Are you thinking about putting your baby up for adoption in Minnesota? Deciding to place your child with an adoptive family isn’t easy. It is, however, one of the bravest things you can do for your child.

Choosing adoption means giving your child the gift of a bright future. It’s something you do out of love for your baby. The truth is that unplanned pregnancies happen. Placing your baby for adoption is one of the best ways to give your child a chance of growing into the person you want them to become.

Though choosing to put your child up for adoption can be tough, most mothers who give up their babies for adoption are strong, compassionate women who only want to provide the best future for their children. While every unplanned pregnancy is different, adoption offers a great way to give your kid the gift of a loving home with a hopeful family.

You probably have a few questions about the process if you’re thinking of putting baby up for adoption in Minnesota. Those questions about the adoption process may include:

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

A licensed adoption professional working with a birth mother adoption agency in Minnesota can be a great resource when you’re seeking answers to these questions. Keep reading to learn more about how to give a baby up for adoption in Minnesota.

“Giving Up a Baby” in Minnesota Isn’t Actually “Giving Up”

You’ve probably heard someone describe adoption as “giving your baby up for adoption.” As common as this phrase may be, it’s not at all accurate. Choosing adoption isn’t “giving up” at all. Giving up your baby for adoption can benefit everyone involved, especially your child. It’s not a surrender in any sense.

Instead of “giving up” by choosing adoption, you’re really giving your child the gift of a future full of potential. Placing baby for adoption in Minnesota means that your child will be cared for by a loving family offering stability, a future blessed with opportunity, and a high quality of life.

Putting your baby up for adoption in Minnesota can also mean that you get to preserve your bond with your child through open or semi-open adoption. Through open adoption, you can watch your child develop and grow through continuing contact with the adoptive parents and adoptee.

When you put “giving your baby up” for adoption in the proper context, you can understand that choosing adoption isn’t “giving up” at all. It’s not a surrender, but a bold, loving choice made in the name of your child’s future.

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

If adoption seems like the solution to your unplanned pregnancy, you may be wondering, “How do you give your baby up for adoption in Minnesota?” Again, no two adoptions are exactly alike, though there are some things that each birth mother giving baby up for adoption in Minnesota will experience.

First off, you should find an adoption agency that assists birth mothers to provide you with guidance and support. A great agency will help you with everything from creating your adoption plan to finding the right adoptive family. Agencies offer valuable resources that can help you determine if giving a baby up for adoption is best for you.

Keep reading below to learn how to go about giving your baby up for adoption in Minnesota.

Step 1: Decide if Adoption is Right for You

If you’re like most women, an unplanned pregnancy can turn your world upside down. When you find out you’re unexpectedly pregnant, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. That said, there’s no reason for you to panic.

You have choices, and placing baby up for adoption in Minnesota is just one of them.

You can begin your journey by learning more about your unplanned pregnancy options. You should consider whether placing your baby for adoption is really right for you. In Minnesota, you have three options for dealing with unplanned pregnancy. They are:

• Parenting
• Adoption
• Abortion

No matter what your unique circumstances may be, you’re always in control your decision. You’re the only person who knows what’s best for you and your baby.

There are a lot of reasons that expectant mothers choose to place their children up for adoption. Regardless of your personal reasons, the benefits of adoption are obvious. Putting your baby up for adoption in Minnesota gives your child a safe, loving home, and when you choose adoption, you’ll also help a hopeful family fulfill its dreams of expansion.

Everyone in the adoption triad can benefit from adoption.  Though it may not be the right choice for everyone, it’s an option with a lot of upside if you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy.

Step 2: Develop Your Adoption Plan

Some birth mothers discover that putting a baby up for adoption is empowering.

As the birth mother, you are wholly in control of the outcome. You create a personal adoption plan, and the adoption laws in Minnesota about placing baby up for adoption make sure your rights are respected throughout the process.

You may be asking, “What’s an adoption plan, and how can I make one?” That’s a natural question. First, you need to know that your adoption plan is a guide for placing your baby for adoption in Minnesota. You decide every step in your adoption journey, and your adoption plan communicates your wishes to everyone involved.

Your adoption professional will be your primary resource as you create your adoption plan. They’ll teach you how to put your baby up for adoption in Minnesota, explain your rights as the birth mother, and help you determine your priorities as you move through 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

The answers to these questions will form the basis of your adoption plan. That’s why you should thoroughly explain your wishes to your adoption professional as you draft your plan. Make sure you’re comfortable with each part of it.

Your adoption plan will be your guide when you’re putting your baby up for adoption. No matter what, when giving baby up for adoption, you remain in control of the adoption process. You can change your mind at any point, and you can stop the process or change adoptive parents at any time before the adoption is finalized.

The following agencies can help you develop an adoption plan:

• American Adoptions
• Adoption Minnesota
• EVOLVE Family Services
• Children’s Home Society of Minnesota
• New Life Adoptions
• New Horizons Adoption Agency

Step 3: Find the Perfect Adoptive Family

Giving your baby up for adoption is truly an exercise in hope. You choose an adoptive family for your child because you think doing so will offer your baby a great future. One of the most critical parts of that process is finding the best adoptive family to give your child the life you want for them.

Your best advocate if you’re putting your baby up for adoption is your adoption agency. That’s because your adoption professional plays a key role by helping you find the perfect adoptive family. Your agency will support you with valuable guidance and helpful resources as you look for the perfect adoptive family for your child.

Your adoption professional will use your adoption plan to search for families in their adoptive family database that are potential matches. When those matches are found, you can review those adoptive family profiles when giving up your baby for adoption.

If you find a possible that perfect adoptive family, you can arrange to meet and start creating a bond. You can stay in contact with the adoptive family during your pregnancy and beyond birth if you choose an open or semi-open adoption.

In some cases involving open or semi-open adoption, giving baby up for adoption in Minnesota means gaining an extended family through the adoptive parents. The unique relationship that forms between birth parents and adoptive parents stems from a shared love for the child, and that spirit of cooperation can be beautiful.

Step 4: Create Your Birth Plan 

One important part of your plan when placing your baby for adoption that shouldn’t be overlooked is your birth plan.

What’s a birth plan?

It brings order to what is usually the emotional peak of your adoption journey. When you develop a solid birth plan, your wellbeing will be protected and your rights will be respected.

Your hospital plan should include details about your wishes on a variety of topics, 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 documents your expectations for the hospital experience. Your adoption agency will be your ally as you create this plan — providing guidance and resources to make your hospital stay go smoothly.

When putting your baby up for adoption in Minnesota, the law states that birth parents can file a consent to adopt paperwork no sooner than 72 hours after the birth of the child and no later than 60 days after a child is placed in an adoptive home. The adoption paperwork must be signed in the presence of two competent witnesses, and termination of parental rights comes only after an adoption decree.

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 Minnesota.

Step 5: Move Forward with Life After Placement

Though your newborn may be living with their adoptive family, it doesn’t mean your relationship with your child is over when placing your baby for adoption.

Through an open adoption, you can have access to your child and their adoptive family with ongoing communication. As the birth mother you determine what that contact looks like. It may include letters, photos, emails, and videos. It’s fine to have as much, or as little, contact with the child and adoptive parents as you want.

Some birth mothers may only want to receive updates about their child after placement without direct contact when giving up a baby for adoption in Minnesota. If you’re one of them, that’s perfectly okay. In those cases, an adoption professional can mediate contact between you and the adoptive family.

Your Next Steps When Putting Your Baby Up for Adoption [Making a Brave Choice]

Remember, giving up a baby for adoption in Minnesota isn’t really “giving up.” You’re giving your child a gift that means they’ll have a bright future and the opportunity for your child to grow into the person they’re meant to become.

If you’re considering placing your baby for adoption in Minnesota, you can find the information you need by visiting 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 Minnesota.