If you are considering placing your child for adoption, one of the heaviest questions you may carry is whether your child will grow up not knowing who you are. That worry is real, and it deserves an honest answer.

The truth is that adoption today looks very different from it did even a generation ago. Birth mothers like you have more say in the process than ever before, including how much your child will know about you and how much contact you will have with him or her through the years. 

Keep reading to understand what that can look like and how New Life Clinic can walk with you as you decide.

How Modern Adoption Has Changed

Modern adoption is significantly different from how adoption used to be in the United States, especially in the area of letting birth mothers help shape the plan. 

You can choose the adoptive family, set boundaries for communication, and decide what role you want in your child’s life going forward. The adoption plan you create allows you not only to plan for the new life in you but also for a new part of your story.

The three types of adoption today include:

  • Open adoption: You select the family, and you and the adoptive parents agree on how to stay in touch. Options can include exchanging letters and photos, phone calls, or even spending time together at milestones.
  • Semi-open adoption: You and the adoptive family communicate through an adoption coordinator who manages contact and keeps your identifying information confidential.
  • Closed adoption: There is no ongoing contact, and court records are sealed. 

Open adoption is the most common form today, in large part because it gives birth mothers the option to remain a presence in their child’s story.

Will My Child Know About Me?

In an open or semi-open adoption, your child will know your name, your story, and the love that led to your decision. 

Many adoptive parents speak openly with their child from a young age about their birth mother and the courageous choice she made. Even when contact is limited, the bond and the truth of who you are can stay alive in your child’s life.

Keep in mind that if you choose closed adoption, your child will not have ongoing contact with you, but adoption records can sometimes be opened later in life if your child seeks them as an adult.

How New Life Clinic Can Help

You should never have to make this decision alone. New Life Clinic can discuss the adoption process with you, answer all your questions, and provide referrals to trusted, local adoption agencies.

We also offer free lab-quality pregnancy tests and ultrasound scans so you can confirm your pregnancy and learn more before deciding on a path forward.

Contact us today for your free, confidential appointment.