After your hospital time, you may be wondering what’s next. First and foremost, the days after you discharge are for you to heal and take care of yourself. The next couple of months will be a time of adjustment and for you to put your adoption plan into place. You will continue to meet with your New Life Adoptions social worker to discuss your openness agreement with the adoptive family, sign your consents to adoption, and talk through the grief you are experiencing in this time.

Self-Care

During your pregnancy, you may have taken some time to discuss a self-care plan with your social worker. If not, now is the time to think through how you are going to best take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What are 3-5 ways you can take care of your mind, body, and soul and who can support you in each area? It can be helpful to think about what you already do to take care of yourself. You can also look back on times in your life when you experienced loss or went through difficult experiences and what you did for yourself to get through those days. This is not a time to “power through”. It is a time to listen to your body and care for your needs. It is important to cut yourself some slack during this transition.

This is not a time to “power through”. It is a time to listen to your body and care for your needs. It is important to cut yourself some slack during this transition.

Working through grief and practicing self-care looks different for everyone. It may include going on a walk, journaling, meeting with supportive people, praying, taking a nap, baking, or being outside. It’s important to recognize helpful ways to take care of yourself, so that you don’t get stuck in unhealthy ways of grieving. Having your self-care plan is a great reminder of interests, hobbies, and people that you can turn to while you are healing and grieving.

Finalize Your Openness Agreement

Before your hospital time, you discussed an openness agreement with your social worker and the adoptive family. Now is the time to confirm if you still feel confident about this plan. It is important to share with your social worker any questions or concerns you may have and make sure you and the adoptive family are on the same page. After any additional changes are made, the openness agreement can be finalized with the family. The agreement will be signed by you, the adoptive family, and both New Life Adoptions social workers.

Signing Consents

Signing your voluntary consents to the adoption is the legal step to make your adoption official. In Minnesota, the law states that birth parents can sign voluntary consents to the adoption between 72 hours and 60 days after birth. We want you to sign when you are ready to do so. You can discuss with your social worker when and where would be best for you. At the signing meeting, New Life Adoptions staff will walk you through the paperwork and answer your questions. You will receive a copy of everything you sign. Your social worker will be present to support you. You are welcome to bring a support person with you as well. After your signing, you will have 10 business days before your consents become final.

We care about your wellbeing and we want to support you with any needs you may have during this time.

Signing your consents may feel like the last step in the adoption process, but you are encouraged to continue to meet with your social worker. Adoption is a lifelong journey, and New Life Adoptions will be there to support you throughout the years to come. It can be helpful to continue to receive support, encouragement, and resources over the next few months. We care about your wellbeing and we want to support you with any needs you may have during this time.