How Will I Know if Adoption in Colorado is Right for Me?
By Isabelle Sitchon
As a birth mother, it can be difficult to decide what path is right for you and your baby. It’s possible that you’ve found yourself looking closely at adoption. But the question is–how do you know if giving my baby up for adoption is the best choice? How can you know that it’s the right course of action when your baby comes? Is it possible for me to choose a closed, semi-open, or open adoption? How do you know if adoption in Colorado is right for you? Adoption is a life-changing experience that can impact yourself, your baby, and the people around you. Like your other pregnancy options, you’ll make important decisions for yourself and your child. It may feel intimidating to have this huge responsibility, and it’s okay to feel this way. However, the decisions you make can help shape your baby’s future for the better. You, the birth mother, will get to determine whether adoption is the right choice or not. At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we are aware of how hard this can be for birth mothers. We’ve composed a list below of questions and factors you should consider during this time. We encourage you to take time to reflect on your answers before you decide.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Can I Be the Parent That My Child Needs Right Now?
Parents bear many sacrifices for their child’s health and happiness. Some find themselves surrendering a part of their life and well-being to raise their baby. In short, raising a child comes with great responsibility. As a birth mother, you’ll have to determine if you’ll be able to handle the responsibility of being a parent. Consider these thoughts:
- Do I feel ready to become a parent? If not, what’s holding me back?
- Am I in the right emotional, physical, and financial environment to raise a child right now?
- What other ambitions do I want to pursue? Do I want to do them before raising my child?
The responsibilities of a parent can be daunting. If you feel you are not in the right place to raise your baby, adoption is certainly a choice. However, choosing Denver adoption doesn’t mean that you’re giving up. On the contrary, it’s a brave choice to make–one that will give your baby and their adoptive family an opportunity for new beginnings. With it, you recognize that you may not be ready to take on the responsibility of raising your baby. That is one of the most selfless and responsible decisions a birth mother can make.
Have I Weighed in My Other Pregnancy Options Carefully?
In an unplanned pregnancy, the birth mother has three options. She can choose to raise her baby, put her baby for adoption, or terminate her pregnancy through medical means (an abortion). Taking time to weigh these options can help you decide whether adoption is the right choice for you or not. Picture yourself going through each option; your heart will lead you to what you feel is best.
Reasons For Choosing Adoption
Each birth mother has her open reasons for placing her baby in closed, semi-open, or open adoption. Every one of those reasons is valid in their understanding. Here are a few examples of reasons a birth mother may choose adoption:
- It’s difficult to raise a baby when you’re not financially prepared. Parenthood not only includes being emotionally and physically responsible for your child but financially as well.
- You feel like you’re too young to handle being a parent. You could be a young birth mother who may not be fully prepared to bear the duties of being a parent. You might have other plans you want to pursue before becoming a mother, like finishing high school or college. And that’s okay. Young birth mothers certainly have adoption as an option.
- There are other responsibilities that you have. Maybe having a family was always one of your life’s greatest ambitions. However, it can be the wrong time for you. An adoption is an option for you if you’re going through an unplanned pregnancy and find that you have other goals that you want to invest more time in.
Finding a Support System in an Unplanned Pregnancy
As a birth mother, it’s normal to have doubts and worries about what you’re planning to do. We encourage you to think long and hard about your choices. However, this is not something that you have to face alone. Consider discussing your decisions with supportive friends and family who understand what you’re going through. It may be helpful to get advice from a second perspective.
If you don’t have a proper support system, our counselors can help you. In addition, our adoption agency in Colorado offers various support services to birth mothers, including assistance and guidance in an unplanned pregnancy. We only wish the best for you and your baby, no matter which direction you decide.
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.
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!