Can you change your mind if you give your baby up for adoption in Colorado?
By Connor Shelton
Choosing to place a child up for adoption can be incredibly stressful and leave you flooded with questions. As a birth mother, you might wonder about the adoption types and what role a birth father plays in the adoption. We’re more than glad to answer those questions and ones you’re more hesitant to share. Typically, these involve doubts about your character and if you’re making the right choice. However, it all typically culminates in one of the most common questions we receive about the adoption process. “Can I change my mind after I decide to give a baby up for adoption?” If this thought is going through your head, here’s what you need to know when considering a private adoption in Colorado.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Is It Wrong To Change My Mind About Adoption?
Before we even consider the rules of adoption and how it can be reversed, we need to make one thing clear. You are completely justified in your choice to place a baby up for adoption and to change your mind. This is your baby, so it’s perfectly understandable that you wouldn’t want to let them go, even if adoption is the best option for them. Questioning whether adoption is the right choice can be startling, but it’s good to reevaluate your capability to raise the child. And if you find adoption isn’t right for you or your child, that’s perfectly fine.
Can I Change My Mind About a CO Adoption Before My Child Is Born?
To state it bluntly, yes. You can change your mind about adoption in Colorado before your child is born because the child is still yours. Even if you’ve planned out the whole adoption process and established who you want the child to go to, you still have parental rights. You retain them up until you sign final relinquishment papers. And before you ask, no, you’re not likely to have signed final relinquishment papers without your knowledge. Such documents are only presented after birth.
Because you are the mother of the child, you don’t need to sign any papers upon canceling the adoption. We’ll handle the termination process and notify the adoptive parents that you’ve decided to raise your child. Don’t feel too guilty about the disrupted adoption. We won’t feel betrayed by your decision, and the adoptive parents will no doubt be paired with another birth mother looking to adopt out her child.
Can I Change My Mind About Adoption After My Child Is Born?
Upon the termination of your parental rights, you cannot change your mind about adoption. It’s set in stone. This can be hard to process, but it’s important you know these things now while you’re considering your adoption options, so you don’t get hurt later in the process. As you take a moment to let this sink in, know that we offer counselors to comfort you after birth. They’re not just there to help you process your choice but also ease you during the cathartic period after birth.
While you aren’t allowed to reclaim your child after you terminate your parental rights, you still have the option to see them. If you choose an open or semi-open adoption, you can set ground rules with the adoptive parents over what kind of contact you’ll have with them. You can determine how frequently you can write to your child or receive pictures of them as they grow up. It’s a small caveat in this difficult process that tests your strength as a person, but it goes a long way in easing any pain you might have surrounding your decision.
What If I’m Not Certain That a Private Adoption in Colorado Is Right For Me Throughout The Adoption Process?
It’s no secret that the Colorado adoption process can be a rollercoaster of emotions. You’re choosing to give your child away to someone you likely don’t know, and that’s scary. The best thing to do in this situation is to talk to someone. This can be anyone: your birth counselor, another mom who went through the adoption process, or even any other adoption professional. Communicating with people who have experienced the entire adoption process can help alleviate any doubts you have. It can help you understand and decipher your feelings in a way that will put you at ease with your choices. There might still be uncertainty, but you’ll be able to trust your intuition as you go through the process. And if you have doubts, we’ll help guide you.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.