Somewhere in your third trimester you may wish to go ahead and pack a bag to have prepared to take to the hospital with you. By packing your bag in advance you are assured that you get to pack it and you get to choose the things you like the best. I did not follow this advice when Charlie was born and had to send my Dad to my apartment to pick some things up for me. Needless to say, I didn’t get every little item I’d wanted.

Once you pack your bag, throw it in a closet or an out of the way place and then it’s there ready and waiting for you... more

Another issue that you should give some thought to is who you wish to visit during your hospital stay. Depending on the state you live in, what type of delivery you have, and the policies of the hospital you deliver at, you (and your baby) could be in the hospital anywhere to twenty four hours to three or more days. So, you will have some time for visitors.

Even though I was planning an open adoption, I felt this need to have many friends and family members come to the hospital. I almost felt like it was their only chance to see him. Probably just my hormones... more

If you are pretty firm in your decision to place your child for adoption, another issue that may come up is whether or not you wish to have the prospective adoptive parents in the labor and delivery room with you. In this context I am referring to the prospective adoptive parents being in the labor room as spectators not your labor coach.

As with most issues in the adoption world, there are different schools of thought and pros and cons to this subject. Before you begin pondering the thought of whether or not to have the adoptive parents in... more

At some point in your pregnancy you may wish to make a birth plan. A birth plan is a written outline of your wishes and desires for your child birthing experience. It also can cover what you would like to happen if common complications (like needing a c-section) arise. It can be as detailed or as un-detailed as you wish. Many women are deciding that they want a say in what goes on and have created birth plans for that purpose. It’s a simple and non-confrontational way for you to make your wishes and desires known. A birth plan is just a statement of preferences... more

You will need a labor coach or labor support person (sometimes called a labor coach) there with you to assist you and cheer you on during the labor and delivery process. Have you given any thought to who you might choose?

Your labor support person’s role is to provide emotional support and physical support during the labor and delivery. You should choose someone you trust and someone you feel comfortable bearing it all with. If you are still involved with your baby’s father, then he may be an obvious choice for a support person. But if you are... more

If you are pregnant then you have probably been thinking that your due date is going to be here before you know it. At times, it feels like pregnancy lasts forever and then at other times it seems to speed right past you!

You are probably feeling a myriad of different emotions about your upcoming labor and delivery; happy, sad, scared, and nervous just to name a few. If this is your first child you are unsure of what to expect and even if it’s not your first child, then you are probably well aware that no two births are the same and that this... more

Maternity clothes have come along way since the decades of frumpy, ugly maternity clothes. Nowadays, maternity clothes are trendy and stylish and make a statement.

But they can be expensive and if you are already worrying about financial issues, spending much money on maternity clothes is not an option. But there are other options to keep you dressed at minimal costs to you.

Free Cycle ~ The Free Cycle Network is a community based group of people who are giving and receiving items they no... more

Once you have selected adoptive parents, you must decide what type of communication you’d like with them prior to the birth of your baby.

Do you wish to spend time with them and get to know them? Do you wish to have them at doctor’s appointments with you? Or do you wish to communicate through emails and phone calls? Or do your prefer to have no contact at all?

The ball is in your court with pre-birth contact and you have to decide what option is the best for YOU. There are different theories when it comes to pre-birth contact.

One theory is that spending time with and getting... more

Below are a few things to think about and consider during the process of choosing an adoptive family.

Don’t rush. While you may prefer to find a family during your pregnancy so you can start getting to know them before the birth of your baby, there is no rule that says they must be found and chosen before the birth of the baby. You can still choose a family afterwards so don’t let a near by due date rush you into a quick decision. Consider choosing an adoptive family that already has one (or more) adopted children in open adoptions. Ask to speak to their child’s... more

My great nephew, Landon, turns one year old today. We had a birthday party over the weekend celebrating his first birthday. His young parents have been parenting him for a whole year now!

I’ve written about Landon and his parents, T (Landon’s dad) and L (Landon’s Mom) before. His parents had the odds stacked against them to struggle to parent him. They were teenagers. They were still in school. They hadn’t been together very long. They didn’t have jobs.... more