This article has been written to help you consider and talk about the option of adoption with your partner. We have tried to make this article both factual and impartial. This may be an option for you and your partner if you do not want to bring up the baby yourself but you do not want an abortion.
The best advice anyone can give you in your situation is to become informed – find out as much as you can about all the choices available. Each situation is unique. If you decide to keep the child, have an abortion, or go down the adoption route, there will be consequences – practical, physical and emotional. Find out all you can before making a decision and then equip yourself to deal with the after effects.
Adoption is a way of giving the baby new parents who will bring them up as their own. Your partner will continue with the pregnancy and give birth, but you won’t look after the baby, and you won’t have legal rights or responsibilities regarding the child once the adoption is complete. Once an adoption is made legal the decision is final and cannot be changed.
Giving up a baby for adoption isn't easy - for the mum or dad. If you and your partner want to consider the option of adoption, her doctor can put you in touch with the social service, who will advise you from there. Counselling will be provided, to be sure that you're happy with the situation, and aware of any future implications once the child has been adopted.
This is a really important decision. Do not rush into it. Get all the information and advice you can before you make up your mind. If, after considering all the possibilities, you decide on adoption, you should not feel that you are abandoning your baby. It is a hard decision, but it is a responsible and caring one.
If the mother plans to put the baby up for adoption, but you disagree with this decision, you have a number of rights within the law:
- Legally, mothers can't give up the child for adoption until six weeks after its birth;
- Whether or not you are married to the mother you have a right to be at the adoption hearing;
- As long as you and the mother register the birth of your baby, you can object to the adoption;
- At the hearing, you will be asked to give your consent for the adoption to go ahead, however, if you cannot be found then your consent is not needed;
- If you do not consent the court has the power to override this refusal and still make an adoption order.
Useful links for further informationwww.baaf.org.ukBritish Association for Adoption & Fostering
www.likeitis.org.uk like it is - a web site dedicated to informing teenagers about sex and other growing up issues in the UK.
www.thesite.orgTheSite.org aims to be the first place all young adults turn to when they need support and
guidance through life.
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