When families research embryo adoption in the United States, sometimes they are surprised to learn that most agencies advocate for an open adoption between adopting and placing families. Did you know open adoption is now becoming the norm in the United States? Studies have shown this adoption model is much more beneficial for all families involved. In fact, only about 5% of all traditional adoptions in the U.S. today are considered closed.
An open embryo adoption has benefits for the adopting family, the placing family, and the resulting child.
It is important to note that every open adoption and experience will be different between each family and individual. But some of the possible benefits of open embryo adoption have touched the lives of many families.
Benefits for the adoptive family:
- Knowledge of additional medical information – The need to provide a medical history is a normal requirement in the embryo adoption process. However, open adoption offers the additional opportunity to obtain new medical information over the course of time.
- Relationship with the placing family – There is an opportunity to develop an on-going relationship with the placing family. For some adoptive families, the placing family becomes like a part of their own extended family.
Benefits for the placing family:
- Sense of control – Having the ability to review, interview, and select the adoptive parents for your embryos can provide placing parents a sense of empowerment, security, and control.
- Reduced uncertainty – Most placing parents feel reassured and comforted knowing about the child’s well-being through interactions with the adoptive family.
- Relationship with the adoptive family – Like adoptive families, there is an opportunity to develop a positive relationship with them and their child.
Benefits for the child:
- Absence of the need to search – The yearning of a child (or adult) to find their biological family becomes a non-issue, since they already know who they are!
- Less sense of abandonment – Having the opportunity to communicate with the placing family and to hear the reasons for the adoption can help limit and even erase the adopted child’s sense of abandonment.
- Identity and self-confidence – Open adoption provides the child with the opportunity to learn more about their biological history. This can make it easier for the child to answer questions such as “Who am I?” as they grow and they are developing their personal identity.
Again, the open adoption experience will vary with each family and individual. There is not a one-size-fits-all model for communication. As communication about wishes, desires, and expectations increases, the more comfortable everyone involved will tend to be.
To learn more about open adoption through embryo adoption, watch our webinar here. To learn more about embryo donation and adoption, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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