Considering Adoption As A Parenting Choice?

What will we talk about?  Will you try to talk me into or out of what I want?  Will I have any say about what happens?  Are you going to make me cry?  Is something wrong with me if I am excited for my child?  Can I name my baby?  Will someone be with me in the delivery room?   What if I don’t want any visitors at the hospital?  What if I want the adopting parents in the delivery room?  What if I want to room-in in with my baby?  What if I want pictures?  What if I want to send pictures?  What if I want the child to know about her brother and sister?

As you can see, the questions you may ask are endless.  It is important that all of your questions are answered and that you are comfortable with your counseling, placement, and after-care experiences.  In this state, the Louisiana Children’s Code requires that every birthmother receive a minimum of two counseling sessions prior to signing anything permanent regarding the placement of her child.

The purpose of these counseling sessions is to make sure you have had the opportunity to explore all your choices concerning your decision and that you are not being coerced or forced into any particular decision.   Counseling further provides you with options available to birthmothers regarding seeing, holding, and naming your child as well as other choices regarding an adoption plan.

Depending on the agency or attorney with whom you are working, further options regarding selecting your child’s family, having future contact with your child, sending and receiving pictures, and other requests and choices are addressed.  We also discuss what you may expect to feel in the future.

In Louisiana, birthmothers cannot sign any permanent paperwork (the surrender document) until five days after the baby’s birth.  The birthfather may sign prior to the baby’s birth if he so chooses.  Birthfathers are encouraged to participate in the counseling and preparation sessions.

If you live in Louisiana or would like to place your child with a Louisiana family, you are invited to contact us with your questions.  We look forward to assisting you during this most important time in your life.