In many posts, I mention that you should research your options in order to make an informed decision. I thought I should dedicate a whole post to this and explain in more detail exactly what I mean by this.

By researching your options, I mean that you should research and educate yourself about both adoption and parenting.

Find out what resources are available to you should you choose to parent. Does your state have programs to help with childcare? Do you qualify for any programs such as Medicaid or WIC?

Find out about the adoption... more

Do you have plans to be outdoors this 4th of July holiday? Perhaps you will be lounging by the pool, hanging out at the lake, or enjoying a local festival with friends and family. If not this 4th of July, at some point during the summer, you will probably be spending some time outdoors this summer. As a pregnant woman out in the sun, there are a few things you should remember.

Drink lots of water. It’s easy to get hydrated when you are outdoors for extended periods of time so be sure to drink plenty of water. Don’t forget the sunscreen!... more

An article out of the Marion Daily newspaper in Illinois recently caught my attention. The article highlights the Refuge Home, a program for young, single mothers.

I’m not too fond of the name of the home, but the program itself sounds pretty good. This program is an in house program where single mothers over the age of eighteen can come live with their babies. They can stay until their child turns two or sometimes longer, depending on... more

I think it must not be clear, so let me shout.

I AM NOT AGAINST ADOPTION. I DO NOT THINK IT IS A BAD THING. I DO NOT SEEK TO END THE PRACTICE. I AM VERY AWARE THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE TRIAD HAVE BEEN WELL-SERVED BY ADOPTION.

(Everyone hear that? Good, because I'm a quiet person by nature, and I don't like to yell.)

Why do I feel the need to clarify? Because it seems that anyone who brings up the negatives in adoption is seen as a troublemaker who wants to bring the entire... more

In my last post, I wrote about why you should educate yourself about adoption. Now you are probably wondering how you should go about educating yourself about adoption. Don’t worry; I have some ideas for you.

1. You are already doing this one but read blogs! Continue to read blogs like this one but also read blogs personal blogs written by birthmothers. They give you great insight into the emotional side of adoption from a birthmother’s point of view. You... more

As an expectant mother considering adoption, it is so important that you do your research and educate yourself about your options. If you are like most people in the general public (meaning not in the adoption community) you probably know very little about adoption.

I didn’t know very much about adoption at all when I was pregnant and making an adoption plan. I tried to educate myself but lack of internet access in the home during the pregnancy and not knowing of many resources made it difficult. I kind of just learned as I went along the process and A. (Charlie’s... more

There is so much advice I’d like to give to an expectant mother considering adoption. There is so much too learn and educate yourself about in what feels like a very, very short period of time.

Below is my personal top six list of things I think any expecting mother considering adoption should know. Some people may find this post negative or “anti adoption” but that it is my not intent. My intent is to inform you, the expectant mother considering adoption, with things I did not know at the time of placement.

1. Know that open adoption... more

If you are in an unplanned pregnancy and are still involved with your baby’s father, you may be considering marriage. Marrying for the right reasons is beautiful, but marrying for the wrong reasons is not.

Marriage may seem like a perfect answer. You’d have someone there to assist you in parenting responsibilities, both financial as well as emotional. You’d have help with daily parenting duties. You may feel more accepted by friends, family, and society if you get married. Your family may even be pushing you towards marriage or pushing your baby’s father... more

I was nineteen years old and I gave birth (unplanned pregnancy) to my son Noah. Noah (now 10) has cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

I did not know that Noah was going to have any type of special needs before he was born. I had a problematic pregnancy that resulted in me being put in the high risk unit of the hospital at about 28 weeks of pregnancy until Noah was born at 34 weeks of pregnancy. Noah was small (4 lbs.,... more

One of the reasons you may be considering adoption is that your unborn baby may have been diagnosed with special needs. You may feel unequipped to parent a child with special needs.

During your pregnancy, you could find out that your child has a special need, a disability, or a medical condition, such as Down Syndrome or a heart condition or defect. Sometimes whatever may be wrong could be corrected after your baby is born and other times the problem may be uncorrectable and a life long condition, such as Down Syndrome.

For any pregnant... more