Putting your baby up for adoption in Maine is a brave act that comes from a place of love. That doesn’t mean deciding to place your child for adoption is easy, however.

By choosing adoption, you’re giving your child a chance at a bright future, and you’re doing it because you love them. Unplanned pregnancies are part of life. Placing your baby for adoption helps you provide your child with a chance to grow into the person they were destined to become.

The decision to put your baby up for adoption can be complicated, but one thing is certain. Mothers who give up their babies for adoption are strong, caring women who want to give their child their best life. Every unplanned pregnancy is different, but adoption gives you a way to give your child a stable home with a loving family.

If you’ve considered putting baby up for adoption in Maine, you probably have some questions. Your questions about the process may include:

• What resources are available to mothers facing unplanned pregnancy?
• How do I give up a baby for adoption in Maine?
• Can my birth expenses be paid by adoptive parents?
• How do I create a birth plan?

Questions like these (and many more) can be answered by an adoption professional with your adoption agency in Maine. Read on to learn more about how to give a baby up for adoption in Maine.

Giving Up a Baby Is Never Really “Giving Up”

You’ve probably heard the phrase “giving your baby up for adoption.” Though it’s commonly used, it’s an inaccurate description of the act of placing your child in an adoptive home. When birth mothers choose adoption, it isn’t “giving up” at all. Giving up your baby for adoption can give you an option in which everyone benefits, including your child.

When “giving up your child” by choosing adoption, you’re actually giving them the gift of a safe home and a bright future. By placing baby for adoption in Maine, you get to know your child will grow up with a pre-screened family that can give your child stability, a future rich in opportunity, and a high quality of life.

Putting your baby up for adoption in Maine gives you the option of communicating with your child through open or semi-open adoption. Open adoption is a post-placement contact arrangement that lets birth parents watch their child develop and grow through continuing contact with the adoptive parents and adoptee.

When viewed in context, you can see that “giving your baby up” for adoption isn’t “giving up” at all. It’s not about surrender. It’s a brave move made in the interest of your child’s future.

How to Put a Baby Up for Adoption in Maine [In 5 Steps]

So, you’re thinking about putting your baby up for adoption. You’re probably wondering, “How do you give your baby up for adoption in Maine?” It’s true that every adoption is different, but there are common steps that every birth mother giving baby up for adoption in Maine shares.

Your first step should be to find an adoption agency that serves birth mothers like you. Your agency will be a true resource, as you’ll get their help in planning your adoption experience. Agencies offer valuable support and counseling that can help you decide whether giving a baby up for adoption is best for you.

Read more below to find out how to go about giving your baby up for adoption in Maine.

Step 1: Decide if Adoption is Right for You

An unexpected pregnancy can change your life and divert you from your goals. At first, it might feel completely overwhelming. The good news is that if you’re facing unplanned pregnancy, you shouldn’t panic. You have options, and placing baby up for adoption in Maine is just one of them.

First, research your options. Consider whether placing your baby for adoption may be the right choice for you. You have three options for dealing with unplanned pregnancy in Maine. They are:

• Parenting
• Adoption
• Abortion

This choice is totally up to you, and you’re in control of your decision, always. You’re the only person who knows what’s best for you and your baby.

Expectant mothers choose adoption for a variety of reasons. No matter why a woman chooses adoption, however, the benefits are clear. By putting your baby up for adoption in Maine, you’re ensuring your child will grow up in a safe, loving home. You’ll also help a waiting family realize its dreams of growth.

Adoption offers benefits for everyone in the adoption triad. While it’s true adoption may not be right for all expectant mothers, it’s a viable option when facing an unexpected pregnancy.

Step 2: Develop an Adoption Plan

In a way, putting a baby up for adoption can be an empowering experience because you control the outcome. Your adoption plan guides the experience, and Maine’s laws about placing baby up for adoption ensure your rights are protected throughout the process.

At this point, you may be asking, “What’s an adoption plan, and can I make one?” Those questions are totally normal. You create your adoption plan as a personal roadmap for placing your baby for adoption in Maine. You set every step in your journey. Your adoption plan ensures everyone else knows your wishes and adheres to them.

Your adoption professional will help you create your adoption plan. They’ll show you how to put your baby up for adoption in Maine, explain your rights as the birth mother, and discuss what other factors are important throughout the process.

Your adoption professional will begin by asking you things like:

• What kind of family do you want for your child?
• What degree of contact do you want with the adoptive family?
• How much contact will you want with your child?
• What are your expectations for the birth and hospital stay?
• And many more

By answering these questions, you’ll create the basis of your adoption plan. Be sure to discuss your wishes with your adoption professional as you work on your plan, and make sure you’re comfortable with it.

The adoption plan will help you plot your journey when putting your baby up for adoption. Remember, you’re in control when giving baby up for adoption. You retain the right to change your mind at any point, and you can stop the process or change adoptive parents whenever you like.

The following agencies can help you develop an adoption plan:

• American Adoptions
• Adoption Partners of Maine
• Connections Adoption Services
• Acadia Adoption Center
• Good Samaritan Agency
• Adoption Solutions of Maine

Step 3: Find the Right Adoptive Family

Giving your baby up for adoption is about hope. You’re choosing to place your child with an adoptive family because you know it will offer your baby a bright future. Part of the adoption process is finding the perfect adoptive family.

Your closest ally when putting your baby up for adoption is your adoption agency, and that’s due in large part to the role they play in helping you find the perfect adoptive family. Your agency will provide you with valuable guidance and helpful resources in your search for the right adoptive family for your child.

With your adoption plan as the guide, your adoption professional will look in their adoptive family database for hopeful parents that may be possible matches. If potential matches are identified, you’ll be presented with those adoptive family profiles when giving up your baby for adoption.

Once you find the perfect family, you’ll get to meet them and start developing a bond. You can remain in contact with the adoptive family during your pregnancy, and that communication can extend beyond birth in the case of an open or semi-open adoption.

If you choose open or semi-open adoption, giving baby up for adoption in Maine means you may gain an extended family through the adoptive parents. The unique relationship between you and the adoptive parents stems from your shared love for your child, and that can be beautiful.

Step 4: Create Your Birth Plan 

When placing your baby for adoption, don’t forget about the birth plan. The birth plan is part of your adoption plan, and it brings order to what may otherwise be a chaotic part of your adoption experience. Creating a detailed birth plan will help preserve your wellbeing and protect your rights as a birth mother.

Your hospital plan should include details about your wishes in many areas, such as:

• Which hospital will be used?
• Who will be allowed in the delivery room?
• Who will hold the baby first?
• How much time will you spend with the baby and adoptive family, if any?
• Whether pictures will be taken with you, the child and the adoptive parents?
• When will consent be given and documents be signed?
• When and how will you leave the hospital?
• And many more

Having a detailed birth plan when placing your baby for adoption is important because it shares your expectations for the hospital experience. Your adoption agency is your advocate when creating this plan — providing guidance and resources to give you a peaceful hospital stay.

When putting your baby up for adoption in Maine, the law states that a petition for adoption can be filed prior to the child’s birth and must be pending before consent can be executed. Consent to adoption can be executed anytime after the birth of the child, and it must be done in the presence of a judge.

Make sure to account for these legal requirements when creating a hospital plan. Consult with your adoption professional or attorney to learn more about the consent to adoption requirements in Maine.

Step 5: Life After Placement

Even though your newborn is living in their adoptive home doesn’t mean placing your baby for adoption is the end of your bond with your child.

Through open adoption, you can have continuing contact with your child and adoptive family. As the birth mother, you choose what kind of contact, and how much. That can include letters, photos, emails, and even videos. You can choose to have as much, or as little, contact with the child and adoptive parents as you’re comfortable with.

Or, you may only want updates about your child’s progress after placement with no direct contact after giving up a baby for adoption in Maine. In semi-open adoptions, an adoption professional can mediate contact between the parties.

Next Steps

Giving up a baby for adoption in Maine isn’t “giving up” at all. By choosing adoption, you’re giving your baby the gift of a brighter future and the opportunity for your child to grow into the person they’re destined to become.

If you’ve thought about placing your baby for adoption in Maine, you can find helpful information at this link today. Ask to speak to a compassionate adoption professional who can help you learn more about how to put up a baby for adoption in Maine.