Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy, Children and Adoption 
for Pregnant Women and Birth Mothers

Adoption Services is our not-for-profit adoption agency that helps pregnant women and birth mothers.

Over the past 40+ years over 9000 birth parents and families have received our help. Feel free to contact us or call toll-free 1(800)943-0400. All calls are confidential and there is never any obligation or cost to you. 

We can make sure your child is placed with the perfect family, your rights are protected, and that you receive all the legal and financial assistance and medical help as well as other types of help that the law allows. Please visit the link "Ways we can help you".

We hope the following will help to answer some of the questions we most frequently get asked.

Pregnancy Questions and Answers

How do I find out whether or not I am pregnant?

You can confirm if you are pregnant by using a home pregnancy test or by going to your local health clinic, physician or midwife.

What are the early signs and symptoms of being pregnant?

Early pregnancy symptoms can vary in their intensity, frequency and duration. Some of the early symptoms generally include a missed period, breast and nipple tenderness, swollen breasts, morning sickness and nausea, fatigue, mood swings and irritability.

Should I change my diet during my pregnancy?

Yes. Pregnant women should take vitamins and minerals based on their health care providers recommendations and eat nutritious foods from the four basic food groups every day.

What about prenatal care?

Prenatal care and testing are very important to both your health and the health of your baby and should be started as soon as possible.

What should I know about selecting a hospital, labor and delivery?

You should select a hospital prior to your due date in case complications arise. You should also know the symptoms and stages of labor and delivery which can help you remain focused and calm.

What help is available if I am pregnant?

Financial help, as well as medical and nutritional assistance is available from the federal government, your state of residence, county agencies and other programs to help you and your baby. There may also be programs through state and local child welfare and health departments, community clinics, the Women, Infants and Children Program, and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

What about depression during and after pregnancy?

Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called perinatal depression. Depression after pregnancy is called postpartum depression or peripartum depression. Depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy.

Where can I find explanations pregnancy related words?

Click here to see pregnancy terms and definitions.

Parenting Questions and Answers

Is there help for parents who are raising a child alone?

Our section on Parenting  contains information on many U.S. government agencies and state government programs that offer benefits and services and services to parents. To better assist you we have also included information on parenting support groups, child health and child development as well as many other types of information related to raising children.

Adoption Questions and Answers

What are my options if I do not raise the baby myself?

You have several choices. You can consider placing your child with the other birth parent, in foster care, placing with a family member, or placing your child for adoption with a loving family.

Can I get living expenses and other financial help?

The answer is generally yes, but it depends on the expenses and the states involved. Every state has different laws regulating the payment of money to a birth mother, so there are 50 different laws and 50 different ways it is handled. What monies you can receive are controlled by the laws of your state of residence or the state where you end your parental rights. In general, all medical and legal expenses are always covered and lost wages, living costs, and miscellaneous costs may be covered depending on the state law. A /place-child-adoption/ can help make sure that you get all the financial help, support and other assistance that you need and the law allows.

What are the advantages of using an adoption agency versus a private adoption?

An child adoption agency gives the birth mother and birth father more protection and more options than a private child adoption. A private child adoption is risky and private adoptions have even been declared illegal in some states.

What is the best way to select an adoption agency?

Educate yourself about the questions to ask a child adoption agency. Call the licensing authority to verify the record of the adoption agency. Please use the following link to read more about how to select the right child adoption agency.

Can I be sure my child is placed in a safe / loving home?

You of course want your child to be with a family that will love and care for your child and who will also keep your child safe from harm. Choosing the right people to assist you in locating a good and caring family for your child is very important. If you decide on a private child adoption where you, your doctor, friend, or attorney selects the adoption family, you can never be sure about things that a family might prefer to hide from you or the person screening the family for you. Anyone can pretend to be a good person for a few hours. But, if they are hiding something, placing your child with them can put your child at risk. However, if you go with a licensed child adoption agency, you can be much more assured that the family is a good one. An adoption agency, such as Adoption Services, carefully screens all families including child abuse, criminal record and FBI clearances, medical screening, tax records, personal and professional references, multiple in-depth personal interviews, a tour of their home and neighborhood and much, much, more. The child adoption agency is trained and experienced at looking for those things that other less experienced persons may miss about the adoption family. Please use the following link to read more about how to be sure your child is placed in a safe and loving home.

Can I help select the family?

Yes, you can have as much, or as little, input as you want in selecting the adopting familyfor your child.

Is adoption permanent or can I get my child back?

Adoption results in the permanent ending of the parental rights and responsibilities of the biological mother and father. It then permanently places those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parents.

What role does the birth father have?

The birth father, whether or not he has been involved during the pregnancy, has the same rights to the child as the birth mother. Therefore, it is important that you read more about the role and rights of the birth father and the child adoption laws of your state.

What is the difference between open / closed adoption?

An open child adoption is where you know the last name and other identifying information about the family and a closed child adoption is where you do not know this information. Many birth mothers, birth fathers and adopting families have misconceptions about the differences. Please visit the above links for additional information.

How Do I Get Started?

Take your time. Take care of yourself and your baby. Contact us at Adoption Services or some other licensed child adoption agency. Please use the following link to read more about getting started.

If You Need Help

Adoption Services is a fully licensed non-profit adoption agency that helps birth mothers living in any state in the U.S. The Agency can also help a U.S. citizen living in any foreign country. Adoption Services has helped over 9000 birth parents and families. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you want our guidance or help. We can make sure your child is placed with the perfect family, your rights are protected, and that you receive all the help that the law allows. There is never any fee to you as a birth parent whether you work with our agency or decide to look elsewhere. Please visit the link "Ways we can help you".