Making the decision to allow another family to adopt your baby is not an easy one. It can be one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life. It is also one of the most selfless acts a person can perform. When you know that you are not going to be able to give the child all that he or she needs emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually, giving it to another family is saying that you love him or her. The choice for adoption is just the first step, though. Now you must choose which type of adoption you will use.

Familial

It is possible to find a family member who wants the baby. This is a good option if you decide that you want to be involved in the child's life in a close way. However, you need to understand that you will not be the mother. You will be giving up the right to make decisions regarding the child's upbringing, health, etc. unless you and your relative come up with some type of arrangement for your input. Of course, you will be able to watch the child grow and know that it is being cared for and is happy. Even though it is a family member, it is still a good idea to have the terms of the adoption go through a lawyer and the court so everyone is on the same page.

Open

An open adoption is similar to a familial one in that you have some type of contact with the family after the process is complete. You will meet with the family before your baby is born, giving you a chance to get to know them and how the family functions. You will discuss with an adoption attorney the extent of your contact. This may include visitation as a distant relative, phone calls, or merely letters updating you as to the health and well-being of the child. This will all depend on what you and the new parents agree upon.

Agency

If you decide that it would be too difficult for you to remain in the child's life, you should go with an adoption agency. The agency will take care of all the legalities and care of the baby between your arms and those of the new mother. You will not know where the baby is going or anything about him or her once in the care of the agency personnel. You can note in the paperwork if you would like the child to be able to find you at a later date. This is often done in case the child wants to know where he or she came from. It can also be beneficial in the case of a medical emergency or for a complete medical background.

You need to understand that you are doing something very loving when you allow another family to have the joy of adopting your child. It can be very hard emotionally, and you should plan on having help getting through things once the process is complete. Just remember, you are not giving up; you are giving life. Fore more information about placing your baby for adoption, contact a local agency.