you aren't paying for an infant...you are paying the fees for services you and the birthmother recieve, and the work the agency is doing on your behalf. I agree that the fees are daunting, sometimes, and it can be very disinheartening. But, I know so many of the agencies work on many potential adoptions every year, many of which dont ever occur, so they dont recieve any compensation for that work, then they have to charge larger fees for actual placements, just to keep operating. So, they are not trying to con you in any way, it's just, unfortunately, a fact of life.
We went with pauquette adoption services. (
www.adoptpas.org or.com i think)They were awesome and i cant speak of them highly enough. I interviewed, researched, and checked references on many agencies. They were not the least expensive, but i found them to be the most knowledgeable and down to earth.