Once a woman makes the brave and selfless choice to give her baby a good start in life through adoption into a stable and loving home, she can make many different decisions about her future. If she didn’t feel able to parent because she was in the middle of school or building her career, she is free to continue along the path she previously chose. If she wasn’t sure what life held for her, being able to decide without the added responsibility of a child can give her many more options. Still, when you are making the decision, you may have questions about what happens after the adoption.
Your relationship with the child
After the baby is adopted, you will no longer be the child’s mother, legally. Relinquishing a child for adoption means giving up parental rights, and you will not have a legal relationship with the child.
That said, most adoptions nowadays are open adoptions. Your open adoption plan will provide opportunities for continued contact. That can range from letters with a photo on the child’s birthday to regular visits and shared holidays. Each plan is different. It will be an agreement between you and the family you choose for your child. Research shows that open adoption usually leads to greater satisfaction for birth moms over time.
A closed adoption means that your personal information will not be shared with the adoptive family or the child. In some cases, you might agree to contact after the child is an adult, but you do not have to make that commitment. If you don’t want the child to be part of your future, this is the route to take.
Further support
Arkansas law allows adoptive parents to provide financial support for an expectant mom, including support during the time following the birth before she is able to return to work. Post-natal medical expenses can also be covered. Further support in the form of living expenses long after the adoption or gifts of cash are illegal.
Counseling and other kinds of community support are available and important. Your adoption professional can help you connect with community resources.