Adjusting Back into Life After Adoption
Are you experiencing an unplanned pregnancy? Are you trying to understand all of your options? We at Adoption Choices of Colorado care about you and are here to help you during this difficult process. We want you to know that you are entirely in control. It can be challenging trying to figure out the right thing to do and what is best for you. We have a step-by-step guide on how to giving up your child for adoption. If you have chosen the adoption route, you are probably wondering how can you adjust back into life after adoption. It can be a very emotional time for some women, and we are here to tell you that it is very normal and you will get through it.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Post Birth Plans
You might want to consider setting up a plan for after giving birth. Again, you are completely in control, and with the help of Adoption Choices of Colorado, you can make a most comfortable plan for yourself. It could be beneficial to recruit any close friends or family members to help support you after birth. Also, think about if you will need financial assistance or other medical care afterward. Considering and planning for after you give birth can relieve some of the stress and allow you to focus your emotions elsewhere. If you have yet to decide, consider these three types of adoption: open, semi-open, and closed. Are you interested in having open contact and having regularly scheduled visits with the adoptive parents and child? Or do you feel it is best to have no contact whatsoever? Again, it is important to choose the plan that is best for you and your well-being. If you don’t know which one to choose, try asking yourself why you choose to put your baby up for a Denver adoption. Then ask yourself what you feel is best for your well-being.
Understanding Your Feelings and Supporting Yourself
There are a lot of emotions when it comes to adoption. You might feel unhappy, angry, guilty, or even unsure. These are all reasonable and understandable feelings. There are many families out there that will be receiving the best gift of their lives. You are blessing them with a child. You should not feel guilty giving up your child, rather feel yourself being responsible and selfless. There are many reasons for people to give up a child for adoption, and no reason is shameful. In the end, you are doing what is necessary for you and your child. You are not alone, and it is important to know that. There is counseling and emotional support offered through Adoption Choices of Colorado. There are options to attend one-on-one therapy sessions or attend support groups and hear out others who are going through the same thing you are. We recommend taking full advantage of all your resources, and do not be ashamed because you are so strong for doing what you are doing. It is important to understand that you might struggle with your emotions and ask for help if you find yourself doing so. There is no right or wrong time on when to seek help. We are available for you before even giving birth, and we also provide long-term support.
Jumping Back Into Life After Adoption
It can be hard at first trying to get back to your everyday routine. You might be emotionally and mentally exhausted, so it is okay to take it easy in the beginning. This part should be all about self-care and what that means to you. It might be helpful to try doing things you love the most and treating yourself every so often. Or you could try staying busy with exercise, extracurricular activities, or spending time with family and friends. Once you get the hang of doing things you used to do before your pregnancy, everything else is more likely to flow smoothly. You could end up finding more joy in the little things that you were unable to do pregnant because it has been so long. Remember, you are still a mother at heart. You just made one of the most selfless decisions anyone could ever make. You chose your child over yourself and chose to give them better. It is okay to be emotional, and it can be a tough time. Everyone heals differently and in their own ways and on their own time. We recommend taking time to heal and to process what you have just gone through. Realizing how strong you are can make it feel a little easier.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the Author: Gabriella Dobson was born and raised in Ohio. She is currently a senior at Miami University majoring in professional writing with a focus on editing. She also minors in criminology and general business. She is a skilled barista and enjoys sipping her coffee with a good book in her hand. She is passionate about helping others and making a difference in the lives around her. With her involvement in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Women Helping Women, she is able to provide resources for those in need of support.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!