If you are pregnant, or have recently given birth, and are wondering about your options, you may be curious as to whether adoption is still an available option to you right now, during the current pandemic.  The short answer is yes. Open Arms Adoption Network is available to you, free of charge, at any time, if you would like to learn more about the option of adoption.   A counselor is able to provide you all of the services and support that we typically provide, safely, during this COVID-19 … [Read more...]

Whether you are currently pregnant and considering adoption for your baby, or you are considering adoption to grow your family, you are likely aware that there is a lot of information to consider when choosing adoption agency to work with. There are many ways that agencies differ, from the simplest ways such as location, to very specific differences in how they assist their Birth and Adoptive Parents. In order to understand which type of adoption agency you might want to work with, having a list … [Read more...]

If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and considering giving your baby up for adoption, you might be thinking about who will adopt your baby. There are many adoption agencies out there who can help support you through the process, and you may want to consider working with a local agency that can offer you emotional support through this process. If you choose to work with an adoption agency such as Open Arms Adoption Network, you can actually choose the right family for your baby—the one … [Read more...]

An Unwanted Surprise Everything was great. You and your boyfriend were in a good place, talking about moving in together and meeting each other’s families. And then you made that mistake of missing your birth control pill, or maybe another form of contraception did not work. Now, you have 2 missed periods, your body is starting to change and you are exhausted. You know these are pregnancy symptoms but you have been avoiding taking a home pregnancy test because you are trying the “if I ignore … [Read more...]

View More Waiting Families You were in a good place with your boyfriend and all was good. Then a few months ago, you forgot your birth control pill a couple of days, missed a depo shot or maybe your boyfriend didn’t have a condom like he said he did. Now you feel exhausted and your body is beginning to change physically. Deep down, you know these are likely pregnancy symptoms, but you have put off taking a pregnancy test because you don’t feel ready to come to terms with the situation that … [Read more...]

If you are currently 6 months pregnant, and getting stressed about this new baby coming soon, that is completely normal!  You are likely in the “honeymoon” phase of your pregnancy, morning sickness has hopefully slowed down, and you have more time to think about what the coming months will bring. This may get you worried about the sleepless nights, a crying baby, money, housing, childcare and how you might balance everything in your life.   Below we will explain a bit more about what is coming … [Read more...]

How can I decide what type of adoption is best for me? If you are considering whether adoption might be the right choice for you and your baby, you might be thinking more about what adoption might look like for you and them in the future. If you choose to work with Open Arms Adoption, you are completely in control of your plan, and the type of adoption that works for you, should you choose to move forward. When you meet or talk on the phone with your Open Arms counselor, one of the topics we … [Read more...]

I am thinking about adoption, but how can I give up the baby but keep my older child? If you are currently pregnant, or have recently given birth, and are parenting another child as well, you might be wondering about adoption for your new baby. This is a scenario that we hear about a lot for the women that we work with, as only a mother such as yourself can truly understand what it really takes to parent. So, please know right away that you considering adoption for this new baby does NOT make … [Read more...]

Are the waiting families good people? How do you screen them and prepare them to adopt? If you are considering adoption for your baby, one of the questions you may be wondering is about the waiting adoptive families who are hoping to adopt. Some women would like to choose a family for their baby, as we have many waiting and approved families, while other women do not want to choose, and they prefer that Open Arms chooses the perfect family for their baby. We will support your decision either … [Read more...]

I Want to Give My Baby Up for Adoption but Everyone is pressuring me to Keep the Baby.  What Should I Do? If you are considering giving your baby up for adoption, whether you are pregnant or have already given birth, it is a difficult decision.  There are lots of factors to think about when considering your options, and sometimes what you want or may think is the right decision for you and your baby, others around you may not agree with you.  This is common.  We all want the support and … [Read more...]

If you are struggling with addiction now and you are pregnant, or you have recently given birth, you might be wondering if now is the right time for you to be a Mom to a new baby. If you decide that you want to look into options other than you taking the baby home and raising him/her, you may end up wanting to learn more about voluntary adoption. Your next question might be whether you can choose adoption for your baby if you are in active addiction or in treatment? And, the short answer is YES, … [Read more...]

Your Plan- The Entire Time If you are pregnant and thinking about giving up your baby for adoption, please know that we will respect your decision, and provide you with pressure-free counseling and support every step of the way. We will meet with you, face to face, and offer counseling at your convenience to help you decide if adoption is something that you would like to pursue, while never pressuring you to move forward. This is YOUR plan, and we will move as slowly or as quickly as you would … [Read more...]

If you are considering adoption for your baby, whether you are pregnant or have recently given birth, one of the questions that might come up in your thinking is about cost. You may be wondering whether it costs money to get help to give your baby up for adoption. The short answer is, no. It is absolutely free to put your baby up for adoption. One reason you might be surprised by that is because there are a lot of misconceptions about adoption. Many people assume that counselors charge … [Read more...]

It used to be that if a woman put her baby up for adoption or was even considering putting her baby up for adoption, would likely be shamed by her friends and family for “taking the easy way out” or for “being selfish”. Fortunately, there is far less stigma around the idea of adoption now and far more understanding for those women who do choose adoption for their babies. We know, at Open Arms Adoption, that women who are considering the option of adoption are usually the most maternal and … [Read more...]

Question: "Is it ever too late to put your baby up for adoption?" Answer: No, it is never too late to place your baby for adoption. You went back and forth about it over the nine months of your pregnancy. You changed your mind every few days -- maybe every couple of hours -- about whether you should give your baby up for adoption. You felt overwhelmed by the weight of the decision until the point you gave birth, and then it was too late -- or maybe that’s what you thought. Fortunately, … [Read more...]

You’ve made the difficult decision to give your baby up for adoption. You feel sure that it’s the right decision for you -- and for your baby – but you still have fears, doubts and a lot of questions. Don’t worry, that’s normal. Most of those fears and doubts are probably around figuring who would be the right family to love and raise your child. After all, your decision to put your baby up for adoption is based on your love for your baby. It’s not about you -- it’s all about the baby. So, of … [Read more...]