Common Adoption Misconceptions about Birth Mothers
By Jonathan Tick
Birth mothers can often be stigmatized for their choice of looking towards adoption options. As a result, they may seek out adoption services to help give their child a second chance. But maybe they are scared to do so because of the negative views against them. As a birth mother, you are not what any stereotypes or misconceptions say you are. Our adoption agencies in Colorado welcome any pregnant woman brave enough to take on the adoption journey. No matter what the situation, Adoption Choices of Colorado wants to be there to help, you work through your unplanned pregnancy and understand common adoption misconceptions in Colorado.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Myth 1: Birth Mothers Hate their Child
Some people assume that birth mothers think that a pregnant woman is terrible for not wanting to raise their child. Or ask why they are pregnant in the first place if they didn’t want a child. Birth mothers have their reasons or motivations for choosing adoption. Perhaps they’re not mentally ready to have a child, but the unplanned pregnancy throws a wrench somewhere. Or maybe they do want a child. But after realizing their current situation, they realized that they aren’t able to raise one at the moment. Many birth mothers seek adoption services for all sorts of reasons. But that does not mean they hate their child.
It means quite the opposite. Choosing private adoption in Colorado means that the birth mother goes through the adoption process to find a good home for their baby. It’s a way for the birth mother to secure a better future for their child. Make sure that their child finds better success with people ready for a child. Our adoption agencies in Colorado make sure that all adoptive parents can take care of the birth mothers’ children so that the birth mother’s wishes are fulfilled and kept when they inevitably have to say goodbye.
Myth 2: Birth Mothers Never Want to see their Child Again
It’s a common misconception to think that goodbye is a final farewell. However, this could be further from the truth. Before adoption, where you say goodbye and giving up your parental rights was the norm. This is referred to as ‘closed adoption,’ where the anonymity of the birth mother’s identity is preserved from the adoptive parents and their biological child.
Since then, ‘open adoption’ has become more and more common. In an open adoption, birth mothers keep a line of communication with their child and adoptive family. Make sure that the birth mother and child can keep up to date with each other and their lives. This helps both parties in the long run as it provides birth mothers with confidence knowing that their decision was the right choice. And it lets the child know who their biological parents are and their reasons for placing a baby up for adoption in the first place. Something that, in the case of closed adoption, created cases where adoptees would always wonder where they came from. Which could have long-lasting effects that define them as an ‘adoptive child .’Instead of a different kind of person on their own merits.
Myth 3: Birth Mothers are Almost Always Teen Mothers
Women can become birth mothers for all kinds of reasons. Yes, some teenage girls may seek adoption options to help with unplanned pregnancies. But that does not mean that most birth mothers are teen mothers.
Birth mothers can come from all walks of life. And a pregnant woman can choose to seek Colorado adoption agencies for whatever reason they may see fit. Adoption Choices of Colorado is an equal opportunity adoption center. No matter the circumstance, all pregnant women seeking adoption will be considered for an adoption plan. After all, every adoption journey is different from woman to woman. And we want to be there to help you through your unplanned pregnancy.
Myth 4: Birth Mother Regret their Decisions and Want their Child Back
Before birth mothers choose adoption, they’re always told that the decision is final. Adoption is a very serious choice. And all of our adoption agencies in Colorado are happy to let the mother process the decision before making the final call. That being said, birth mothers who go through with adoption know what they’re getting into. And for the most part, birth mothers come out of the experience happy that they chose to place their baby for adoption.
Open adoption lets them see the results of their choice as well. And many birth mothers come out of the experience fully confident that their adoption experience was a positive one. Of course, some birth mothers experience a period of grief after the child has been born, which makes sense since they’ve been together throughout the entire pregnancy. However, this usually doesn’t last long since the birth mother knows that their child’s future will be in better hands.
Helping People Understand Common Adoption Misconceptions in Colorado
At the end of the day, no two birth mothers are the same. Every adoption journey is a unique process. Birth mothers and their children end up in brighter places because of the adoption process. Not despite it. 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!