This is a continuation of the original list of Ten Things the Adoption Professionals Forgot to Tell Us. Some of the ideas for the second part of the list have come from suggestions in the comments section of the original post.

I wish the adoption agency had told me…

11. That there is no need to rush a decision. I could make the decision in my own time frame, not theirs.

12. That the adoption decision does not have to be made before the baby was born. I could have made the decision, made an adoption plan, and chosen adoptive parents after the baby was born as well.

13. That I had the right to take my baby home and try parenting him or her.

14. That placing my baby in a two parent family does not insure that he or she will remain in a two parent family. The adoptive parents could separate or divorce.

15. That the adoptive parents are not required to follow the wishes, requests, and promises made before placement.

16. That after I have reunited with my child, I may be disappointed in the way he or she was raised.

17. That adoption will have life long consequences for not only myself, but my child as well.

18. That adoption is not something that will affect a birthmother just for a little while. It will affect you for a lifetime.

19. That at reunion my child may not want to see me or have anything to do with me.

20. That seeing other babies out in public, attending baby showers, having friends announce their pregnancies would bring back memories of my unplanned pregnancy.

Between the first post and this post we have a great list of 20 points! Thanks to all the birthmoms who contributed.

Don’t forget to know your rights. You can read them here.