When you’re a pregnant woman considering adoption in North Carolina, one of the things you’re probably wondering about is your hospital stay. What will it look like? Who will be there with you? What will you do after the baby is born?
All of this will be decided in your adoption hospital birth plan, which will determine what you can expect from your hospital stay. Like with other aspects of your adoption plan, you’re in charge of this process, and your adoption counselor will help you make a hospital birth plan for your adoption that you’re 100 percent comfortable with.
As you’re creating your adoption hospital plan, your individual counselor will work closely with the medical professional you choose, the hospital administration and your chosen adoptive parents to make sure everyone knows exactly what to expect from your hospital stay. We’ll be able to provide you transportation to and from the hospital, as well as remain with you for emotional support during this final part of the adoption process.
Because you are the one in charge of your adoption process, you’ll be able to make an adoption hospital plan that’s perfect for you.
So, what do you get to choose about your hospital birth plan for adoption in North Carolina?
- Who you want to be in the delivery room with you: You can choose whether you want your baby’s adoptive parents, your own family members, your adoption counselor or anyone else in the room with you while you give birth. Many prospective birth mothers choose to have someone as their support during this process, but who that is will be up to you.
- How much interaction the adoptive family has with you and your baby: Many prospective birth mothers are happy to include their baby’s adoptive family in this special moment by letting them be in their room and take care of the baby while they’re recovering. However, this will be up to you. If you want the adoptive family to be with you from the beginning of your labor process, you can choose that — or you can choose to have no interaction with them at all. Many prospective birth mothers choose an option between these that they’re comfortable with.
- How much interaction you will have with your baby: Do you want to be the first to hold your baby after they’re born? Do you want any time alone with your baby before the adoptive family sees you? While this can be an emotionally challenging time, many prospective birth mothers appreciate the chance to get to know their baby and tell them their birth story before they are placed with their adoptive family. How much time you wish to spend with your baby will be up to you.
- What you want your recovery time to look like: After you give birth, you can choose to be in the same recovery room as your baby, or recover in a separate room while the baby bonds with their adoptive family. You can also choose how long you want to stay in the maternity ward.
- When you want to sign your relinquishment papers: While you may have an idea of when and how you want to sign these papers early in your pregnancy, you may find that you need more or less time to make your decision than you had originally planned after you actually give birth. Your adoption counselor and lawyer will stay with you throughout the process to make sure you understand what your legal rights are and, when you’re ready to sign, that you understand exactly what you are signing.
- How you want to leave the hospital: Do you want to leave the hospital with your baby’s adoptive parents, or would you like to leave on your own? Do you want to take any special mementos, like your baby’s hospital bracelet, home with you? How you leave the hospital will be up to you, and your counselor will make sure you receive all the help you need post-birth.
Chris holds new son Lucas for the first time.
These are just some of the things your counselor will talk to you about when you’re making your adoption hospital plan in North Carolina. Remember, your hospital birth plan for adoption can always change based on your preferences. Your adoption counselor will work closely with you throughout your pregnancy to evaluate your thoughts on this process. If you decide you want to update your adoption hospital plan, your counselor will help you determine what changes you want to make. After all, it can be difficult to anticipate the emotions you’ll feel ahead of time, which is why your adoption counselor will be there to support you during your hospital stay.
Adoption can be a complicated process, but A Child’s Hope will work with you to make sure you’re prepared for every step, including your hospital stay. To learn more about adoption in North Carolina and start making a hospital birth plan for adoption, please contact us today.
Click a star near where you live on the NC map to see what counselor would be assigned to you.
Kelly Dunbar
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!
Rebecca Anderson
New Bern
Rebecca Ann Anderson serves the coastal communities. Rebecca graduated from American University with degrees in political science and literature. She received her Masters in Science and Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She also completed two years of Law School at the University of Baltimore. While clerking for an Adoption Lawyer she found her calling. Rebecca resides in New Bern with her husband and two miniature dachshunds, Sweet Thing and Coco Weenie.
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’s in Social Work from Syracuse University. Lakisha has worked with children, individuals and families for 11 years. Her experience includes, working with at risk youth, children and homeless families, case management, child mental health, as well as school social work. She is also a long-time basketball fan, and is 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.
Katherine Fitzsimmons
Triangle
Katherine completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at St. Bonaventure University and earned her Master’s in Social Work degree from Binghamton University. Her passion is working with and advocating for women, youth, and children. She has worked for more than 10 years facilitating kinship, international, and domestic adoptions; eight of those years were working for the Independent Adoption Center here in Raleigh. Katherine also has a background in crisis management in a hospital setting. When she is not working, she can be found volunteering at her sons’ school, exploring the Raleigh-Durham area, or baking yummy sweets!!
Gloria Curry
Asheville
Gloria received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from St. Leo College. She earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Florida in Family, Youth and Community Science. Gloria has worked with children and families as an educator, mental health counselor and social worker. Gloria facilitated adoptions and foster care placements. She observed the remarkable courage, compassion and commitment of birth families who strive to ensure their child has the opportunity to achieve their potential. Gloria witnessed the dedication adoptive families have in providing care for the child. Gloria lives in Henderson County. She is an avid gardener, reader and loves to explore the mountains of western North Carolina.
Danielle Sample-Raggins
Charlotte
Danielle earned her Masters in Professional Counseling at Liberty University. She is pursing her Doctorate Degree in Traumatology, with the expectation of completion this year. Danielle began her career while in college, by serving as a counselor for teen girls in a residential setting, that were placing their children for adoption. She went on to work as a Foster Care and Adoptions Social Worker. She is also a Therapist and Parenting Educator with individuals, children and their families. She has continued this work for the last 16 years. Outside of working, Danielle loves spending time going to the park, playing board games or just spending time with her three wonderful kiddos; Shaun, Lauson, and Laurielle.
Melanie Spainhour
Triangle - Bi-lingual
Melanie is excited to be working with A Child's Hope in the Raleigh area. She received her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) and her Bachelor of Social Work degree from NC State University (GO PACK!). Melanie has worked with children and families, school systems and local communities, primarily focusing on the Latino community. She loves spending time with her husband, three daughters and taking trips to the beach!
Sylvia Senbel
Charlotte
Sylvia is a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor's in Social Work. She also received her Masters in Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Sylvia has been working with children and famalies 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.
