#adoptionrocks | Adoptions First

Here’s to Your Healthy Adoption!

Adoption is love. Adoption is beautiful. Adoption is also stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. For a healthy adoption journey, hopeful adoptive parents must begin the process with a proper level of expectation and maintain that until the day they bring their child home. Never compare your adoption to that of anyone else as each is as unique as you.

Every person that wants to experience the wonder of parenthood hopes to a.) conceive (naturally or via surrogate) or adopt quickly, and b.) have an uneventful pregnancy/process. Unfortunately, as with so many things in life, we have little control over timing of events or the way in which they will unfold. With little control over something so important, after time, feelings of hope may turn into despair. Hopeful parents may begin to doubt their path to parenthood and even question why they ever thought they would be successful. Do not fall victim to this damaging and counterproductive cycle. Instead, put your positive energy and strong desire to fulfill your dream to good use. Enjoy every day, wait patiently or be proactive in your search for expecting parents, and prepare for parenthood. No matter how long or short the wait may be, it will be worth it!

Some tips for your good health while you wait:

1. Exercise patience.
2. Live life as you did before you ever thought about having children.
3. Spend time with family and friends.
4. Surround yourself with children and shower them with all the love and attention you have to give.
5. Focus on what you have, not what you don’t have (yet).
6. Be proactive in your search for expecting parents. Create a non-identifying Facebook/Instagram page, join a few support groups (local, Facebook, etc.), network with other hopeful adoptive parents, and place your profile on adoption websites such as adoptimist.com. Let the world know you are approved and eager to adopt!

How Adoptive Parents Can Overcome Challenges

A new book called Countdown, by Shanna Swan, an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, caused some concern about a further decrease in the birth rate after top news sources cited statements such as “sperm counts have dropped almost 60% since 1973.” This possible impact of not having enough pregnant women is an added challenge that adoption professionals and adoptive parents face and strive to overcome.

Renee Franklin, adoption specialist and Director of Adoptions First, has been working directly with adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoption professionals since 1996 and had this to say: “There are just so many things at play here and, while the environment may be affecting our ability to reproduce, it’s believed the decrease in the number of pregnancies and adoptions over the years can be attributed to things such as: access to free and accessible birth control, a woman’s right to choose, and better education. Covid-19 further adversely affected the number of adoptions nationwide; however, based on history, easing restrictions, and an expected decrease in financial assistance from the government, we expect this lull will be temporary. We will continue to be available to help everyone in need of our services.”

Waiting to be selected by prospective birth parents is hands down the most difficult part of the process. With less pregnant women, the wait will likely be longer but families should not lose hope.

Adoptions First helps clients manage their expectations and offers solutions to empower them. More so now than ever, it’s important for adoptive parents to be proactive in their search for prospective birth parents. Renee and the team at Adoptions First will guide families who choose to take a more proactive approach to their adoption search through a few strategies including:

● Posting adoptive parent profiles on third-party websites that prospective birth parents frequent
● Launching Social Media and/or Google Ad Campaigns
● And networking to help get the word out about their desire to adopt a child

Taking additional steps to cast a wide net to identify and connect with a prospective birth mother may increase the chance of a successful adoption and decrease the wait. The collaboration of Adoptions First’s tireless efforts to locate birth mothers and the adoptive families’ added efforts and exposure through ads and social media outreach means a greater chance for clients to be successful in a shorter period of time.

Attorneys Ron Rosenberg, Greg Koffman, and Director, Renee Franklin, urge all hopeful parents to remain optimistic. “We know that is easier said than done. Adoption has never been for the faint of heart. Adoption is a journey filled with unknowns and risks which experienced adoption professionals help manage. While it’s important to be aware of risks and set proper expectations, never lose sight of your goal. Each and every adoption is unique, meaningful, and beautiful. Your strong desire to experience the joy of parenthood and your commitment to the process and to the child meant to be yours will see you through.”

Adoptions First works endlessly to see that every child has a forever home. Their immeasurable depth of knowledge, attention to detail, and love for adoption is evident to everyone they work with. They support and guide clients and birth mothers with care and compassion while ensuring that everyone receives the highest quality of adoption services.

If you are pregnant and seeking guidance or if you are an adoptive parent or family, contact Adoptions First for a free consultation to learn about the many possibilities available to you.