Somewhere in the third trimester of your pregnancy you probably should go ahead and think about packing a bag with the items you will need to have ready so that when you do actually go into labor, you are prepared and do not have to fumble around packing your belongings. It’s also a good idea because you are able to choose the personal items that will make you feel more comfortable, not have someone else do this for you which could happen if you do not have a bag packed and have to head to the hospital rather quickly.

But what should you take... more

In a previous post, I talked about a Hospital Action Plan, which is a plan that expectant mothers making adoption plans can use to dictate how they wish for their hospital experience to turn out regarding things such as contact with their baby, if they want the adoptive parents to visit them in the hospital, etc.

But today I want to talk about a different kind of plan – a birth plan………

Childbirth... more

So you have decided to make an adoption plan and are moving forward with it. As your belly grows bigger, your due date grows closer. The upcoming hospital experience is going to be here soon and as a potential birthmother it is something you need to think about it.

A few things to think about prior to going to the hospital:

Who do I want to be there with me while in labor? You may feel obligated to have the prospective adoptive parents in the labor and delivery room. This choice is totally up to you. It is your labor and delivery... more

For any expectant mother, making a birth plan is a helpful step in preparing for labor and delivery. This goes for women considering adoption, too.

A birth plan simply outlines your preferences for how you’d like your hospital experience to go. How many visitors do you want at your delivery? Do you want to hold the baby right away? Are you hoping to be able to eat and drink while you labor? Do you want music playing in your room?

Keep in mind that this isn’t a list of demands—only your doctor can make the medical decisions. It’s just a statement of how you would... more