Support & Resources for Birth Mothers

Choosing Adoption

Considering putting your baby up for adoption? We know what you’re going through. With decades of experience, we can help you find the answers.

Birth Mother Common Questions and Concerns

Adoptive Parent Screening Only the most suitable families are given the blessing and responsibilities of raising another’s child. Most Adoptive...

Can I decide after I give birth?

Can I Put My Baby Up For Adoption After Birth? Yes. You can place your child for adoption after you’ve...

How far into pregnancy can I decide?

You can make an adoption plan at any time during or after your pregnancy. However, the earlier in your pregnancy...

Can I change my mind about an adoption?

At some point during your adoption planning, you may wonder, ‘Can I change my mind?’ Here’s some information to help...

Can I Keep My Adoption / Pregnancy a Secret?

Reasons to Keep Adoption/ Pregnancy a Secret The Health of the Child First of all, it is definitely possible to...

Telling Others About Your Adoption Plan

Try to imagine what the response might be from each person when breaking the news of an unplanned pregnancy, especially...

Dealing with Unsupportive Parents & Family Members

Whether you’re an expectant mother considering an adoption plan for your child, or you’re considering adopting a child into your family, you...

Will I get to visit with my child after placement?

One of the first questions an expectant mother planning to place her child for adoption may ask is if she...

Placing your Baby for Adoption While in Jail / Prison

Can I Choose Adoption in Prison or Jail? If you’re pregnant in prison or facing jail time your options include:...

What happens after adoption?

The biggest mystery of the adoption process for a birth mother may be what it will be like after she...

How soon after birth do adoptive parents take the baby?

If you have made a private adoption plan prior to giving birth, the adoptive parents typically take the baby home directly from...

Adoption Children / Adoptees

Here, you can find resources that cover the impact that adoption has on you and others involved.

How Does it Feel to be Adopted?

While most Birth Parents make an adoption plan to provide a better life for a child, some children are removed...

Explaining Adoption to Your Other Children

For children, change is always dicey because it causes a lot of confusion and encourages many questions. While things can...

Birth Fathers

When it comes to birth fathers, there are a number of scenarios that Birth Mothers may be dealing with when it comes to the birth father, and

Birth Father Rights in Adoption

However, it is important to know that the Birth Father also has a role, whether or not he is an...

Unsupportive, Uninterested, or Unknown Birth Fathers

While a loss felt from this lack of commitment cannot be directly compared to other kinds of loss, it is...

Do I Have To Tell Him About The Adoption?

You may even be wondering, “How do I tell him I’m pregnant?” There are a lot of reasons why you...

What Are My Responsibilities As The Birth Father?

As a birth father, you may be wondering what your responsibilities and rights are when it comes to placing your...

How Do I tell the Father I’m Pregnant?

How did this happen? When did this happen? What does this mean for my future? How do I tell the...

I’m a Birth Father: What does that Mean?

As a birth father you’re just like every other biological father, only the term ‘birth father’ is used to refer...

Benefits of Adoption

Adoption is truly an experience like no other, and its advantages should be taken into account as the Birth Mother makes her decision.

Adoption Is Always An Option

However, the earlier in your pregnancy you begin to consider your options (parenting, temporary care or adoption), if you choose...

You Make The Decisions In Your Adoption

Unfortunately, this idea is not always pursued, as sometimes Birth Mothers feel less in control and more like a piece...

Giving a Baby Up For Adoption Is Not Giving Up

YOU’RE NOT GIVING UP, YOU’RE GIVING LIFE Many people are physically capable of having a child and becoming a parent....

Adoption vs Abortion: Comparing Your Options

The thought of caring for a baby that has come as a surprise may be overwhelming, especially if you are...

How to Give My Baby up for Adoption

Choosing Adoption for Your Baby Choosing to place your baby for adoption is a difficult decision to consider. Make sure...

Financial & Emotional Support

Making the decision to create an adoption plan is one of the most difficult decisions a woman who is facing an unplanned pregnancy will have to make.

Adoption Professionals

Questions to Ask an Adoption Agency or Law Firm Whether you are a potential Adoptive Family looking to adopt a...

How to Create a Strong Support System

In fact, having a strong support system over the course of an adoption might be even more important than in...

Emotions To Expect When Choosing Adoption

While there are a variety of circumstances and experiences that shape this decision, they all share a common theme: they...

Emotional & Psychological Effects of Adoption on Birth Mother

As one of our efforts to honor and support birth mothers, Adoption Network Law Center developed its private Healing Hearts...

Employer Provided Benefits

Types of Adoption Benefits Employer­ provided adoption benefits can usually be sorted into three main categories: information, financial assistance, and...

Federal Family and Medical Leave Act

What is it? According to an article for U.S. News and World Report, the FMLA can entitle an eligible employee...

Domestic Adoption Loans and Grants

Don’t Let Lack of Finances, Information, or Help Stop You When it comes to adoption, the most important component is...

Additional Finance Options

Adopting With A Budget Adoption can be incredibly expensive, making it a very large, and very serious investment. Many couples...

How to Financially Protect Yourself

Why You Need Financial Protection The cost of adoption can be very high, so when an adoption disruption occurs, you...

Adoption Tax Credit

The Federal Adoption Tax Credit allows certain adoption expenses to be credited within your Federal Tax Returns. The Federal Adoption...

Coping with Postpartum Depression

However, in reality, you feel that you are neither of these things. You don’t feel like yourself and you are...

Adoption Process for Birth Mothers

Our use of the terms “putting up” or “giving up” does not reflect how we feel about adoptive placement.

Unplanned Pregnancy Options

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be scary, and not having a solid plan to parent your baby can be frustrating and lead to feelings of hopelessness.

Adoption

Most of us feel better knowing what to expect. Here’s a general idea of what happens when you sign up...

Abortion

Abortion is one of the options available to you when facing an unplanned pregnancy. Below are some factors to consider...

Adoption Choices

There are many adoption choices you will be asked to make during your pregnancy.

Open Adoption

How Open Adoption Works There is no formal and definite definition of the term open adoption but the adoption community...

Semi-Open Adoption

It is important for Adoptive Parents and Birth Parents to connect with their adoption agencies/professionals and be honest of what...

Pregnancy Health

While considering your options, it’s important to take care of yourself. Your body is experiencing some big changes.

Choosing Doctor

CHOOSING A DOCTOR Feeling comfortable about your healthcare provider will help you feel more at ease throughout your pregnancy and...

Staying Healthy During Your Pregnancy

Now, don’t worry about doing everything perfectly. Don’t panic if you give in to an occasional craving. There is a...

Pregnancy Lifestyle Changes

HEALTH CARE At the start of your pregnancy you will visit your healthcare provider about once a month. Your first...

Pregnancy Calendar & Helpful Tips

You can develop sensitive breasts, even before your period is due, which can be shown in a feeling of fullness,...

Teen Pregnancy Help

In the United States, teen pregnancy and birth rates for those between the ages of 15 to 19 remain among...

Preparing for Birth

As your due date approaches you will want to make decisions regarding the birth.

Preparing for the Hospital

WHAT TO BRING Prepare a bag to take with you while you labor so that you don’t have to go...

Planning for Labor and Delivery

Preparing for Childbirth, Labor & Delivery If you have decided to place your baby for adoption, your needs and preparation...

Your Hospital Stay

BREASTFEEDING After birth of your baby, the sudden drop in hormones triggers milk production. It is important to decide if...

Recovery

PHYSICAL CHANGES Bleeding – Postpartum bleeding lasts up to 2 weeks. Soreness – Vaginal discomfort may be worse if you’ve...

Choosing a Family

Selecting an Adoptive Family for your baby is one of the most significant decisions you will make.

Our Adoptive Parents Screening Process

Your adoption agency or adoption professional can help you find Adoptive Parents that will provide a loving and nurturing home...

Considerations When Choosing Adoptive Parents

1) Type of Adoption You have the ability to find a family you want for your child; today you have...

Communicating With Adoptive Parents

CLOSED ADOPTION In a closed adoption, no contact takes place between the Birth Family and the Adoptive Family before or...

Honoring & Supporting Birth Mothers

Resources for honoring & supporting Birth Mothers.

Healing Hearts Support Group

Our goal is to offer encouragement, knowledge, education and pre and post placement support services to any expectant parent or...

Birth Mothers’ Experiences

Cedia’s Story Cedia placed her child for adoption in 2010. Here’s her story. Ali C. My back story Ali C....

Blogs from Birth Mothers

I was 19 when I found out I was pregnant. I felt like my entire life was crashing down around me…

Donate to Birth Mothers

Recovery Centers by State

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration American Addiction Centers, Inc. Rehab Center Free Rehab Center 211 Resource Page

Women’s Shelters by State

National Domestic Violence Hotline Women’s Shelters Covenant House Lotus House Shelters

Counseling

Anne Belden Jennifer Bliss, PsyD, LCSW Ivy Davis Zolle Christina LaMonica Lindy Johnson

Holistic Healing

Holistic Healing is the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just symptoms....

Additional Communities

On Your Feet Foundation Life After Placement Sit Knee to Knee Tied at the Heart Birthmom Buds Birth Mother Support...

Inspirational Adoption Quotes

Whether your children are yours through biology or adoption, they are yours through love.