For many women, the decision to choose adoption comes after much time and deliberation. After all, placing a child up for adoption is not an easy or simple decision to make. So, it’s normal to want to take as much time as you need to make your decision.

One of the most common questions we hear from women who are late into their pregnancy is, “When is it too late to give my baby up for adoption?” and “What does a same-day adoption look like?” The process of putting a baby up for adoption quickly is simpler than you might think. Below, find the answers to all of your questions and more.

How Can I Put a Baby Up for Adoption Today?

If you’re reading this article about making your adoption plan late in your pregnancy, at the hospital, or even after returning home with your baby, then you’re probably in a hurry.  To find an adoption professional near you, please fill out our free information form to be contacted by a professional so they can get you started as soon as possible

When is it too Late for Adoption?

Actually, it’s never too late to make an adoption plan for your baby. Whether you’re already at the hospital, or if it’s been a few weeks or months since you’ve come home, adoption will always be an option for you. We know that adoption will never be an overnight decision. It’s okay to take your time and think about all your options before placing your baby up for adoption. You’re not in a rush, and no matter how long it takes you to come to this decision, you can always choose adoption when you’re ready.

When is it too Late to Find Adoptive Parents for My Coming Baby?

At this stage, we know that this is probably one of your biggest concerns. But, you don’t have to worry. Like we mentioned earlier, it is never too late to start an adoption plan, nor is it too late to find a family for your baby. There are many families from across the country who are ready and excited to adopt, whether you are looking for parents for a newborn or a child that’s a few months or weeks old. No matter what stage you’re at, you will find a family who is more than excited to welcome a child into their home.

Where Can I Find an Adoption Agency that Accepts Infants After Birth?

If you’re considering adoption after you’ve already given birth to your baby, your biggest concern may be finding an agency that works with newborns and older children. The good news is that there are many agencies that have experience with same-day and last-minute adoptions. Any professional you choose will guide you with the adoption process from start to finish. In addition, you are still entitled to receive the same services as any other prospective birth mother, including 24/7 adoption counseling, help with adoption and hospital planning, and financial assistance, depending on your situation. If you haven’t had a chance to look at your options, here are a few national adoption agencies that you might consider working with:

• American Adoptions
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Bethany Christian Services

How Fast Can I Complete My Last-Minute Adoption?

Your adoption can be completed as quickly as you’d like, from a few days to a few hours, if needed. You might be surprised at how fast the adoption process can move, but remember, your adoption professional will move at whatever speed you’re comfortable with. And, as we’ll talk about below, the six steps of a same-day adoption look very similar to any other type of adoption process.

We know that deciding to “give a baby up” for adoption at the last minute can be stressful. But remember, your adoption professional will be there every step of the way.

What are the Steps to Creating a Last-Minute Adoption Plan?

1. Contact an adoption agency: The first and most important step is finding an adoption professional. A good idea would be to work with a national adoption agency, as they have more resources readily available to move quickly.
2. Provide some information about yourself/the baby: To start your last-minute adoption plan, your adoption professional is going to need a little bit of information about you/the baby and your goals for the adoption. When you fill out your initial forms, you’ll also be able to decide what you’re looking for in an adoptive family, the amount of contact you’re comfortable with, what you want the hospital stay to look like if you’re approaching your due date, and more.
3. Choose an adoptive family: When you’re ready to start your last-minute adoption, your adoption professional will send you a collection of adoptive family profiles to choose from. If you need to, you can even have your adoption professional pick your adoptive family for you. Any family you choose will be ready to fly out to you at a moment’s notice, so you shouldn’t have to wait very long to meet them!
4. Get to know the adoptive family: If you’d like, you can still get to know the adoptive family before they arrive at the hospital. If not, just let your adoption professional know.
5. Sign the paperwork when ready: After delivery, it will be time to sign your paperwork for the same-day adoption. How long you’ll have to wait to sign these documents will depend on the state you live in, but normally it will be anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Please keep in mind that, once you sign away your rights and the period of revocation has passed, you won’t be able to change your mind and get your baby back.
6. Continue your relationship with open adoption: Every woman has the right to choose how much post-placement contact she’s open to. If you’d like, you might decide to have a fully open adoption, one in which you share plenty of pictures and letters, emails, phone calls, and even multiple in-person visits a year. But like every woman before you, you also have the option of a semi-open or a closed adoption.

And that’s it! Overall, the same-day adoption process is pretty simple. If you have any more questions about this process, don’t forget that you can always reach out to a professional for more information. And if you’re ready to start your adoption late in your pregnancy, at the hospital, or after giving birth, then we’d be happy to help! You can get started now by filling out our information form for free and with no obligation to choose adoption.