What Are The Common Adoptions Myths That An Expectant Mother Should Know

Myths can be found on any topic. And the more shrouded a topic is in the unknown, the more the myths abound. This is true for adoption as well. Many adoption myths surround Birth Mothers and Expectant Moms who are planning on placing their child for adoption. It is this misinformation that circulates that makes people fearful of adoption, in general. So, what are the common adoption myths around Expectant Moms that one making an adoption plan should know about?

You might find some of these funny or weird, but trust us, we’ve heard them all before! It is important for any Expectant Mom making an adoption plan to know what Is truth and what is myth.

Expectant Moms Planning To Place For Adoption Are Not Weird

There are a lot of different common adoption myths that fit into this myth, so let’s break them down. Chances are you’ve either heard them before or thought them yourself. You will be pleasantly surprised to know the majority of Expectant Moms who are planning to place do not fit into these categories.

“Women who make adoption plans don’t want their baby”

This is number 1 because it is the biggest common adoption myth out there. The reason that Expectant Moms make an adoption plan is because they love their children and are concerned for their future. It is important to understand that children who are adopted are not unloved by their Birth Parents and biological family. Nor are they less loved by their Adoptive Family over being a biological child. These children ARE wanted and loved, there are just situations surrounding their birth that the Expectant Mom feels cannot be overcome so she can parent.

“These women are drug addicts”

While it is true that some addicted Expectant Moms do make adoption plans because they believe it is in the best interest of their unborn child to do this, not all or most Expectant Moms are addicted. It is unfair to assume that any Expectant Mom who is planning to place is addicted and one should not automatically assume this is the case just because an Expectant Mom is making an adoption plan.

“Women who place are giving up”

The use of the term “giving up for adoption” comes from a place of thinking the woman who places their child for adoption is giving up on her child. This is simply not true. Expectant Moms who are making an adoption plan are doing anything but giving up on motherhood. They are actively making a very difficult decision to do what they believe is in the best interest of their child. And since the large majority of adoptions these days are open, she isn’t giving up on being in her child’s life either. It is merely her role in the child’s life that will change.

“Women who place are young girls”

The Juno movie didn’t do the adoption message any favors. Most of the Expectant Moms who are planning to place their child for adoption are not teens. They are usually in their early to mid-20s up to 30s, and a good portion of them have children already.

“Most of the women who plan to place for adoption are homeless”

Some Expectant Moms are homeless and do place children for adoption. That may or may not be her only reason for placing her child for adoption. The reality is that the hospital will not allow a newborn baby to be discharged to a homeless mother. For that reason, some ask for an adoption referral at the hospital. But homelessness doesn’t equal adoption either. Some have a family member care for the baby, others work a parenting plan through social services. There are limited community resources to help her in these instances if she would like to pursue parenting.

Common Adoption Myths Can End With Good Adoption Education

When we are armed with the right information, we will make better decisions. That is why it is important to work with the right adoption agency. Adoption agencies are supposed to be helping Expectant Moms make an informed decision. That means working with you to get past any common adoption myths you might be believing so you can make the right decision for yourself and your child. The best way to do that is to ask a lot of questions. They should be happy to answer every question you have without hesitation, honestly.

If you are an Expectant Mom in Georgia, Florida, or South Carolina, and are thinking about adoption for your child, contact us today for a no-commitment conversation to discuss your situation, so you can decide if an adoption plan is the right plan for you.