This is a time in your life that you’ll remember forever. It’s filled with big decisions and overwhelming emotions. Everything in your life changed the moment you found out you were pregnant. No matter what you might be feeling, we know that you might not feel ready to raise a child in this season of your life. At New Beginnings, our care team is here to walk with you through this journey. We put together a list of five things we think every birth mother needs to know.

You don’t have to walk through this alone.

This can be an overwhelming time for so many women. No one should go through this process alone. We work with hundreds of birth mothers every single year, and every woman has her own reasons for making an adoption plan. Some women don’t have a strong support system. Other birth mothers don’t feel they could support a child financially. Some women aren’t ready to become a parent. Whatever your reason for adoption is, you don’t have to walk through this process by yourself. Our team is here to make sure you are cared for.

You have certain rights.

A lot of women don’t realize that they have rights as a birth mother. Making an adoption plan is a process, and there are a lot of decisions the birth mother gets to make (if you want to). The birth mother has the right to be involved in all phases of the adoption plan. Every birth mother has the right to have her questions answered honestly. Most importantly, every birth mother has the right to be treated with both dignity and respect.

You can choose your child’s adoptive family.

Women just like you are struggling to become a mom. They are longing to love and care for a child through adoption. We have a list of waiting families who are ready to bring a precious child into their home. You get to decide the family that you think is the best fit for your child. You can read their stories, learn about them, and speak with them to determine which family you feel your child would best connect with. See a list of our waiting families here.

You decide whether you would like an open, closed, or semi-open adoption.

As the birth mother, you will be able to decide what she thinks will be best for both the child and yourself. Here are the three options you will choose from:

Open adoption

In an open adoption, you can choose and meet the family. You also have the option of seeing the child again in the future if you would like to.

Semi-Open Adoption

If you would like to meet the family, you can. Ongoing contact is handled through the agency. If you’d like, the family will send pictures and letters to keep you updated about the child’s progress. In this situation, you can send gifts, letters, and photos.

Closed Adoption

If you’d like, you can choose the family for your child. You have the option of having no contact after the child is placed.

You still have a beautiful life ahead of you.

The positive pregnancy test can feel overwhelming when you weren’t expecting it. A lot of women worry about what the future will look like. Some women don’t feel ready to raise a child and don’t know what to do. It’s important to process all of the different emotions you might be feeling. Your life isn’t over. You have options, and both you and your child can still have a wonderful life. 

Are you ready to talk to someone? Our care team has helped hundreds of other women in your exact situation. We will explain your options, answer your questions, and help you to feel confident that you have all of the information you need. Text us at 662-401-5823 anytime!