September is always a very busy month at A Child’s Hope, with pregnant birth mothers heading to hospitals and waiting adoptive parents overjoyed to get to meet their new addition.

According to a Time Magazine article in September 2017, data compiled from U.S. births over the last 20 years prove that more babies are born in September than in any other month of the year, with September 9th being the most popular birthday, and September 19th being the second most popular.

The reason for the high number of births in September is simple. Count back nine months and you are in the Christmas to New Year’s timeframe when couples are celebrating and have time off from work and you guessed it — feeling romantic.

This September, A Child’s Hope is eagerly awaiting the birth of five babies who are already matched with adoptive families.

Pregnant to Placement: The Process

Every adoption event is unique. Late-term and at-the-hospital signings by birth mothers can be a whirlwind. Conversely, birth mothers that contact us shortly after they discover that they are pregnant can be an eight- or nine-month journey. Regardless of the advanced notice, there are several parts to the process A Child’s Hope adoption counselors follow to help make each placement a success for all involved.

• Starting the Process – After a pregnant birth mother signs with the agency, an adoption counselor meets with her and helps her start prenatal care if she has not yet gone to a physician. She signs a HIPPA release form so that the agency can obtain her medical records. The agency works with her to offer counseling to ensure that she wants to place the child rather than parent and the agency tries to locate the birthfather to sign and provide DNA. A budget is also set up so that she can get financial support during the pregnancy.

 

• Matching With a Family — When a birth mother is about eight weeks from delivery, home study-compatible waiting adoptive families are contacted and presented the opportunity of her child. This written “birth mother opportunity” includes gathered medical information, a physical description of the birth mother and birth father, some of the birth family’s backstory in an anonymous format and what the birth mother is looking for in an adoptive family.

 

• Some Birthmothers Choose to Have the Agency Pick — A birth mother may also tell the agency to “pick” a family and then show her the profile or she may choose to not have a match meeting. But this is rare. Usually, birth mothers like to look at the profiles and make a decision about the family.

 

• Choosing Whom Will Adopt the Child – In an independent adoption, generally, the pregnant birth mother, and father if he decides to engage in the adoption process, pick the adoptive parent, parents or family. This is done by looking at family profiles online and contacting the adoptive parents directly. In independent adoptions, the family and the birthparents work together directly without an adoption counselor.

 

• Meeting of the Minds – With an initial match, the birth parent(s) and the adoptive parents meet, at least once, in what is known as a “match meeting.” An adoption counselor is always present to help them get to know each other.

 

• Preparing for Baby – After all goes well, a final match is made and the legal team kicks into high gear. In an open adoption, many pregnant birth mothers and the adoptive families choose to spend additional time together, coordinated through the adoption counselor. Many adoptive parents are even included in the birthing process and have bonding time with the newborn during the hospital stay.

Starting Your Adoption Journey

If you, or someone you know, is considering adoption and would like to learn more, call A Child’s Hope at 919-839-8800, or Text PREGNANT TO 919-971-4396. You can also watch our placement day videos to hear recent adoptive parents share their stories adoption stories.

Pregnant? Not sure if you are able at this time to parent? If you are a birth mother and are looking to place your child in a loving home, contact our Birth Mother hotline to speak with an adoption counselor today at 877-890-4673 or Text PREGNANT TO 919-971-4396. To see placement day videos of A Child’s Hope families, click here. To see websites of our waiting families, click here.

For more information on the legal issues involved with adoption in North Carolina, visit parkerherringlawgroup.com.