highly beneficial to the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptee), there are still many birth parents who choose to have a closed adoption. There are many reasons why you might choose a closed adoption for your pregnancy in Delaware, including wanting full privacy or needing closure after placement.

As the choice to have a closed adoption is entirely your decision, your choice must be respected by everyone involved. The state will keep the adoption records until the child turns 18, which is when they can legally access the records if they want.

There are many differences and benefits between open vs. closed adoption, so make sure you know what each involves and allows for you before you decide.

What is Semi-Open Adoption in Delaware?

In Delaware, semi-open adoption is similar to open adoption, except that an adoption professional mediates communication and contact. Semi-open adoption is the most common form of open adoption among domestic infant adoptions across the country.

Whereas there are many pros and cons of open adoption, semi-open adoption in Delaware serves as the perfect middle ground. Many birth mothers and adoptive families appreciate semi-open adoption for the structure and boundaries it brings.

Communication and contact can vary between birth parents and adoptive families in an open adoption in Delaware. This can include:

• Conference calls
• Email exchange
• Personal visits
• Pictures and letter updates
• And more

Through all of this contact and communication, the adoption agency or a social worker is there to help mediate and maintain boundaries set by you and the adoptive family.

There are important aspects to consider when deciding what type of adoption you want to move forward with, such as whether it’s important for you to have a relationship with your child and if you want the adoptive family to know who you are. It’s important to make sure you know and understand all that is involved with a semi-open adoption before you decide.

The Benefits of Open Adoption in Delaware

There are many benefits to choosing open adoption in Delaware for the birth mother, adoptive family, and your child. By choosing an open adoption as a birth mother, you’ll have the opportunity to know and watch your child grow up in a loving environment.

Building a healthy relationship with the adoptive family is also an added benefit, as you’ll continue to feel more comfortable talking with them and getting to know one another.

Other positive benefits you can experience through open adoption in Delaware include:

• A feeling and sense of control over the adoption process
• Confidence in your choice of the adoptive family
• The chance for your baby to know they are loved by their birth parents and adoptive parents
• And more

By doing your research into open adoption pros and cons, you can get a better idea of whether open adoption for your Delaware adoption will be the best option for you.

Learn More about Open Adoption in Delaware

Before you choose what type of post-placement adoption relationship you want to have with your child and the adoptive family, make sure you do your research to better understand the pros and cons of open adoption, closed adoption, and semi-open adoption. Remember that the final choice is only yours to make.

You can have the benefits of open adoption, privacy, and openness in a semi-open adoption, or the closure of a closed adoption. Each option comes with benefits for long-term healing with the adoption, so you have to make the best decision for yourself.

If you would like to speak with an adoption professional about open adoption in Delaware, you can contact us today.