Infertility to Adoption

Key Points:

• Many couples face challenges with infertility and look for alternative family-building options.
• Adoption is a wonderful option for couples who struggle with infertility but dream of building a family.
• Surrogacy is fast becoming another alternative option for hopeful couples focused on becoming parents.

Accepting an infertility diagnosis when you’re trying to conceive can feel impossible at first. But, you should know that if you determine you still want to become a parent after infertility, adoption is an option for you.

Once you’re ready to build your family, an adoption agency can help you:

• Choose the type of adoption you’re comfortable with.
• Connect with a prospective birth mother who is ready for the adoption process.
• Navigate pre- and post-placement meetings and agreements.

We’re ready to help if you are ready to learn about how people like you have moved from infertility to parenthood. But continue reading to find out more about the adoption process.

Speak with a specialist today!

Choosing Adoption After Infertility

Before we detail the adoption process, we want to note that infertility is never any person’s fault. Women and men sometimes blame themselves for not being able to build their families on their own. But, infertility is more common than you may think.

According to The Mayo Clinic, 10% to 15% of couples in the United States are infertile, and infertility affects men and women equally. It’s not uncommon for a doctor to be unable to determine what’s causing infertility within a couple. You are not alone, and there are support groups that can provide comfort.

Take Time to Grieve

Feeling grief after finding out you are experiencing infertility is normal. Give yourself time to process this loss at your own pace.

People grieve on different timeframes, so you and your partner need to check in with each other during this time. You both should decide when you’re ready to try other family-building options.

Consider Talking to an Adoption Professional

Even if you’re not 100% certain that adoption is the right choice for your family, you may benefit from talking to an adoption professional.

Adoption professionals have helped many people in situations like yours and can connect you with an infertility counselor who can help you process your diagnosis.

Choosing Adoption After Infertility

Adoption is a wonderful way to grow your family. The process helps:

• You become a parent
• A child become a member of a loving family
• A prospective birth mother reach her future goals

Once you and your partner determine that you’re ready to pursue adoption, you’ll go through the following common adoption steps.

Benefits of Working with a National Adoption Agency

Although prospective parents can work with an international adoption agency, choosing domestic infant adoption through a private, national adoption agency is often more accessible and less expensive.

National adoption agencies can provide you with:

• 24/7 support
• Assistance in finding the perfect prospective birth mother
• Marketing assistance, so your family profile gets notices
• And more

If you aren’t sure which adoption agency you want to work with, you can start with this list of private, national adoption agencies:

• American Adoptions
• Beacon House Adoption Services
• Bethany Christian Services
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Lifetime Adoption

Step 1: Make Sure Adoption is the Right Choice for You

Adoption is a beautiful choice if you’re prepared for the journey ahead. Before you commit to choosing adoption, try to consider if:

• You’re prepared to go through the adoption process
• You and your partner are both ready
• You can finance the adoption

Once you know the answers to these questions, it’s time to reach out to an adoption agency.

Step 2: Choose the Type of Adoption You’re Comfortable with

There are three types of adoption a couple can choose to pursue. You can consider:

• Open adoption: An open adoption is when hopeful adoptive parents and the prospective birth mom get to know each other and agree to share child updates post-adoption.
• Semi-open adoption: A semi-open adoption is when hopeful adoptive parents and the prospective birth mother agree to have limited contact.
• Closed adoption: A closed adoption is when the hopeful adoptive family and prospective birth mom’s personal information is kept private.

While your adoption agency will help you pursue any type of adoption you want, most adoption professionals urge some degree of openness in an adoption. This tends to be easier for everyone – including the baby – as the child grows up.

Step 3: Connect with a Prospective Birth Mother who is Ready for the Adoption Process

An adoption agency will screen prospective birth moms to ensure they are prepared for adoption. These simple screenings can help prevent adoption disruptions.

Step 4: Navigate Pre- and Post-Placement Meetings and Agreements

Your adoption professional will help arrange all the meetings you have with the prospective birth mom before she gives birth. This professional also will help you:

• Receive adoption counseling during the adoption process
• Work with an adoption attorney to ensure your adoption is legal
• Handle all adoption fee processing
• And more

Next Steps for Moving From Infertility to Adoption

Contact us today to learn how couples have moved from infertility to adoption. Because although your journey to parenthood may look different than you thought it would, you still have the opportunity to grow your family through adoption.