Reasons to Choose Adoption as a Birth Mother in Colorado
When facing an unplanned pregnancy, there can be a lot of emotions and pressure to make the “right” decision. It is common for people to be aware of the choices to have an abortion or to parent their child, but adoption is a much less talked about option. If you are a birth mother considering adoption, it is important to understand why birth mothers choose adoption. Having an understanding of the reasons to choose adoption as a birth mother might help you decide whether adoption really is the best choice for you and your child.
Disclaimer: this blog covers the topics of sexual assault and abuse, which may be trigger for some of our readers. But please know that we are here for you, and our agency is a safe place.
Reason 1: Finances
Many birth mothers choose adoption because they aren’t in the financial position to be able to provide for a child. Raising a child requires a lot of time, energy, and yes, money. If you are not in a place to be able to afford the food, clothing, hygiene, and school supplies your child will need over the next 18 years, adoption is an option that allows you to still be in your child’s life without having to be financially responsible for them. Adoption can be a great way to assure your child is provided for while you focus on paying off your debt and/or personal living expenses.
Reason 2: Not Ready to Become a Parent/Don’t Want to Be a Parent
Birth mothers who know that they want kids, but not right now, or simply don’t want to ever be a mother may decide adoption is the best choice for them. Perhaps you are in the middle of school or at a place in your career where you’re not ready to devote the time needed to be a mother. It can be really valuable to be a trusted adult in your child’s life without having to take on the complex role of parent.
Adoption Choices Colorado works with individuals and couples who are ready to adopt. We diligently pre-screens each prospective parent to assure you that your child will be placed with excellent supportive adoptive parents who are ready and excited about the responsibilities of raising a child.
Reason 3: Don’t Have A Support Network
Having a strong support network is crucial to raising a child. Birth mothers who are in new cities, are disconnected from their family, or perhaps have a rocky relationship with their child’s birth father may decide that adoption is the best choice at this point in their life. Adoptions allow for you to be a part of the village that supports and loves your child as they grow up.
Reason 4: Abuse
Birth mothers who are pregnant as a result of rape, or are in an abusive relationship or living situation — whether that be emotional, physical or sexual — may wish to place their child for adoption in order to give them a safe environment to grow up in. Similarly, if you are a survivor of sexual assault or abuse of any sort, you may decide that it is important to focus on your own mental and physical health and healing/recovery, as this kind of trauma can have a lasting impact on one’s life.
If you are currently experiencing sexual assault or domestic violence of any sort, please reach out to RAINN’s Sexual Assault Crises Hotline at 800-656-4673 and/or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE(7233).
Reason 5: Mental Health/Addiction Challenges
Another one of the reasons to choose adoption as a birth mother is if you are struggling with mental illness and/or addiction. It is incredibly selfless and brave to choose to focus your own recovery process and place your child with adoptive parents while you navigate the complexities of mental health and addiction. While birth parents with mental health conditions can make wonderful mothers, active addicts and unmanaged mental health can be a real barrier to providing for your child, so prioritizing your health in these times is an important step.
Reasons to Choose Adoption as a Birth Mother
Ultimately, there are many reasons to choose adoption. The ones listed here are just a few of the most common ones. Adoption Choices Colorado offers free counseling services to help you work through your thoughts and emotions around adoption, even if you haven’t decided on placing your child for adoption. We are here to provide you with the education, resources, and support to make the best choice for you and your child, as well as to help you through the adoption process if you decide that is the best option for you. Placing your child for adoption is a wonderful and selfless choice act that many birth mothers choose in order to give themselves and their child the best life possible.
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: Kara Bringewatt is an English major and psychology minor at Queens University of Charlotte. She plans to get her masters in social work and work at a nonprofit as a case manager for at-risk youth. She loves using writing as a means of creating community and bringing attention to causes she’s passionate about.
Kara is particularly interested in educational and mental health interventions for young people in foster care. She’s worked as a tutor, professional caregiver, preschool teacher and acting instructor, and loves being able to utilize her wide range of passions to support young people and plans on being a foster and adoptive parent.
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!