26Health adoption services offer the three typical types of adoption. 

A closed adoption is one where neither the birth mom nor the adoptive family know each other or meet each other. It’s usually at the request of the birth mom. The birth mom might request periodic photos or written updates just to see that the child is healthy and well, but otherwise,the parties do not make contact. 

In a semi-open adoption, a mom typically wants the adoptive parents to meet her before the birth and be at the hospital when the baby is born. They want a transition to the adoptive parents that they are involved in at the hospital. Once it is time to leave the hospital, post-contact is minimal; the birth mother might want periodic updates, but usually no contact with the adoptee or adoptive parents.

An open adoption typically occurs with both adoptive parents and birth mom know or have known one another in a prior social setting: neighbors, friends or otherwise who may make a mutual decision to become a “birth triad” of birth and adoptive parents and adoptee.