Self-Care Tips for Birth Mothers in Colorado Who are Considering Adoption During the Month of May
May brings us wonderful things, like warmer weather, blooming flowers, and the promise of summer. But Mother’s Day also falls in May, and if you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy or have already given birth and are going through the heartache of giving up your baby for adoption, Mother’s Day could be a complicated and even traumatic event for you.
Everything you’re going through might make self-care seem overwhelming and impossible, but it’s for that very reason that self-care is so important for birth mothers. Adoption Choices of Colorado prioritizes caring for birth mothers in Colorado every day. We want to help you do the same for yourself. Make your own health and wellbeing a priority in May! Here are a few ideas to help you take care of yourself this month.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Pregnancy and Delivery can be Physically Hard on Your Body
Growing another human takes a tremendous amount of physical strength and energy. While pregnant, your baby receives all of his or her nourishment and care through your body. Making good food choices, exercising, getting plenty of rest, and drinking enough water can not only ease some of the physical challenges of pregnancy, but those habits can help you deliver a healthy baby. All of those same habits can help speed up your postpartum recovery time as well.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge occasionally. Treating yourself to a lazy day in bed with pizza or ice cream can be the best thing for you once in a while. We all need a quiet, safe space. If your bed and a pint of ice cream is that space for you, give yourself a break and go there for a day. A bubble bath can ease some of the physical symptoms of pregnancy and delivery, as well. (Your doctor will advise you when it’s safe for you to take a bath after giving birth.) Find something that soothes your soul and set aside time to do it. As a birth mother, you deserve and need self-care.
Self-care can Mean Talking to Someone Who Understands
If you’re exploring options for an unplanned pregnancy or if you’ve recently made the decision to place your child for adoption in Colorado, you may feel isolated, alone, and in crisis. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out. It could be to your adoption caseworker, a support group of other birth mothers, or a close friend who understands. Even without the added emotion that comes with placing your baby for adoption, childbirth causes hormonal fluctuations that can bring strong feelings and wild mood swings.
An important part of self-care is finding someone you can trust to talk through the experience with you, and your adoption agency is a good place to start. Adoption Choices of Colorado can help connect you with a birth mother support group.
For some women, it helps to journal during this time. Journaling can help you organize the thoughts, fears, ideas, emotions, and feelings coursing through your body. You’re going through an intensely emotional experience. Journaling can provide an outlet, almost like self-counseling. Later, if you planned an open adoption and have a relationship with your child, you may choose to share the journal with him or her as a glimpse into your journey.
Self-Care Means Giving Yourself a Break
Everything you’re going through physically, mentally, and emotionally is natural. From the panic of facing an unplanned pregnancy to the wild hormone shifts to the grief of giving up your baby to the adoptive family, it’s all part of your journey. Right now, it might feel like life won’t ever be okay again, but it will. The trauma you may be feeling won’t last forever.
If you find yourself bursting into tears for no apparent reason one minute and giddy with unexplained energy the next, give yourself permission to indulge those feelings. All of that is common to pregnancy and childbirth and completely natural.
If any of those feelings become overwhelming, don’t hesitate to reach out. We all need help sometimes. One key aspect of self-care for birth mothers is remembering to ask for help when you need it. You are not alone. Adoption Choices of Colorado provides support services, such as counseling, to make sure you have the care and support you need throughout your adoption journey.
Making your Own Birth Mother’s Day Story in May
As a birth mother, you are a brave and special person. Choosing to place your child for adoption is among the most loving choices a person can make. Your sacrifice created a new family. Your child will grow up in a nurturing home with tremendous opportunities. If you have chosen an open adoption plan, you may build new Mother’s Day traditions unique to your adoption triad. But even for birth mothers who chose closed adoption, you are a valid part of the honor given to loving mothers of all kinds during this month of May. Remind yourself of the unique role you play in your child’s life story, and make time for yourself this month. As a birth mother, self-care is an important part of your healing process.
If you need more ideas for how to practice self-care or want help taking your next steps, we are here to help. Adoption Choices of Colorado has the resources you need. Click on the link or reach out to your caseworker directly for more information.
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: After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Education, majoring in English and Social Sciences, Brianne Davis has spent her adult life as an educator; first in the public schools, later through martial arts. Her ability to convey difficult concepts, navigate varied learning styles, and always keep it interesting defined her reputation as an impactful instructor. Many of her early published blogs centered on the goal of helping other instructors effectively teach children for whom learning is a struggle. Once an empty nester, she committed to sitting in traffic less and writing more. With those goals in mind, she, along with her husband and dogs, packed up, sold their family home and moved to the banks of the Columbia River in Central Washington’s wine country, where the pace of life is slower and the sun shines brighter. Realizing in our modern age, more of us turn to the internet for information than ever before, Brianne, now dedicates her time to educating others through blog writing.
As a life-long information junkie, Brianne enjoys taking deep dives into new topics, then condensing them in an interesting way to convey valuable information in a relatively short amount of space. Once her career, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts remain hobbies, along with boating, reading, and traveling.
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!