I'm not sure what it's like on a general note. However i know what it was like for me. Mind you my prospective is from a birthmothers side.
That said the process is I'd say a gentle process. It's a lot about learning what open adoption is really about. And how much healthier the possibilities of open adoption can be. However the decision still comes down to you. I mean for me I advocate strongly for open adoption, meaning I think it's really the only way to go. It may be hard at times, but for your child to know that they we're abandoned by their birthparents gives them the security they need in life. I dont know... its just what I think.
Ok the process back onto that. The talked with me then offered groups I could go to, to find out more about how it all works. Then when i was sure this is what I wanted to do. I got a booklet of families in the general area that are interested in adopting (just a page long discription). After that I choose three to look at more closely. The booklet I got was pretty thick and gave much more detail on each family. I talked with my husband about which one we'd like to meet first. We met them with a councilor in the room helping guide the conversation. We had a good feeling from them so we decided that we believed them to be the ones. Then we wait till I give birth, getting to know them a bit more. At the hospital after the birth and recovery is when the paper work is signed to me giving my son over to the new family. You work out how many visits you guys want depending on what everybody wants to do, whatever feels confortable in the relationship.
Blah, thats the basics that I know of, hope that helps. I hope I haven't pressured you to much into an open adoption I just strongly believe it's the best way to go. So i hope that you follow that path.