Can you put your baby up for adoption in Florida?

By Blessing E. Ikhimokpa

Are you wondering whether you can put your baby up for adoption in Florida? But don’t know where to begin. When looking for adoption agencies, search for adoption agencies in Florida. By doing that, the local adoption agencies in your state will pop up depending on where you’re located in Florida. It will determine which adoption agency you’ll go to. 

At Adoption Choices of Florida, we’ll answer any questions you may have about adoption. When it comes to adoption, the choices are in your hands. Since we’re a private adoption agency, whatever you’ll like for your adoption process, is what will happen. 

Can you put your baby up for adoption, and What does the adoption process in Florida look like?

In Florida, when you’re thinking of placing your birth child up for adoption. You’ll have to visit your local adoption agency. To see what your adoption options are. For birth mothers dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. They have the options of:

• Raising the birth child, 
• Terminating the pregnancy, 
• Or placing the birth child up for adoption.

In Florida, it’s illegal to terminate a pregnancy. So for birth mothers dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Their only options are to either raise the birth child or place them up for adoption. When considering adoption, birth mothers will be told that they should make an adoption plan. This plan will go over everything that’s needed during the adoption process. 

What is an adoption plan?

When considering adoption, your adoption agent will recommend an adoption plan. Which goes over everything you’ll need during the adoption process. It goes over:

• What type of adoption you’ll like
• Who the adoptive parents will be
• Where the adoptive parents live
• If you’d like the adoptive parent (s) to be in the birthing room
• What type of assistance do you need during the birth
• What your hospital/birth plan will look like

What are the different types of adoptions?

In Florida, birth parents can choose from three types of adoptions. There is an open, semi-open, and closed adoption. Open adoption is for the birth parents that would like to keep in touch. They would like to be able to:

• Send pictures
• Send emails
• Send text messages
• Send phone calls
• Visit once in a while

When birth parents choose an open adoption, they have the option to share contact information with the adoptive parents. So that the adoptive parents can keep the birth parents updated. During the birth, the adoptive parents have the option to be inside the room. While also having the option to see the baby after the birth. During the time before the adoption agreement is finalized. The adoptive parents have the option to spend time with the birth child.

Semi-open adoption is similar to open adoption. But instead of being able to:

• Send emails
• Send text messages
• Send phone calls and visit

The birth parents are limited to being able to send pictures. Hence why, it’s called semi-open adoption. This means instead of being open and being able to fully communicate. The birth parents are limited in what they can do. 

In a closed adoption, the birth parents have decided to separate themselves. They don’t want to be involved in the adoption process at all. When it comes to making the adoption plan. The birth parents are leaving it up to the adoption agency. Unlike in open adoption, where the birth parents get to share contact information with the adoption agency. Birth parents who choose a closed adoption. Have decided they don’t want to share contact information.

Is counseling available for birth parents?

For birth parents dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Counseling is there during and after the pregnancy. The counselor will help the birth parents with any issues they may have come across. As well as how to deal with unwanted emotions. They may have after placing their baby up for adoption. 

During adoption, some birth parents deal with emotions like guilt. Since they start to second guess their decision of placing the birth child up for adoption. Adoption isn’t Giving your baby up for adoption. Instead, it’s placing the birth child in a loving home with loving people. Who are looking to start a family.

What is the birth father’s role in the adoption process?

During the adoption process. The birth father’s role is to be there for the birth mother. It is true that the birth mother is the one dealing with the unplanned pregnancy. But the birth father could feel like it’s his fault. Although, the birth father should be there for the birth mother. The birth mother should be there for the birth father as well. 

Oftentimes, people think the birth father is forgotten during the adoption process. Since the attention is on the birth mother and what they’re going through. It could be a situation where the birth mother wants to adopt out their baby. But the birth father doesn’t, which would cause tension in the relationship. 

Thinking of placing your birth child up for adoption? 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 or text us at 904-559-1251.