birthmother on her phone reaching out to an adoption agency

Calling an Adoption Agency for the First Time: What Happens, What We Ask, and What You Do Not Have to Decide Yet

Maybe you have the number pulled up on your screen, or typed it in and deleted it more than once. If you are thinking about calling an adoption agency but have not pressed call yet, you are in good company. Many birth mothers have been exactly where you are sitting right now, wondering what would happen, what they would be asked, and whether one phone call would change everything.

Here is the gentle truth they might say: “Making that call changed my whole life, for the better.” Reaching out is a way to get answers, and you stay in charge of every step. Let us walk you through what that first contact is really like, so the unknown feels a little smaller.

Reaching Out Is Not the Same as Deciding

A first call is a way to get information, not a commitment to adoption

When you call an adoption agency, you are not signing up for anything. You are asking questions and hearing honest answers. Many women worry that calling means they have already decided, or that they will be pushed toward a plan they are not ready for. At A Guardian Angel Adoptions, that is not how we work. A first call is simply a conversation, and the only thing you need to bring is your own questions.

If you are wondering whether you have to commit to adoption if you call an agency, the answer is no. Not on the first call, and not at any point until you are certain.

Many women call while they are still weighing every option, including parenting

You do not need to be sure about adoption to talk with someone about it. Many expectant mothers reach out while they are still thinking about parenting, adoption, and everything in between. That is a completely normal place to be. If your feelings are tangled right now, our post on considering adoption but still feeling unsure may help you feel less alone in that.

You are allowed to be undecided. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to take all the time you need.

There is no question too small, and no point in pregnancy that is too early to ask

You might be early in your pregnancy or very near your due date. You might have a big, complicated situation or one simple question. Either way, it is okay to reach out. No question is too small, and no one will think less of you for asking it.

You can pause, hang up, or call back whenever you are ready

A first conversation moves at your pace. If you need a moment, take it. If you want to end the call, you can. If you decide to call back next week, or next month, that is perfectly fine. Nothing is lost by taking your time. If everything has started to feel urgent, our post on slowing down to make an adoption decision with clarity is a good place to catch your breath.

Ways to Reach Out When a Phone Call Feels Like Too Much

There is no single right way to make contact. Choose whatever feels safest and easiest for you.

Calling and talking with someone who understands what you are facing

If you would like to hear a real voice, you can call our expectant mother line at 877-804-3704. Sometimes it helps just to talk with someone who understands what you are going through and will not judge you for it. If you are looking for someone to talk to about adoption while you are pregnant, this is a good place to start.

Texting when talking out loud does not feel safe or possible right now

Some women cannot talk out loud, whether because they are not alone, feel too anxious, or simply find it easier to type. If that sounds like you, yes, you can text an adoption agency. Our text line is (206) 360-0020. You can say as much or as little as you like.

Using the Expectant Mothers contact form if writing it down feels easier

If you would rather put your thoughts in writing at your own pace, you can use our Expectant Mothers contact form. You can share what you are comfortable with and let us know how you would like us to respond.

Reaching out on your own, or with a friend, partner, or family member beside you

Some women reach out entirely on their own. Others feel steadier with someone sitting next to them. Either is fine. Do whatever helps you feel supported. If you are not sure where to begin, our post on first steps when you are looking for someone to adopt your baby can help you get your bearings.

What a First Conversation Usually Sounds Like

It is natural to wonder what happens when you call an adoption agency. Here is a general picture of what to expect, so it feels less like walking into the unknown.

Who you will be talking to, and what they want you to know right away

You will be talking with someone from our team who cares about listening to you. Everyone on our staff has personally experienced adoption in some way, either by adopting or by placing a baby themselves. The most important thing we want you to know right away is that you are not alone, you are not being judged, and you do not owe us any decision. We are here to listen and answer your questions.

The kinds of questions you may be asked, and why it is okay to skip any of them

In a first conversation, you may be asked a few gentle questions, such as how you are doing, how far along you are, what you are hoping for, what your circumstances are, and what kind of support you have right now. We ask so we can understand how best to help you, never to put you on the spot.

You can skip any question. You can say “I am not ready to talk about that yet.” That answer is always welcome.

What you can share now and what can wait until later

You do not have to tell us everything in one conversation. Share what feels comfortable today, and save the rest for later, or for never, if you choose. The details of your story are yours, and you decide when and whether to share them.

Questions you may want to ask us (licensing, how families are screened, open and closed adoption, what support looks like)

This call is just as much for you to ask questions as it is for us to ask them. A good agency welcomes your questions, and so do we. If you are wondering what to say when calling an adoption agency, you might start with questions like these:

  • Are you licensed, and for how long? (A Guardian Angel Adoptions has been licensed with the State of Utah since 2004 and works in every state.)
  • How are adoptive families screened and prepared?
  • What is the difference between open and closed adoption, and what might each look like?
  • What kind of support and counseling is available to me, before and after placement?
  • What would happen next if I decide to move forward, and what if I do not?

There are many more questions to ask an adoption agency, and you can find a helpful list in our post on the signs of a good adoption agency. Please ask us anything you want to know.

How the call usually ends, and what you can expect next

A first call usually ends with you knowing a little more than when you started, and with no pressure to do anything else. If you would like a follow-up, we can set one up in a way that works for you. If you would rather think things over on your own, that is okay too. The next step is always up to you.

Your Privacy From the Very First Hello

For many women, privacy is the biggest worry. We understand, and we take it seriously. If you are asking yourself whether calling an adoption agency is confidential, our post on keeping your adoption plan private goes into more detail.

What stays between you and your adoption specialist

Your conversation is handled with care. What you share with your adoption specialist is treated respectfully and with discretion, and you are welcome to ask us how your information is handled at any point.

How much personal information you need to share at the start

You do not need to hand over your whole story to get started. If you are nervous about sharing personal details right away, tell us, and we will talk through what is needed and what can wait.

Reaching out before you have told family, a partner, or the birth father

You do not have to have told anyone before you reach out. Many women contact us first, before they have shared anything with the people in their lives. A first call is simply a conversation, and you can take your time deciding who to tell and when.

Letting us know the safest way and time to contact you

If you are worried about someone seeing a call, a text, or a voicemail, just tell us. Let us know the safest way and the best time to reach you, and we will respect that.

What Happens After You Reach Out

Follow-up happens on your timeline, not ours

After your first contact, any follow-up happens when and how you want it. There is no deadline, and no one will pressure you to move faster than you are ready.

Meeting with an adoption specialist and starting a plan if and when you want to

If you decide you would like to talk further, you can meet with an adoption specialist to learn more. Only if and when you want to, you can begin building a plan together. Every part of it is shaped by your choices. Our post on creating an adoption plan that feels like you shows what that can look like.

Learning about counseling and the support available to you

You can also learn about the counseling and support available to you. Support is there to help you feel understood and cared for through whatever you decide, not to push you in any direction. Our social workers and counselors have specialized in adoption for many years and can give you objective guidance along with real emotional support.

You can change your mind at any stage

You can change your mind at any stage. Choosing to talk with us does not close any doors, and you are free to step back, pause, or choose a different path. If you are traveling to Utah to come into our care here, we will get you back home safely, no matter your decision.

Closing encouragement: one conversation can make you feel a lot less alone

If you have been carrying all of this by yourself, one conversation can make you feel a lot less alone. Since 2004, A Guardian Angel Adoptions has been licensed by the State of Utah and helping create families, and we walk every step of the way with each birth mother we serve, starting with the very first call.

When you are ready, we are here.

Reach Out to Us Whenever You Are Ready