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
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.
Katherine Fitzsimmons
Triangle
Katherine completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at St. Bonaventure University and earned her Master of 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!!
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!
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 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.
Rachelle Garren
Wilmington
I am originally from Pennsylvania but moved to North Carolina 6 years ago. I have a two-year-old son, 2 dogs, and a cat! I got my undergraduate degree in psychology at Misericordia University in Pennsylvania. I earned my Master's degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. I have worked with children in a preschool setting for three years and worked with children and families for the last year as a therapist. Most of my experience is with children and adults who experienced trauma or substance use problems. I am very excited to be working with the adoption agency!
