I ran across some interesting statistics on the number of unplanned pregnancies in the United States. The good news is that the number of teen pregnancies are down. According to Bill Albert, the director of the National Campaign to prevent teen pregnancy the rate of unplanned pregnancies fell 36 percent, which is the lowest it has been in a long time.

While the number of teen pregnancies in on the decline, the number of unplanned pregnancies among young women is not. The definition of unplanned (they used unwanted but I don’t like that description) pregnancies... more

Birth control may seem like an odd topic for a blog on crisis/unplanned pregnancies but it is something that you may want to begin thinking about. Towards the end of both of my pregnancies, I can recall my doctor or a nurse asking me if I had given thought to birth control method of choice I would be using after the birth of my babies. It’s a good idea to start thinking now about what birth control method will work best for you. Even if you have sworn off men and sex, it is still a wise idea to go ahead and be on birth control as a precaution.

Nowadays there are... more

Have you been taking any photos during your pregnancy? If not, you should be! Who cares how big you are; pregnancy is the one time that you can get away with it so take advantage of it and celebrate it. Besides, the photos that you take during your pregnancy can be a great keepsake regardless of whether or not you ultimately decide to parent or place your child for adoption. Your child may also find them funny to look at one day too.

I admit that I didn’t take very many photos during either of my pregnancies. It’s something that I now regret. I can recall maybe one photo from... more

If the father of your child does want to be involved during your pregnancy, how can you involve him in your pregnancy when you are the one doing all the hard work, ya know, carrying a baby and all?

Below are some ways that an involved expectant father can support you during your pregnancy. Most of these suggestions will work regardless of what decision you ultimately make regarding parenting or placing your baby.

He can help you out with any housekeeping duties around the house especially during your first and third trimesters of pregnancy, when fatigue... more

In my last post, I talked about birthfather involved. Since I did not have the involvement of Charlie’s birthfather in my own adoption experienced, I asked a fellow birthmother, Kim*, to share her story of how her daughter’s birthfather was positively involved during the pregnancy. Kim leaned on her boyfriend, Rick*, for support throughout her pregnancy and after relinquishment.

In early 2002, Kim and Rick were living together when Kim discovered that she was pregnant. Initially they were going to parent,... more

I don’t write a whole lot about expectant fathers being involved in the adoption process. “Why” you may be wondering…

A great deal of what I write here is either based on my personal experience from my own unplanned pregnancies or prompted by them. Since I did not have the involvement of Charlie’s birthfather during my pregnancy and the adoption process, I have no personal experience to go from.

When I found out I was pregnant (at nearly five months along) Charlie’s birthfather and I were no longer involved. When I told him I was pregnant, he was not very happy. He wanted... more

I’ve decided to bring back the BirthMom of the Week Segment as it was a favorite amongst many so I will attempt to spotlight a different birthmother each week. I’ll vary the age of the birthmothers and the type of adoption in order to give us a good mix of experiences.

This week’s featured birthmom is Tracy V. from Minnesota. Tracy is now happily married and parenting two elementary school aged sons. Tracy is also the birthmother to D. who is seventeen years old and was placed in a semi-open adoption directly following... more

Making the decision of whether to place your baby for adoption or to raise him or her is a huge decision that requires a lot of thought and time. It really is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) decisions you will ever have to make in your lifetime. It’s truly a decision that can not be made overnight. Undoubtedly, you will need time to cope and deal with the shock and the reality that you are indeed pregnant before you begin trying to make this decision.

While you are researching and educating yourself about your options, take care of yourself. Below is a list of simple things that... more

Back aches and swollen tired feet; just a few of the pains of pregnancy! Every woman (pregnant or not) needs a little pampering every now and then to soothe her aching body and refresh her spirit.

Below are a few ideas that you can treat yourself with. They are all inexpensive and can be done from the comfort of your own home!

1. Take care of those feet with a lavender foot soak. Fill a small plastic basin with warm water and add a few drops (about 5) of lavender essential oil. Stick your feet in and soak for about ten minutes. Studies show that a ten minute soak... more

Ugh, morning sickness – it’s the most dreaded part of pregnancy for some. It’s also one of the first symptoms some women may experience cluing them in that they are indeed pregnant. Morning sickness is absolutely no fun and for some (like me!) it’s not just morning sickness. You can have all day sickness that even lasts the entire pregnancy.

If you are experiencing the woes of morning sickness, below are a few tips that may help you cope.

Stay away from spicy foods and foods that tend to have a strong reaction in the stomach. Learn to read your body so that you... more