AdoptMatch gives pregnant women considering an adoption plan to safely navigate the adoption process.

For a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, it’s hard to know what to do, even when you know you need an adoption plan. Finding the right resources to help you navigate what’s ahead is crucial. Here's what every expectant mother needs to know when thinking about adoption: 

• how to get informed about pregnancy options
• how to find the best adoptive parents for your unborn baby
• how to find a trustworthy adoption agency and attorney
• how to get the support you need after adoption 

The Start of Your Adoption Plan: Consider Your Unplanned Pregnancy Options

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is scary and stressful. Tons of questions run through your head

• “What am I going to do?”
• “How am I going to tell the baby’s dad?”
• “Is my family going to freak out?”
• "Maybe the test was wrong!"
• “Am I ready to be a parent?”
• “Can I get an abortion?”
• “Should I get an abortion?”
• "Maybe I'll miscarry."
• “What about adoption?”
• “What am I going to do?!"

Once the initial shock of a positive pregnancy test wears off, it’s time to take a deep breath and consider all of your options. You want to make the best decision, but none of the options are easy. We'd highly recommend that if you're pregnant to start here.

Abortion might seem like the easiest solution, but may carry lasting consequences. You may be scared, but if you feel ready to parent and have the support of family or the baby’s father, parenting may be your best option.

For whatever reasons, if you don’t want to have an abortion and are not in the right circumstances to parent, adoption may be the best choice for you and your unborn baby.

Find the Best Adoptive Parents for Your Unborn Baby

When first considering adoption, finding the right adoptive parents may seem like an impossible task. The good news is that there are over 200,000 couples in the U.S. who want to adopt a baby. That means you’ll have more than enough families to choose from.

It will take some work, but you should be able to find adoptive parents you love. We're not suggesting you should hold out for the perfect adoptive family (because perfect families don’t exist!), but you should be picky when choosing adoptive parents for your child.

So, where should you begin the search for an adoptive family? We'll start by telling you where you shouldn’t be looking.

Tip: 3 Places Where You Should Not Be Looking for Adoptive Parents:  

1. Craigslist (No. Just, no.)
2. Any “Adoption” website without actual names and contact information.
3. Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat (see #1)

Your search for adoptive parents should begin with a licensed adoption agency or adoption attorney. 

Find the Best Adoption Agencies and Attorneys

How does a woman who’s thinking about adoption for her unborn baby find the best, most ethical adoption agencies, attorneys, and adoptive parents?

For starters, stay away from anyone calling themselves an "adoption provider" unless they are either a licensed attorney or licensed adoption agency.

Note: Being licensed is important, but it isn’t enough to earn your trust. Unfortunately, there are plenty of licensed adoption agencies and attorneys around who aren't particularly ethical and they should be avoided at all costs. And here's how to sniff out what we call "baby brokers".

Get Support During & After Pregnancy

The adoption agencies, attorneys, and adoptive families you'll find on AdoptMatch will make sure you have the support you need including: 

• Separate legal representation — each expectant mom should have her own adoption lawyer.
• High-quality and respectful medical care
• Help with your living expenses as allowed by state law
• Grief counseling from a qualified counselor after the adoption.

The other thing AdoptMatch offers an expectant mother considering adoption is full access to a wide selection of home-studied families ready to adopt. You shouldn't feel limited by the families that one particular agency or attorney shows you. You have every right to keep looking for an adoptive family until you find the right situation. AdoptMatch gives expectant mothers access to adoptive families from all over the country.

Regardless of where they're located, the adoptive parents, adoption agencies, and attorneys you’ll find on AdoptMatch all share one thing in common; a firm commitment to making sure that each expectant mother receives the kind of support she needs and deserves during pregnancy and after adoption. 

How to Get the Best Adoption Plan for Your Baby

Where can you find the support you need, pre-adoption and post-adoption, as well as a place to find a trustworthy adoption professional?

AdoptMatch: the only place on the internet that connects you with vetted adoption agencies, attorneys, and adoptive families — all committed to making sure you receive the support you need and respect you deserve throughout the adoption process. We'll answer questions you may have and help you find the right parents for your child.

AdoptMatch-Approved Adoption Agencies and Attorneys don't ever pay a fee to be included in our directory. They can't just sign up either — they have to be invited to become a partner based on their high ethical standards.