The DNA-testing phenomenon in the context of adoption doesn't always lead to a happy ending. Learn what adoptees should expect from DNA testing.

The idea of being unexpectedly pregnant is finally sinking in, and it’s time to consider one of the most significant decisions you will make. Should you parent this child or place them for adoption? Only you know what’s best for you and your child’s future. Here’s a list of the pros and cons of both. Pros of Parenting You are the one to guide your child’s future. Your child has a complete understanding of their heritage. There are no doubts your child is loved and cared for. You receive the reward of their happiness daily. You get to enjoy every milestone. Pros of Adoption Your child has greater opportunities for their future. A two-parent home is more secure than a single-parent home. By choosing the adoptive couple, you have the assurance your child is loved and cared for. You avoid having your child potentially enter foster care. You build a relationship with your child without the day-to-day responsibilities of parenting. Cons of Parenting Parenting is expensive. Raising a child leaves you with little time for yourself. You have a greater work responsibility to provide for a child. Parenting requires an incredible amount of energy and focus. Cons of Adoption When choosing your adoption agency, you want to work with an experienced agency that understands how it feels to be a birth mother placing her child. You need confidence your adoption specialist will be with you from start to finish. Adoption Angels has over 40 years of combined experience in the field of adoption. We consider every client a part of our family, so we strive to provide the highest level of care, comfort, and support throughout the adoption process and beyond. We provide many pregnancy-related services and assistance at no cost to you. Take a closer look at the profiles of some of our waiting families hoping to adopt. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering making an adoption plan for your child, contact us. Call or text us 24/7 at (210) 227-2229 or fill out our confidential online contact form . We’re here for you.

A phrase like “giving up your baby” is one of the many hurtful misunderstandings about adoption. Far from giving up, a woman who considers adoption is moving forward, taking charge, and creating a plan for the future. Adoption is courageous, selfless, and difficult all at the same time. Where Did “Giving Up” Begin? For centuries, the stigma of being an unwed mother was so horrible society forced women to give their babies up to strangers. Usually, a woman had no idea where or how the adoptive parents raised her child. Was the child loved? Safe? The birth mother and child did not know of one another. They both spent a lifetime wondering about the other, making adoption a painful, lonely experience. For adoptive parents, society regarded infertility as shameful. People believed couples were “cursed by God” for not having children. Therefore, when a couple had the chance to adopt, they often kept the adoption secret and never even told the child. Why Shouldn’t We Say “Giving Up”? When someone “gives up,” it means they’re quitting. The person can’t or won’t continue what they started to do. An expectant or birth mother may place her baby for adoption or make an adoption plan, but a caring, loving mother never gives up. A woman who chooses adoption for her unplanned pregnancy wants the best for her child. She recognizes she cannot give the child what they need. Out of love, she carefully selects other parents who can provide the love, safety, financial security, and future she cannot. Why Do People Still Say “Giving Up”? Although society’s stigmas and the adoption process have changed, the hurtful language hasn’t. Out of misunderstanding, people still regard adoption as “giving up.” Even some adoption agencies or lawyers still use this phrase. Choose To Make An Open Adoption Plan Today, the majority of adoptions in the United States are open. An open adoption plan means the expectant or birth mother carefully selects the adoptive couple. She looks through various portfolios to find the couple with the lifestyle she wants for her child. The couple and the expectant mother can meet and build a relationship before the baby is born if they would like. As the child grows, everyone shares photos and information. The child has the chance to ask questions and learn about their birth family, and the birth mother gets the assurance that her child is safe and loved. Beginning the Process If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to explore the adoption process, contact Adoption Angels. We realize how difficult this decision can be, and we want you to have as much information as possible. If you are currently pregnant, we provide free assistance for living and medical expenses, free counseling and legal services, and 24/7 support and care. If you have already given birth, there is still time to place your child for adoption. Call or text us 24/7 at (210) 227-2229 or fill out our confidential contact form . An adoption counselor will reach out to you as soon as possible. Only you can decide if making an adoption plan is right for you. We’re here to help along the way.

Every parent wonders what the future holds for their children. You hope they will make good choices, find happiness, and, more than anything, want to have a relationship with their parents, both biological and adoptive. How you set up your adoption plan at the beginning can affect how an adult adoptee views both sets of parents. It’s critical to remember adoption is never a one-time event. It’s a lifetime adventure. Every adoption is as unique as the people involved. Here are a few tips that may help you get a glimpse into your future. Growing Up Like children growing up in their biological families, adoptees are affected by their home life, family dynamics, neighborhoods, schools, and friends. But there is one crucial difference. An adoptee has a part of their lives that is entirely unknown to them. If the birth and adoptive parents agree to have an open adoption, their child has more knowledge of their biological family. However, knowing and living day-to-day are two different things. With a semi-open adoption, an adoptee has even less information but can still have confidence in some knowledge of their biological family. Although sometimes necessary, a closed adoption plan leaves everyone in the dark. Of course, the ability to have a relationship with one another depends entirely on the willingness of everyone involved. Adoptive parents feel threatened and afraid birth parents may want their child back. Birth parents wonder what is said about them and if their child knows they love them. The adoptee ponders why they like cats when their adoptive parents are strictly dog people or why they have black hair when their parents have blonde. They may wonder if their biological families even think about them. The unknown is one of the most complicated aspects of adoption. How You Talk About Adoption Matters Because adoption is slowly creeping out of the shadows, birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees are more willing to talk about their experiences. With open and semi-open adoptions, children learn about their adoptions at a very early age. Many adoptees say they’ve known about their adoptions for as long as they can remember. It is imperative that adoptive parents speak respectfully of their child’s biological parents. Even if there were issues such as substance abuse, incarceration, or mental health problems, adoptive parents must never ridicule the biological parents. After all, they became parents because of the choice the birth parents made. Adoptive parents must make room for honest questions and open discussions as their child grows. Although parents may feel hesitant, there's comfort when a child knows they can ask anything. Growing Up as an Adoptee In their teen years, many adoptees struggle with feelings of rejection. They find it difficult to understand why their biological mothers would choose adoption. They may have feelings of guilt because they want to know more about their biological families. Some adoptees act out because the abandonment they feel is so deep. Others grow up feeling confident they have as much information as they need. Again, the adoption experience is as unique as each family. Adoptive parents must make room for a birth mother and father’s story in their child’s life. Whether the biological parents tell it in person or it’s conveyed through the adoptive parents, children need to know what it was like for their birth mother and father to choose adoption. Everyone longs to know who they are and where they came from. Adoptive parents should give their children as much information as they possibly can. Of course, as the child reaches adulthood, the relationship switches to what they are comfortable with. What Can Adoption Angels Offer? If you are an expectant mother considering adoption for your child, know that Adoption Angels provides free counseling throughout your adoption journey and beyond. Our qualified staff offers comfort and support 24/7 for as long as you need it. We provide adoption education, support, and guidance for potential adoptive parents throughout your journey. We work hard to provide the best care and knowledge to see you through the process. If you wish to explore adoption for your unplanned pregnancy or you are a couple hoping to adopt, contact Adoption Angels. Expectant mothers can reach us by filling out our confidential contact form . Prospective adoptive parents can begin the process here . You can both call or text us at (210) 227-2229. We look forward to talking with you.

We understand the hesitancy adoptive parents feel when it comes to having an open relationship with their child’s birth family. You are concerned the birth family will interfere, or your child will be confused by what a birth parent is vs. an adoptive parent. At Adoption Angels, we provide adoption education, support, and guidance for our adoptive families. Learn why we feel an open adoption plan is best for everyone. What Is Open Adoption? Due to technology and research, open adoption has evolved and become There are three basic adoption plans: open, semi-open, and closed. An open adoption means you and the birth parents exchange identifying information. You learn one another’s full names, addresses, phone numbers, or whatever information you agree to exchange. You can contact one another directly. Together, you decide whether phone calls, texts, emails, or personal visits are best. A semi-open adoption is also known as a mediated adoption. You learn one another’s first names and communicate through a third party, such as your Adoption Angels coordinator. All contact runs through us first, and we pass it on. A semi-open plan provides a little more privacy for everyone involved. With a closed adoption, you and the adoptive family won’t contact each other. All identifying information is kept confidential. What Benefits Do We Receive From an Open Adoption? Although it can be awkward at first, having a relationship with your child’s birth family is valuable. You can see first-hand why your child has particular likes or dislikes, looks like they do, or has certain personality traits. Once you are matched, you receive background and medical information from the birth parents, but a relationship opens the door to more information. Additional information about your child’s heritage or family history helps you understand them better. As your child grows, they will naturally begin asking questions as you share about their adoption. By having a relationship with their birth family, you are better prepared to provide answers. Ultimately, research suggests open adoption is better for your child, which makes it better for you. When a child has contact with their birth family, they gain a complete identity. They understand why they look different from everyone else or have particular likes and dislikes. It helps answer many questions because they experience how much the birth parents and adoptive parents love them. Being adopted is no longer what they are. It becomes a part of who they are. Working With Adoption Angels Whether you are a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy or a couple wanting to adopt, a member of our staff is happy to answer your questions. We’ve assisted birth mothers and potential adoptive parents for over 40 years. We thoroughly explain the pros and cons of having a relationship with their child’s birth family and help couples navigate that relationship. Every step is vital to a healthy adoption experience for you, your child, and their birth family. Please contact us if you have questions. Fill out our confidential online Contact Form , and we will email you an information packet with instructions to get you started on your adoption journey. We are grateful for your consideration and look forward to working with you.