All about Colorado Birth Mothers
By Jaclyn Prasa
If you are a woman who is facing an unplanned pregnancy, you are not alone. Adoption Choices of Colorado has helped many women in similar situations. It is our job to support you throughout the entire adoption process.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Why Birth Mothers Seek Adoption
If you are a birth mother seeking adoption in Colorado, that could be for one of several reasons:
- You’re young
- Your family is already complete
- You’re burdened by financial instability
- Your home life is unstable
- You do not desire to raise a child as a single parent
- You lack a support system
- You’re not yet ready to be a mother
- You desire to continue your education or further your career
Regardless of your unique reason, it is valid, and adoption would be a wonderful option for you.
A birth mother choosing adoption is one who wishes to give her baby more opportunity than she can offer. A birth mother provides all the love that she can give to her baby by choosing a family that can properly care for, provide for, and love her child. Adoption is a selfless choice made by birth mothers. It is also a hard choice. Adoption Choices of Colorado understands the difficulty of giving up a child for adoption. We will be here for you every step of the way.
What is Adoption and the Adoption Process?
In terms of private adoption, adoption is when a birth mother, or birth parents, cannot raise their baby, so the birth mother chooses an adoptive family for her baby.
The adoption process begins when you contact Adoption Choices of Colorado. An adoption counselor will help you set up an adoption plan. If you are eligible, your adoption will include adoption resources which include medical care, safe housing, and emotional support counseling. If you may need an attorney due to an unsupportive birth father or any Colorado adoption law, your adoption counselor will assist you with contact. In this stage, you will begin to think about the kind of adoptive family you wish to raise your child. You will be able to choose a family from our list of patiently eager, awaiting families.
Additionally, you will choose the type of adoption you want. There are three: open, semi-open, and closed adoption. This refers to the level of contact and communication you want to keep with your child. The choice is completely yours. An open arrangement in your adoption may be something you seek, or you may want no contact at all. You can also change your mind at any point in the process. Adoption in Colorado allows the birth mother 72 hours after she has given birth to sign over consent. Once you sign, the process is finalized and mostly irreversible. You can change your mind up to this point.
Also, adoption is always an option for birth mothers. You can begin the process as soon as you find out about your unplanned pregnancy. Or you can choose adoption after you have given birth. Once you contact Adoption Choices of Colorado, we will be better to assist you once we fully understand your situation.
If you choose adoption agencies in Denver, you can be confident with peace of mind knowing that your child is in caring hands with the family of your choosing.
3 Common Myths of Adoption
There are many myths about birth mothers who choose adoption. Each one is false and unfounded.
Myth #1: If a birth mother chooses adoption, it means she doesn’t love her baby.
This is a painful one that is incredibly incorrect. Birth mothers choose adoption because they love their child. It is not easy to choose adoption. You are caring for your growing pregnancy. You give birth to your baby. Then you give your child up to another family who can better provide for your baby. It is a selfless and entirely loving act that birth mothers do for their baby.
Myth #2: A birth mother will regret her decision.
Adoption is not lightly chosen, and therefore when a birth mother decides to place her baby up for adoption, it is for the benefit of both the baby and mother. Adoption can be emotionally challenging, sure, but that does not mean that the birth mother will regret her decision. She is giving a family their dream of raising and loving her child. Her child will grow up in a supportive home that is ready to parent.
While you may face hard emotions, you can stand firm in your courageous choice of taking care of your baby and yourself.
Myth #3: A birth mother’s child will grow to hate her.
This is a hard thought to bear, and it is not true. The adoptive family you choose will lovingly support and raise your child as their own. They will explain their gratefulness for you allowing them to raise your child. You, the birth mother, have chosen life and love for your child. There is nothing within your choice that a child can hate.
Is Adoption Right for You?
Like the adoption process, the choice is yours to make. If you have any questions regarding adoption, do not hesitate to contact local adoption agencies. Additionally, if you seek Christian adoption agencies, we can help. We want to help you make the best decision for your baby and yourself. 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!