Adoption is never something that should be rushed into. While the process of being accepted as prospective adoptive parents can be long, sometimes being connected can be very quick. This can leave parents swept up in the chaos on excitement of potentially welcoming a child into their home and can lead to hasty decisions which can increase the risk of adoption failure. Therefore, in this article we’ll be exploring all the things you should consider when it comes to making an adoption match including potential risk factors.
The Right Adoption Method
While there are subsections to each of these categories, overall there are four key adoption methods: foster care, embryo adoption, domestic adoption, and international adoption. These different types of adoption are suited to different types of parents so you should consider why each type may or may not be suited to you.
- Domestic Adoption: May not be suited to those with fears of rejection, or who want a completely closed adoption. It also may not be suitable to those looking to adopt an older child.
- International Adoption: May not be suited to those with lower financial needs, or those working full time without the time in their schedule to visit another country. Also not suited to those looking to adopt a newborn.
- Embryo Adoption: Great for those looking to be pregnant and adopt a newborn. This may not be suited to those who have previously experienced a miscarriage or are worried about miscarriage.
- Foster Care: May not be suited to those who want to be full legal parents of a child or who may find the reunification process challenging. Also may not be suited to those wanting to adopt younger children or who may struggle with a child with special needs.
Risk Factors to Consider about the Child or Birth Situation
There are several risk factors regarding the child and birth situation in question which may help you decide if the connection is well suited, such as:
Prenatal Exposure
Prenatal exposure is when a baby has been exposed to harmful substances which may result in the baby being born addicted or even impact the child’s life and development long-term. Such substances include:
- Alcohol
- Opioids
- Methadone and Suboxone
- Methamphetamines
- Cocaine
- Marajuana
- Smoking (cigarettes/vaping)
- Medications (such as antidepressants)
Inheriting Conditions
How likely the child is to inherit or develop conditions is also something which needs to be considered such as:
- Hepatitis B/C
- HIV/AIDS
- Herpes
- Syphilis
- Mental health Conditions
- Personality disorders
- ADHD
- Intelligence/developmental delays
Emotional Issues
More often than not children are placed for adoption due to a struggle in the lives of the birth parents. This may be an addiction, homelessness, teen pregnancy, abuse or neglect, or financial struggles, among other things. These can impact a child of any age and parents will need to consider the impact of:
- Attachment issues
- Neglect
- Institutionalization
- Abuse (physical/mental/emotional/sexual)
- Lack of prenatal care
Other Considerations
Sometimes, even if the above concerns have been addressed, the adoption just doesn’t feel right. If this is the case for you, then it is important to consult with the relevant support systems before going ahead or refusing the adoption. Cold feet can be natural, but if something in your gut is telling you the connection isn’t right then it is important to listen.
