As a prospective birth mother or someone who has already placed her baby for adoption, there may be a point where you may find yourself asking, “Can I get my baby back after adoption?”
In many cases, this question may arise out of overwhelming feelings of fear, panic and uncertainty. Choosing to place a baby for adoption and adjusting to the post-adoption period can be full of confusing emotions that make you question your adoption decision. However, it’s important to understand that these feelings are completely normal — so there’s no reason to feel like you’re thinking anything wrong.
If the question of “How can I get my child back after adoption in Pennsylvania?” plagues you, you should evaluate where these feelings are coming from before moving forward. It’s also important to know that very rarely can you get your child back after an adoption is completed and finalized, so you should be 100 percent confident in your decision before signing any legal adoption documents.
The Law Offices of Denise M. Bierly will help you understand all of your adoption rights as a prospective birth mother, no matter where you are at in the adoption process. You can always contact us with your questions or concerns at any time (and for free) by calling 814-237-7900.
Keep reading to learn more about your adoption rights in Pennsylvania.
Birth Mother Adoption Rights in Pennsylvania
If you’re a prospective birth mother who is reconsidering her adoption decision, know that you have the right to discontinue the adoption process at any time until you sign consent paperwork after your baby is born. Even then, if your adoption was completed under Pennsylvania law, you may have up to 30 days to revoke your adoption consent.
If you feel like you were pressured into giving your consent and want to regain your parental rights after you give a child up for adoption in Pennsylvania, contact the law offices of The Law Offices of Denise M. Bierly at 814-237-7900 right away. We can talk to you about your individual circumstances and help you understand your options for moving forward.
However, keep in mind that the longer you wait to request a revocation of your consent, the less likely it may be that your petition is accepted. Therefore, to reduce the stress and heartbreak that could come from reversing an adoption, you should ensure that you’re ready to commit to your adoption plan before you sign away your adoption rights.
Why You’re Questioning Your Decision
As mentioned before, confusing feelings are common for prospective birth mothers. No matter how committed you are to your adoption plan, you will likely experience moments of heightened emotion that may make you second-guess placing your child for adoption.
If you’re wondering if you can get your baby back after adoption, if you haven’t already placed your child, one of the most useful things you can do is to reevaluate decision overall. Here are some things to consider:
- Are you just having a bad day? Overwhelmed by emotion, almost all prospective birth mothers experience moments of doubt when they question if adoption is the right choice. If you’re asking yourself, “Can I get my baby back after adoption?” you might want to think about where you are at emotionally. Is this a question that comes from desperation, exhaustion and stress, or is it a serious consideration that you’ve been thinking about for a while? If you’re not sure, talk out your feelings with your adoption support group and your adoption professional. You should also look back on the reasons why you chose adoption in the first place.
- Are you worried about post-placement contact? As you get closer to the end of your pregnancy, it can be scary to think that your baby will not be an everyday part of your life after you give birth. You may be scared at the thought of losing them and be hesitant about giving up your parental rights. However, know that choosing adoption for your child is not akin to cutting them out of your life completely; on the contrary, with today’s standard of communication between birth parents and adoptive parents, you will have certain birth mother rights in open adoption.
You and the adoptive parents should agree on open adoption communication as early as possible. Knowing exactly what to expect after you give birth may help make your pregnancy and upcoming transition easier on you, especially during emotional times when you consider getting your child back after adoption.
- Are you being completely honest about your feelings? If you’re constantly questioning, “How can I get my child back after adoption?” you may have underlying feelings about your adoption that you haven’t admitted to yourself. Maybe you’re simply not ready to make this commitment yet — and that’s totally fine. You shouldn’t rush into adoption if you’re not completely ready for it, but also remember that it’s never too late to choose adoption if you decide it’s what’s best later on.
To help navigate your feelings and decide what’s the best choice for you, talk to your adoption support group and your adoption professional.
If you’re a birth mother who has already signed her adoption consent and is looking to get her child back, we are The Law Offices of Denise M. Bierly can walk you through the options available for your individual situation. If you haven’t yet placed your child for adoption, we can also provide you resources and educate you on your birth mother adoption rights in Pennsylvania. Call us today at 814-237-7900 or contact us online for more information.