Pros and Cons of Semi-Open Adoption
Many women want a semi-open relationship with the adoptive family and their baby. For these women, semi-open adoption may be the best choice. In a semi-open adoption, the birth parents and the adoptive parents know each other’s identities. They may not have direct contact with each other but they have some sort of contact. Semi-open adoption is also called mediated adoption because a third party, or mediator, coordinates the contact.
Cons of Semi-Open Adoption
Before you decide if semi-open adoption is right for you, consider the potential disadvantages. The most significant disadvantage is that you must rely on a third person to stay in contact. A semi-open adoption may become a closed adoption if:
- The parties lose contact with the mediator
- An agency or facilitator goes out of business or retires
- You’ve lost contact and can’t find the other party
Pros of Semi-Open Adoption
Semi-open adoption can work really well. Many women want semi-open adoption because it protects their privacy. Here are the pros of a semi-open adoption:
- You don’t share all of your identifying information which protects your privacy
- Birth parents can see their child grow and thrive with the adoptive family
- Adoptive parents can access medical and other family history information
- Adoptees can maintain contact with their birth parents in the future
A semi-open adoption makes the most sense when everyone wants to protect their privacy. This is usually at the request of the birth mother. Birth mothers usually choose semi-open adoption because they don’t want their family and friends to know about the adoption. If you have limited identifying information about each other, then it’s not likely that someone show up on another’s doorstep in the future. Everyone can heal and move forward. This is because they know that there won’t be any surprise visits or contact by the other, including the adoptee, in the future.
It’s your decision to have an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. Adoption Choices of Kansas will ensure the adoptive parents want the same type of adoption as you. Remember that a semi-open adoption can become closed. We recommend choosing the option that gives you what you want but still gives you options. Open adoption is the most flexible, semi-open a little less flexible, and closed adoption most inflexible. Call us anytime to discuss your options! 1-877-903-4488
