Last Minute Adoption & Adoption After Delivery Counseling

Last Minute Adoption

Unplanned Pregnancy?

Call our 24-hour toll-free number to speak to a Cradle counselor:

800-CRADLE4 (800-272-3534)

Text CRADLE to 66746

Chat Us

Or, fill out our online form  and we’ll email you back.

Your information will be kept confidential.

Last Minute Adoption

You can contact The Cradle at any time during or after your pregnancy, including from the hospital before, during or after labor and delivery. Our counselors can support you through this critical time with privacy and respect. The Cradle’s services are free of charge to expectant parents. Contact The Cradle at 800-CRADLE4 (800-272-3534) or email us at helpline@cradle.org.

After Delivery Adoption

Cradle counselors can meet you at the hospital following delivery to talk about your options. The Cradle has relationships with more than 200 hospitals, providing adoption-related support and training to health care professionals.

We will not pressure you to choose adoption. Instead, your Cradle Counselor’s goal is simple: to make sure you understand all your options, rights and responsibilities. If you decide that adoption is not the right plan, your counselor will support you in that decision.

You can also call us once you return home with your baby.

Do I Have to Make a Decision Immediately?

Adoption is a big decision. In fact, in Illinois, you cannot sign the legal papers making your decision final until the baby is 72 hours old. After the baby is born, your counselor will check in with you to see how you’re feeling about your decision.

If you decide to move forward with adoption, your Cradle Counselor will help to facilitate your plan and be with you to sign the legal documents so your baby can be placed with the adoptive family. Learn more about how adoption works.

If you decide to move forward with a parenting plan instead, we will support you in that decision. Your counselor will talk with you about your plan and can help connect you to community resources if needed. Meet our hopeful families.

Where Will My Baby Be While I decide on Adoption?

If you live in Illinois, The Cradle Nursery is available to you at no cost if you need additional time to make your final decision, or to wait until you are able to sign legal documents. The Cradle is the only adoption agency in the country with an on-site nursery offering a safe, neutral place for infants to stay while their parents take the time they need to decide if adoption will be the plan for their child. Learn about The Cradle Nursery.

Contact the Cradle

We’re available 24/7. All of your information is confidential

To speak to someone now, call our 24-hour hotline: (800) 272-3534 or text us at (312) 800-1559 (answered 8:30am-8pm).

If you’d like us to contact you, please use the form .

If you are looking to adopt a child, please schedule a call with an Adoptive Parent Counselor.

If you are an adopted person looking for information, please schedule an informational consultation with our post adoption department.

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I'm Pregnant

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Adoption Services

Counseling, Education & Training

I'm Pregnant

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Adoption Services

Counseling, Education & Training

Last Minute Adoption

Unplanned Pregnancy?

Call our 24-hour toll-free number to speak to a Cradle counselor:

Or, fill out our online form  and we’ll email you back.

Last Minute Adoption

After Delivery Adoption

Do I Have to Make a Decision Immediately?

Where Will My Baby Be While I decide on Adoption?

Contact the Cradle

We’re available 24/7. All of your information is confidential

Unplanned Pregnancy?

Adoptive Families & General Inquiries

Join Our List

I'm Pregnant

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Adoption Services

Counseling, Education & Training

I'm Pregnant

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Adoption Services

Counseling, Education & Training

Last Minute Adoption

Unplanned Pregnancy?

Call our 24-hour toll-free number to speak to a Cradle counselor:

Or, fill out our online form and we’ll email you back.

Last Minute Adoption

After Delivery Adoption

Do I Have to Make a Decision Immediately?

Where Will My Baby Be While I decide on Adoption?

Contact the Cradle

We’re available 24/7. All of your information is confidential

Unplanned Pregnancy?

Adoptive Families & General Inquiries

Join Our List

Or, fill out our online form  and we’ll email you back.