Are you looking to grow your family through adoption? With adoption, you must consider whether you're comfortable with an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. Here are things to consider when deciding between them.

Open Adoption

When you adopt a child through an open adoption process, you agree for them to have contact with their biological family. According to a survey conducted by the National Council For Adoption, almost 70% of birth mothers continue post-adoption contact. This contact may be mediated by a third party, such as an adoption agency.

Some people may have a fully open adoption and allow the birth family to have direct contact with and visit the child. The amount of contact allowed in a child's life can depend on the comfort of the adopted parents and the current situation of the bio family.

Open adoptions can be beneficial for cross-cultural situations. After all, a child brought up in a completely different culture may eventually feel out of place. However, if they can have some contact with their birth family and original culture, they can have an understanding of their background and a healthier identity.

Open adoption also allows the adoptive parents to receive health-related information about the child because of the biological family. Therefore, if there are any chronic illnesses that run the biological bloodlines, the adoptive parents and child know what to look for.

Semi-Open Adoption

Another adoption type that is available is semi-open adoption. With this adoption choice, you allow the birth parent or parents to receive periodic pictures and updates. Your adoption agency will mediate the contact between you and the parent(s). You can also have contact with the birth mother during pregnancy and typically meet in person before or right after the birth.

Closed Adoption

In this case, there's no contact between the new adopted family and the birth parents. The adoptive parents have no information about the biological parents. The records are sealed, and the adoption will be as private as possible. A closed adoption may be best if the biological parents have a criminal or rough background that can be traumatic for the child. It can also be a safety measure for adoptive parents worried about privacy and blurred boundaries.

This adoption makes it easier for birth parents to move on in their lives. The adopted parents may want to focus on building their family unit and think that keeping the bridge to the bio family open may be confusing.

Going through the adoption process can be an emotional time for the birth and adoptive parents. Both sides must consider the pros and cons of these three options. Whether you're interested in an open, semi-open, or closed adoption, contact our team at Adoptions Unlimited anytime for assistance and support.