Continued from Part 1


What happens next?
These profiles are only meant to give you a glimpse of the prospective adoptive family. Typically an expectant mother will make initial choices from the profiles, and then may choose to communicate with the prospective adoptive parents via email or phone asking questions and getting to know them better. When all are comfortable, a face to face meeting can be set up. Usually an agency case worker will be there to help mediate the meeting. This is a great time to ask questions, state your desires, etc.

How do I know which family is right for my child?
Many expectant mothers considering adoption have asked me, “How do I know which adoptive parents are the right ones for my child?” Time and time again, I hear birthmothers post adoption when talking about how they chose the adoptive family for their child say “I just knew” or “There was something about them but I’m not sure what.” Sometimes, there is just a gut feeling that that particular family is the right family for your child.


What if I don’t like any of the profiles I have been given?
Ask for more! A good agency should have many profiles that you can look at. If they don’t or you still don’t find any families that are appealing to you, ask the agency to get more profiles from other agencies, adoption attorneys, or adoption professionals. You should not have to settle!

How many families should I meet with?
At least several, but ultimately as many as you want. Even if you have that gut feeling that a particular family is everything you are looking for and the right family for your child, still meet with more than one family. Meeting with one more than family – for comparison sake - could possibly help reaffirm that the family you were drawn to is still the right family for your child.


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