Skip to content

Unplanned pregnancy - Adoption

Adoption could be the choice for you if you don’t want to become a parent but you don’t want an abortion.

What is adoption?

Adoption is a way to ensure a child grows up in a permanent family. You’ll continue with the pregnancy and give birth, but you won’t look after the baby and you won’t have legal rights or repsonsibilities regarding the child once the adoption is complete.

Adoption is a formal process organised by adoption agencies and local authorities and is made legal by the courts. Once an adoption is made legal, the decision is final and cannot be changed.

How does adoption take place?

You can start planning for adoption at any point during your pregnancy but the adoption won’t be completed until after the baby is born. You’ll be asked to sign a formal document agreeing to the adoption but you can’t be asked to do this until the baby is six weeks old. The agreement doesn’t make the adoption final.

Usually the baby will go to foster carers for a short time while arrangements are made for the baby to move to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents will then look after the baby and apply to the court for an adoption order. Once the order is granted, the adoption is final, you’ll no longer be the baby’s legal parent.

Can I change my mind?

You can change your mind at any point before the adoption is made legal but it may not be easy. A social worker would support you to make the right decision for your baby. The court then decides based on what is best for the baby. Once the adoption has been made legal, the baby will stay with the adoptive parents even if you change your mind.

What do I need to do if I want to choose adoption?

It may be helpful to talk with someone who can tell you more about adoption, including:

  • An adoption worker at your local authority’s social services department or at a local voluntary adoption agency.
  • A doctor or nurse at your General Practice (GP).
  • A social worker at hospital (contact your local hospital to see if there is a social worker attached to the maternity ward).

If you’re considering adoption, the social worker or adoption agency that’s supporting you will arrange special adoption counselling. This is to make sure you know exactly what adoption involves and to help you make the right decision for you.

All local authority adoption agencies in Wales now work together in 5 regional collaborates. Contact your local authority for further information on adoption:

North Wales Adoption Service (NWAS)

Covers Wrexham, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Anglesey.

01978 295311 or 0800 085 0774

[email protected]

Mid and West Wales Adoption Service (MWAS)

Covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

01267 246970 or Powys 01874 614035

[email protected]

South East Wales Adoption Service (SEWAS)

Covers Blaunau-Gwent, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, Newport
and Torfaen.

01495 355766

[email protected]

Western Bay Adoption Service (WB)

Covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.

0300 365 2222

[email protected]

Vale, Valleys and Cardiff Adoption Service (VVC)

Covers the Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff.

0800 023 4064

[email protected]

Page last reviewed: 5th November 2025