In continuance with my first post, Interview with a New Birthmom, I share part 2 of that interview with you….

Coley: Did you have support during your pregnancy? Please tell us what kind of support and how it was helpful to you.

Jamie: During my pregnancy, Lauren's birthfather was very little support to me. He only came to one doctor's appointment with me. He did show up for Lauren's birth and stayed for 2 days after to hold her a little and spend time with us before we went our separate ways. The birthmother advocate through the agency was the most support for me during my pregnancy. She called me, emailed me often and helped me through the interviewing process. But when I look back on it, I see why. She was on vacation the day Lauren was born and was not with me when I went home as she went with the adoptive couple and Lauren to the nursery. She was support during my pregnancy but not good during labor, delivery, and afterwards. My mother was mixed support for me. She said that she would be there for me whatever decision that I made but in the next sentence said that she would help me raise Lauren and I could go back to school if I wanted too. So her support being divided was not always a help to me. My church also said that they stood behind me whatever decision that I made regarding Lauren.

Coley: How did you choose the family that is now raising your daughter?

Jamie: When I decided that Lauren needed an adoptive family, I went through a Christian adoption agency. They had a website that had family profiles on it. I interviewed 2 families. The first one was really sweet but didn't really click in my spirit and was very nervous with the questions that I was asking them. I don't think they had thought over the reality that this was a big thing to me and that I was going to be asking some really tough questions. So I didn't choose them. I combed through more albums and interviewed my second couple. They were sweet as pie and really funny but unfortunately were not on the same page about so many things. So I did not choose them either. About 3 weeks before Lauren was born, I started looking at cribs and strollers. At the same time, I was still praying for God to bring Lauren's parents. I spotted them on the website and then read their album and typed up some interview questions. I emailed the questions right away. In a few days, I got their reply. About 9 out of the 10 questions were what I was looking for. They seemed to be so committed to God, each other and the raising of their children. He was a software developer and pastor in training and she was a housewife. I was ready to meet them right away. We met at a local bookstore and coffee shop in my area. They were so sweet and so humble -just what I was looking for.

To be continued......