Thinking about how you’ll feel after placing your child for adoption will help you make an informed decision. It will also prepare you for the most common emotions and help you recognize when to seek professional support.

The fourth part of our adoption series focuses on open adoption—when the adopted person has a direct, ongoing relationship with their first/birth family.

While choosing adoptive parents for your baby may feel like a huge decision, it’s also an opportunity to find the best family for your child and to pick people with whom you can imagine having a long-term relationship.

Adoption is an option which, like the other options, has its pros and cons. To shed some light on the process, here’s an overview of what you should know, with links to four more supporting articles.