Facing an unplanned pregnancy while also struggling with substance use can feel isolating and overwhelming. If you’re in this situation, you’re not alone and you do have options. Choosing adoption doesn’t mean giving up. For many women, it’s a deeply thoughtful decision rooted in love and a desire to give their baby the best possible start.
At Adoption Advocates, we’ve worked with many expectant mothers who are navigating recovery or currently using substances. We’re here to provide support, not judgment.
If You’re Pregnant and Using Substances
Whether you’re in recovery, actively using, or somewhere in between, you can still make an adoption plan. Your past or current substance use does not prevent you from choosing adoption or from having a voice in your baby’s future.
What You Should Know:
- You can still choose the adoptive family and plan for an open adoption if that’s what you want.
- You can make a plan at any point in your pregnancy, even from the hospital after delivery.
- We’ll walk with you through every step of the process, including providing support during detox, if you choose that path.
How Will My Baby Be Affected?
While substance exposure can increase the risk of certain health challenges—such as low birth weight, withdrawal symptoms, or developmental delays—there are many factors to consider. What substances you’ve used, how frequently you used them, and at what point in your pregnancy you’ve used all contribute to pregnancy outcomes.
We love the site MothertoBaby.org for learning more. You can look up fact sheets for a specific substance (alcohol, marijuana, meth, opioids and more) to see how it may affect your pregnancy and baby’s development. You can also chat with a specialist to get answers to your specific questions.
You are still capable of making the best possible choice for your baby.
Can I Still Choose Open Adoption?
Yes. Many women assume they can’t have contact with their baby after birth if they’ve used substances during pregnancy, but that’s not true.
At Adoption Advocates, we support open adoption whenever possible, including in cases involving substance use. You can:
- Choose and meet the adoptive family
- Share your story, if you feel comfortable
- Build a future relationship with your child through updates, photos, and visits (depending on what feels right for you and the adoptive family)
Will Anyone Want to Adopt My Baby?
Yes, absolutely. There are many loving, prepared families who are open to adopting a baby with prenatal substance exposure.
At Adoption Advocates, we work closely with prospective adoptive parents to ensure they’re educated, compassionate, and equipped to meet the needs of the child they welcome into their home. We do this by including a session on” teratogens” (substances that can cause abnormalities or non-hereditary birth defects in a developing embryo or fetus.) during our required adoptive parent training. We take it one step further by connecting them with a teratogens counselor who can answer their questions and address any concerns they have.
Our adoptive families understand that substance use doesn’t define your baby’s future, and it certainly doesn’t define you. Your baby is worthy of love, and there are families who are ready and eager to provide it.
Help Is Available Right Now
If you’re ready to talk to someone about substance use, you don’t have to wait. Here are a few national resources available to pregnant women:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Locator
Find local treatment programs that specialize in helping pregnant women. - Substance Abuse National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Free, confidential help 24/7 in English and Spanish.
You Are Not Alone
Adoption is a deeply personal decision and substance use doesn’t change that. You are still capable of making the best possible choice for your baby. Whether that means parenting or making an adoption plan, we’re here to offer support, resources, and zero judgment. To learn more, call us at (512) 477-1122 or text an adoption specialist at (512) 270-8415.
