A Birth Mother’s Guide to Making a Closed Adoption Plan in Florida

By Erin Jones

Choosing a closed adoption for your child is a huge first step in adoption in Florida. Now that you’ve taken it, you might be wondering what to do next. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place! To help you figure out what to do next, Adoption Choices of Florida has given you a list of your next few steps. Adoption agencies will help you create an adoption plan that is best for both you and your child!  

Making a Closed Adoption Plan? Here are Your Next Steps…

1. List Your Preferences regarding Your Child’s Adoption and Your Child’s Adoptive Family

Perhaps the most important part of creating your closed adoption plan is to list any preferences you may have related to your child’s adoption and adoptive family. Personal preferences regarding your child’s adoption and future adoptive parents can be as broad or specific as you like. It’s entirely up to you! The most common adoption and adoptive-family related preferences include, but aren’t limited to the following:

• Household type — single-parent, two-parent, etc.
• Race, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, etc. of the adoptive parents/family
• Occupations and financial stability of the adoptive parents
• Your aspirations for your child’s future — do you hope for your child to go to college one day? Perhaps you’d like for them to travel abroad?
• Where do you want your child to grow up?
• Are you hopeful that your child will one day have siblings?
• Any other preferences you may have regarding your child’s adoption and their future adoptive family!       

2. If You Choose to, Include the Family, Friends, and Other Members of Your Social Circle Who You Want to be a Part of Your Adoption Plan

Even if you’re opting for a closed adoption, you might want to include family and friends in on your plan. You don’t have to, of course, especially if you want your privacy and anonymity. 

If you do choose to include family, friends, and/or other members of your social circle in on your adoption plan, be sure to reach out to them and have a conversation. Not everyone will understand your reasoning for placing your child for adoption at first — in fact, some might not at all — but don’t be discouraged from including your loved ones in your plan. The adoption journey — whether it’s closed or one of the other types of adoption — isn’t one that should be taken alone!   

3. Create Your Birth and/or Hospital Plan

It’s also important to include your birth and/or hospital plan in your overall adoption plan. Birth and hospital plans are very similar. However, most birth mothers like to differentiate their preferences related to the birth of their child from their stay at the hospital at the time of their child’s birth. Just like your preferences regarding your child’s plan, your preferences related to your birth and hospital plans are entirely up to you. The following are a few things you might want to include in your birth and/or hospital plan:

• Do you want someone from your support group in the room with you at the time of your child’s birth? Is there anyone else you want at the hospital at the time your child is born?
• Do you want to hold your child after he or she is born? Would you like to spend some alone time with your child after he or she is born?
• Would you like photos or video taken of you and your child during/after he or she is born?
• Are there any hospital mementos you’d like to keep for yourself as a memory of your child?

Now That You Know a Little Bit More…

Now that Adoption Choices of Florida has helped you figure out the next few steps you need to take in order to create your closed plan, do you feel more ready to list your preferences regarding your child’s adoption and future adoptive parents? What about who you want to include in your closed adoption plan and what your preferences are for your birth and hospital plans? 

If you feel a little intimidated by having to make all of these important decisions, you’re not alone! Take as much time as you need to think about what you really want and what’s most important to you. If you need guidance, feel free to reach out to adoption agencies for help. Our team of adoption professionals will be more than willing to assist you in all of your adoption-related needs. 

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption, and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678