Prenatal resources available to you are different in each community and state and may range from labor and delivery classes to Title XIX health insurance. Your Many Hearts unplanned pregnancy counselor is happy to help you find the resources you need.

By 10 weeks of pregnancy, it will be very important to connect with an OBGYN or general practitioner near you. If you need help to find a medical doctor, a Many Hearts unplanned pregnancy counselor is able to help you do so. It is essential that you have an OBGYN or general practitioner who can assist you with managing symptoms of your pregnancy, such as, nausea, diet changes, ranging emotions, and more. In addition, an OBGYN or general practitioner will tell you what is healthy for the baby and what is harmful. Alcohol, drugs, and unprescribed medications will be very harmful to your unborn baby, so it is important that you have an OBGYN or general practitioner to discuss these things.

Whether you are parenting or placing for adoption will determine the course of action. If you choose to parent, you’ll want to consider if you want to receive child support or if co-parenting is an option. If you choose to place for adoption, then the adoption agency can work with the birth father if that is your preference. The birth father can choose to agree with adoption and either terminate his rights or do nothing. Or, he many disagree with adoption. In some circumstances, you may not know who the birth father is. In all these various situations, we will do everything we can at Many Hearts to help you. You are not alone – we are here for you.

Learn more by watching the video below!

Choosing parenting or adoption will likely be a rollercoaster ride versus a snap decision. How far along you are in your pregnancy will dictate how long you have to make that decision. Choosing to parent or place for adoption is your decision. Your Many Hearts unplanned pregnancy counselor can help you talk through your thoughts, feelings, needs, resources, decisions, and parenting or adoption options. You should never feel pressured into one option or the other, so make sure you have someone you trust to help you weigh out which option is right for you and your baby. Whichever option you choose, there are a variety of resources out there to help you, ranging from creating a budget to finding transportation to food assistance. Your pregnancy counselor can help connect you to the resources you need.

Learn more by watching the video below!

Before you search the internet, take a little bit of time to determine what your needs are and write down the questions you need answers to before you start your research to find the adoption agency that is right for you. Here are some great questions to consider and find the answers to.

1. Is the adoption agency full licensed in your state?
2. Has the agency fully vetted the families to assess their safety and stability through a home study, background check, criminal record check, sex offender check, character references, marriage stability and more?
3. How long has the agency been doing adoptions?
4. Do you get to choose the family for your baby?
5. Do you get to meet the families in-person prior to making your choice?
6. Does the adoption agency have a pregnancy counselor?
7. Is the pregnancy counselor near you? Can they travel to meet you at no cost?
8. Can the pregnancy counselor meet with you in-person?
9. Will the agency help connect you with the necessary resources in your community? In your state? For example, will your pregnancy counselor be willing to help you fill out an application for Title XIX insurance, for rent assistance, a job application or resume, and other items that might be necessary to help meet your needs both during pregnancy and after delivery?
10. Will your pregnancy counselor be with you at the hospital?
11. Does the agency provide assistance after the delivery? After the adoption is complete?
12. Click HERE for additional questions to ask about adoption.

Many Hearts partners with the Lutheran Family Service adoption agency. They have been a child-placing agency since 1901. Yes, they have over 125 years of expertise! And, families in their adoption program are thoroughly vetted and selected.

The specific timeframes are different in each state. For example, In Iowa, after the baby is born, a release of custody is signed 72 hours (3 days) later for the baby to go with the adoptive family. Then, a birthmother has 96 more hours (4 days) to change her mind. This is about one week when the birthmother can change her mind. Outside of that timeframe, a birthmother would need to go to the termination of parental rights hearing and prove to the judge that something illegal was done with the adoption procedure. After the one-week timeframe is up, the decision is nearly impossible to change.

In other states, the laws and timeframes vary. However, there will likely be a timeframe of decision-making after the baby is born until a specified period of time. Your pregnancy counselor has specific knowledge of each state. Our trusted partner in adoption, Lutheran Family Service, has over 125 years of expert knowledge of the laws and timeframes in the states where they are licensed to do adoptions.

Learn more by watching the video below!

The birth mother makes all the choices concerning the delivery and medical decisions. Some women may want to take care of the baby alone for 24 hours, or some want to share the care of the baby with the adoptive family. As you go through the process of meeting the adoptive family, you can discuss what the hospital plan should look like, how the child will be named, and more. Your adoption caseworker and pregnancy counselor will be at the hospital to assure that we are there for what the birth mother wants and to answer any questions or concerns that arise.

Learn more by watching the video below!

Many Hearts will support you whether you choose adoption or parenting. If you choose to parent your baby, you may start to worry about childcare, how long you can take work off, or if you will be able to afford food. Your Many Hearts unplanned pregnancy counselor can help you fill out applications for childcare assistance, health insurance, food assistance, rent assistance, and more. We can also assist you in finding transportation or clothing for yourself and your baby. We can help you write a résumé, apply for a job, enroll in college classes, and more. Your pregnancy counselor can continue to counsel you on creating a budget, parenting your child, establishing structure and routine, and more! We will help you get the resources and assistance you need so that you can build a great life for you and your child(ren). We want the absolute best for you and your child and will help you create a life and environment that is safe, stable and full of love.