DAVIS SHARES HER STORY OF LOVE
We had the opportunity to chat with Davis, a birth mom, who placed her child with an adoptive family with the support of the Adoption Centre of British Columbia. Davis wanted to share her experience to help both birth and adoptive parents and her candid and real responses may answer some questions you have about adoption. We sincerely thank Davis for her honesty and generosity in sharing her story of love.
Part 1.
Initial Thoughts on an Adoption Plan
Birth parents face a critical choice: to parent or not to parent. Adoption is an option for birth moms and birth dads when they don’t feel able to parent. Feeling alone and scared, birth moms may not want to share with family about their situation but getting information and exploring your options is important. Making an adoption plan, where you consider all options, is a positive step for birth parents which will help them make informed decisions for their child.
Part 2.
It’s a Process
Davis shares how exploring her options meant deciding between parenting with her partner or placing their child for adoption. It is an emotional-packed decision that can involve input from family members and birth parent counsellors. Ultimately it is the birth parents’ choice and Davis provides insight into how she reached her decision, including why having an open adoption plan was very important to her. Choosing an adoptive family whose profile books they had connected with, gave Davis and her partner confidence to know they were making an honest and loving choice.
Part 3.
I Wanted Everything for Her
Choosing to place her daughter for adoption, Davis reveals the poignant reason why love is the greatest motivator in her decision. Birth mothers and birth fathers want to give their child opportunities that they feel their chosen adoptive parents can offer them. As Davis’ love grew every day for her daughter, she recognized that she wanted everything for her. For Davis, this meant making a personal sacrifice and placing her daughter with an amazing adoptive family.
Part 4.
Part 5.
Arranging Visits
Birth Parents FAQ’s
As the birth parent(s), you will choose the adoptive parents for your baby by reviewing profile books and home studies of approved waiting adoptive parents. You will read all about their history, current relationships, lifestyle, employment, etc.
Many birth parents choose open adoption so that you can receive email updates and pictures as well as occasional visits with the adoptive parents and baby.
There is no cost for birth parents. You will receive birth parent counselling and support from one of our birth parent counsellors nearest to you while making an adoption plan.
We ask that you provide as much social and medical information about yourself that you are willing to share. We will also ask you to consent for your doctor to provide prenatal medical information, as well as information about the labour and delivery.
All approved adoptive parents have completed a home study with a registered social worker which includes a number of interviews and home visits, a house tour, references, medicals, criminal record checks, child protection checks as well as education about adoption.
Just like birth mothers, we ask that birth fathers provide as much social and medical information as they are willing to share. If he is not involved in the adoption plan, birth mothers can provide any information about him that she knows. The birth father may be unknown/unacknowledged.
Yes, you can. Along with your birth parent counsellor, you will make a hospital plan which will include how much time you want to spend with baby at the hospital, if you want family or close friends to come to meet the baby, and when you want the adoptive parents to come to the hospital and take over care and custody of the baby.
Yes, you can choose the name for your child’s Registration of Live Birth. The adoptive parents will also have an opportunity to choose a name for their child.
In B.C., a birth mother can revoke her legal consent up to 30 days after the baby is born. A written revocation notice will need to be provided to the agency before the 30 days has passed. A birth father can not change his mind once he has signed legal consent for the adoption.
A birth father can sign legal consent to the adoption with a lawyer any time after baby is born. A birth mother can sign legal consent once baby is at least ten days old. There is no cost for this lawyer appointment to the birth parent. The Adoption Centre of BC will arrange this appointment for you and your birth parent counsellor can attend the appointment with you for your support.
Words cannot describe the amazing experience we had with the Adoption Centre. From our first phone call, we just knew this was the agency we wanted to entrust with helping us start our family. Every single staff member of the Adoption Centre puts their whole heart into their work; they are so engaged and personable and you can tell they truly love their jobs and helping families, both birth parents and adoptive parents. Working with the Adoption Centre was the best choice we ever made. Having their guidance and support through it all meant the world to us and we never felt lost or in the dark with the process or next steps.
– Adoptive Parent
