While survivors and providers have been talking about birth control sabotage for a while now, many people are hearing about stealthing for the first time. We want to be clear: stealthing is not a sex-trend. It’s a nonconsensual act that increases a partner’s risk of pregnancy and STIs.

As an expectant parent, you will never be asked to pay any money to an adoption provider. Adoptive parents, on the other hand, will pay fees—sometimes up to $50,000—for the chance to adopt a baby. It’s possible that some adoption providers may be more worried about making money than about supporting the people they’re working with, without agenda or pressure. This is why you’ll want to find the most ethical adoption professionals you can.

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.