One of the legal requirements of adoption through an agency is that the birthmother see a social work for counseling at least twice during the process. The role of the social worker is to advice the birthmother of her rights and available options. Many birthmothers use counseling to cope with the range of emotions they experience during and after pregnancy. Although at first she may not want counseling because she's happy with how things are going, she may see things differently after giving birth. We can prepare her for feelings of sadness and grief that are likely to occur after her baby is born.
Counseling can be a real help.
Cricket feels the adoption process went well. Although the adoptive family has since moved away, she keeps in touch with them by phone and occasional visits. Cricket found the counseling services arranged by Adoption Connection to be helpful and believes that availing oneself of counseling is the best thing a birthmother can do. Counseling often begins when a birthmother calls the agency for help deciding whether or not to make an adoption plan, Subsequent adoption counseling takes place once a birthmother makes the decision to place her baby. She may use her counseling time to express fears about giving birth, work out her relationship with the adoptive parents, confront doubts about placing her baby, or address problems she may have with the birthfather or other family members.