I came across a recent news article out of the Orange County Register, about a new infant care center in Orange County, California. The center is the latest project of Casa Teresa, a charity organization that provides intensive parenting classes, shelter, and support to low income mothers, drug addicted mothers, etc.

On Thursday, Casa Teresa and a coalition of partners and supporters opened an infant care center for its high-risk, low-income... more

Tamara B. is this week’s featured birthmother. Thirteen years ago, Tamara found herself in an unplanned pregnancy. She considered parenting but ultimately decided that adoption would be the best solution for her situation. She and her baby’s birthfather were no longer together and Tamara could foresee the future of struggling with medical costs and college costs as real as the everyday costs involved in parenting a child.

Tamara began meeting with a pregnancy counselor to learn more about adoption.... more

When I was recently browsing the unplanned pregnancy forums, I came across a thread about what questions are or are not appropriate for an expectant mother to be asking prospective adoptive parents that she is meeting with as she considers them to be parents for her baby. She also asked if the adoptive parents are unable to have children, is it ok for her to ask why.

My personal thoughts on this subject are yes, as an expectant mother making an adoption plan; you should... more

One of the things that I think many women considering adoption don’t think about is that they never may be able to have anymore children. It was certainly not something that I thought about. I just assumed that I would be able to have more children when I was ready to. And then we decided we were ready and we tried and we tried and we tried. Finally we conceived and were thrilled beyond words. But then the unexpected happened and we lost that baby. Having dealt with three miscarriages and one relinquishment, I unfortunately know way more than I ever wanted to know about grief and loss.

Miscarriages... more

Journaling is a great tool for anyone who is going through something as emotional as an unplanned pregnancy. Not only can journaling be healthy and healing for your soul, according to Psych Central, journaling can reduce stress and help you improve or maintain good physical health.

Your journal can be a place where you can write your innermost private thoughts and feelings, your rants and rages, your fears about adoption or being a parent, your dreams for your child, and much more. The options... more

As the weather begins to get cooler, it also brings about cold season. Dealing with a cold is never any fun but is especially not fun during pregnancy when you may already not being feeling your best and when you are limited as to what medications you can take to ease cold symptoms.

Symptoms of a cold during pregnancy don’t differ from the normal symptoms of a cold, although you may feel the symptoms stronger. I can recall from pregnancy that my colds were stronger and lasted longer during pregnancy than normally. Cold symptoms include cough, congestion, sore throat, watery eyes,... more

I recently ran across an interesting article about positive affirmations during pregnancy. At first, as I was reading and thinking about what I was reading, I thought it was a little on the kooky side but as I continued to think about it, it began to make sense to me.

Think about it – how many times in pregnancy have you said or thought something negative? I think that a lot of women in unplanned pregnancies probably have low self esteem during the pregnancy and negative statements and thoughts... more

Part 1

Right after Jennifer placed her daughter Tonya into transitional care, Jennifer absorbed in grief and despair, met up with her husband as the divorce had not yet taken place.

I met up with my husband at the time and spent the night with him. Six week later, I found out I was pregnant. Upon finding out I was pregnant and in the process of placing Tonya, there was never a question that I would place this one. If I could not keep Tonya, at least... more

This week’s featured birthmother of the week is Jennifer W. Jennifer is a birthmother to two daughters.

At the age of twenty, Jennifer gave birth to her first daughter, Tonya (that’s the name Jennifer gave her, it was later changed.) Jennifer originally intended to place Tonya for adoption at birth, but as her due date neared and the reality became more emotional, Jennifer decided to parent her. Jennifer married her boyfriend (who was not Tonya’s birthfather) five days before Tonya was born.... more

One scenario that you might be facing in dealing with your family and their reactions to your pregnancy is their reactions to your choice. For example, in my own situation, my parents (my Dad especially) were supportive of adoption, but were leery of open adoption. They weren’t purposely trying to be unsupportive but they just didn’t understand the concept of open adoption or really even know anything about it. In their day, closed adoptions were the norm, the girl who was pregnant was sent away to have the baby, and it was never spoken of again, supposedly to be forgotten. It could be... more