If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may be hesitant to contact an adoption professional until you are certain of your adoption decision. This leads many women to wonder the following: Is it too late to place my baby for adoption? What is the deadline for giving your baby up for adoption? Can you put your baby up for adoption after you’ve had him or her?
Whether you are late in your pregnancy or even considering adoption after birth, it is never too late to begin making an adoption plan.
However, you should also know that you do not need to be 100 percent committed to your adoption decision before contacting A Child’s Hope in Raleigh with offices throughout the state in Asheville and Greensboro. If you are uncertain about adoption or want to learn more about your unplanned pregnancy options, you can speak with an adoption counselor for more information, with no obligation to proceed with adoption.
Here, learn how to make a last-minute adoption plan or put a baby up for adoption after birth.
When can you put a child up for adoption?
Some women contact A Child’s Hope as soon as they find out they are pregnant, while others wait until the final weeks of their pregnancy or even contact us after their baby has been born and they are at the hospital or have gone home. .
We tell them the same thing: It is never too late to do what is best for yourself and your child, and adoption is always an option for you.
Regardless of where you are in your pregnancy, or even if you have already had your baby, A Child’s Hope can help you complete each step of the adoption process as quickly as necessary:
- You will speak with an adoption counselor who will work with you to begin the adoption process
- Your will meet with your adoption counselor in person to execute the legal documents you need to place your baby for adoption
- Your adoption counselor will help you find someone to adopt at birth and will show you their profiles
- After reviewing the family profiles, you can choose the adoptive family that you are most comfortable with
- You will have an opportunity to get to know the adoptive family over the phone or in person
- You will choose the type of relationship you want to have with the adoptive parents after the adoption, and your counselor will continue to provide the support and services you need after placement
We are a full-service adoption agency that also accepts children after birth, and we can provide all of the services you need to quickly complete your after-delivery adoption. With A Child’s Hope, you can complete the entire adoption process within a matter of days — all from the delivery room, or even after returning home from the hospital. The agency has placed children as old as 8 years old, and we frequently work with birth mothers who have tried to parent but have decided adoption is the best option for their child.
Josh & Kelly with birth parents Thai & Adam, Lincolnton, NC
When is it too late to find adoptive parents for my coming baby?
One concern some women have about last-minute adoption is finding the perfect adoptive parents for their baby. Expectant mothers may be concerned that they won’t be able to find someone to adopt at birth if they wait to begin the adoption process until late in their pregnancy.
Regardless of the stage of your pregnancy or the age of your child, it is up to you to choose the right family for your baby. You will work with your adoption counselor to determine the types of families you are looking for, and she will identify adoptive parents who can meet your needs. A Child’s Hope has approved families waiting who can adopt on short notice. They are home studied and have trained to take care of a newborn.
When you are ready, you will be able to choose the parents that can provide the type of life you want for your baby based on a number of factors, including:
- Their lifestyle, values and interests
- Their religious or cultural background
- The size of their family and other children in the home
- Their extended family
- Their home and neighborhood
- Their professional and educational background
- And more
A Child’s Hope was founded on the belief that there is a family for every child. Each of our families is thoroughly screened and undergoes an extensive home study process, so you can be certain that any family you choose for your child is safe, ready and excited to adopt.
Adopted by Tommy & Betsy, Wake County
Can you put a child up for adoption at any age?
Some women contact A Child’s Hope months or even years after their child has been born, looking for adoption agencies that accept infants after birth. We have helped women make adoption plans for their children as old as 8 years old.
The decision to place an older child for adoption is very difficult, and we can provide the emotional support and services you need to make the best choices for yourself and your child. Call or text us to learn more about your options for making an adoption plan for your toddler or older child.
In older child adoptions, the agency works with you to transition the child and to set up meetings so that the transition is smooth for you and your child. You work with the adoption counselor to obtain pediatrician and prenatal records and to detail the child’s schedule. You can send some of the child’s belonging if you feel that will make the transition easier.
Last-Minute Adoption in North Carolina – What’s Next?
No matter where you are in your pregnancy, or if your child has already been born, you still have the same rights and choices as any expectant mother who contacts A Child’s Hope. You will be in control of your adoption plan and are entitled to the same free adoption services we offer to all of our prospective birth mothers.
If you are ready to begin the last-minute adoption process or want to learn more about your options as a woman considering adoption, contact us today to speak with an adoption counselor.
Click a star near where you live on the NC map to see what counselor would be assigned to you
Kelly Dunbar
Adoption Counselor/Homestudy Supervisor - Triangle
As an adoptive parent I truly have a passion for adoption. There is no greater joy than helping to create a family! I love this job and I love working with adoptive parents as well as the birth parents. When it all comes together it is an awesome experience! Kelly is a graduate of NC State University where she earned a Bachelor of Social Work. She also received her Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Kelly has been working with children, families, in the home and in communities for 18 years. Kelly has been working with birth mothers and adoptive parents for the last 5 years. Besides working, she has a great husband and three fabulous children, Landon, Parker and Ansley. Kelly and her husband adopted their daughter with the help of ACH and feels as though her personal experience helps her relate to other adoptive families.
Sloane Mosley
Greensboro
Sloane completed her undergraduate degree in Human Services Counseling at Old Dominion University and holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Sloane has been working with children, birth mothers and adopting families for more than 10 years. She loves advocating for children and helping women during pregnancy.
Lakisha Brown
Winston-Salem
Lakisha completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Welfare at Winston-Salem State University. She received her Master of Social Work from Syracuse University. Lakisha has worked with children, individuals and families for more than 12 years. Her experience includes working with at-risk youth, homeless children and families, child mental health, as well as school social work and case management. She is also a long-time basketball fan, a former player and coach. She played at Winston-Salem State University and coached women’s basketball at Elon University and Syracuse University. Lakisha and her husband reside in Alamance County, with their young son.
Jessica Otolinsky
Asheville
Jess completed her undergraduate degree in Communication at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Messiah College. Her professional experience includes case management, education, women’s behavioral health including a focus on pregnant mothers, and working with kinship and domestic adoptive families who have experienced trauma. Jess is a native of central Pennsylvania though loves living in Asheville with her significant other. When she is not working, she is likely caring for her puppy and dog, painting, practicing yoga, camping or planning her next road trip to see family and friends or have an adventure in some new place!
Sylvia Senbel
Charlotte
Sylvia is a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor of Social Work. She also received her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Sylvia has been working with children and families for more than 19 years. She enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband and three boys. She also loves animals, especially her dog Jazzy.
Nicole Barnes
Jacksonville
Nicole completed her undergraduate studies at Chowan University in Psychology with a concentration in Alcohol & Drug Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice. Nicole has provided services to adolescents, teens, college students, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Parole and Probation, the NC Division of Motor Vehicles, the Division of Transportation, and the Department of Defense. She is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor and has been working in the mental health field for 15 years.
Suzanne Mangum
Triangle
Suzanne was the primary pregnancy care manager stationed at Duke high-risk perinatal clinic for 20 years. She has a BS in Social Work at UNC Pembroke and is a licensed School Social Worker. She recently worked as a case manager in a substance abuse disorder residential program for women with young children. Suzanne is a “Durhamite” but has resided in Wake County since graduating. Her biggest accomplishment has been happily raising her 14 yo daughter and 3 poodle mixed pups.
Hope Brown
Triangle
Hope completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work at North Carolina Central University. She has worked with children and families for more than 20 years. Hope experience includes working in foster care, CPS as well as a school social worker. Hope loves exercising, football and spending time with her family. Hope resides in Durham County with her son, daughter and her dog Penny.
