What is the Difference between an Expectant Mother and a Birth Mother?
You take a pregnancy test and it comes back positive. Now you’re considering unplanned pregnancy options. This unexpected news makes you ask yourself, Is adoption the right choice for me? You could be considering adoption, but haven’t chosen it yet or you could already be in the adoption process. What do you call yourself now? An expectant mother or a birth mother? What’s the difference? Why does it matter?
You will always be your child’s biological mother, but to be an expectant mother or birth mother are different terms and are important for differentiation. It tells people whether or not you are expecting to be a mother or you are just the one who birthed your child. The different terms will help people understand your situation and what your decision is on adoption.
What is an Expectant Mother?
Essentially, an expectant mother can also be named a pregnant woman. The entire time you are pregnant, you are an expectant mother. You are an expectant mother the moment you find out you are pregnant till the moment you fully decide to go through with the adoption process and give birth. You are considering adoption, but you haven’t chosen it yet. You could be just considering adoption and at the beginning of your decision-making, or you could be near the end. No matter what part of the journey you are at, if you haven’t chosen adoption yet, you are an expectant mother.
Being an expectant mother can come with its hardships. You are struggling with figuring out the best choice for you and your child. There is no set timeline for how long being an expectant mother should be. You can be an expectant mother until your baby is born or a month before his or her birth. There is no rush. You can go at your own pace and be an expectant mother for as long as you need to be during your pregnancy.
No matter how long it takes for you to decide on what’s best, here at Adoption Choices of Colorado, we will support you and be with you every step of the way. There are many types of adoption to explore and we will help you choose the best option for you and your child.
Who is Considered a Birth Mother?
If you have chosen adoption, no matter the type, you are a birth mother. A birth mother is a woman who is in the adoption process. You may have already placed or are currently placing your child up for adoption. A birth mother is the one who will communicate with the adoptive parents if open or semi-open adoption is chosen.
The terms expectant mother, pregnant woman, and birth mother have been used interchangeably, but it’s important to see that there is a difference. As soon as you choose adoption and start the adoption process of placing your child, you are a birth mother. You are also considered to be a birth mother if, as aforementioned, you’ve already placed a child for adoption.
When it comes to the meaning of this term, you are the biological mother. You are the birth mother, but you will not raise your child as his or her parent. This is the term most used when referring to yourself with the adoptive parents and through the entire adoption process.
Why Understanding the Difference between an Expectant Mother and a Birth Mother is Important
Knowing the difference between an expectant mother and a birth mother is important when it comes to the adoption process. Keeping the vocabulary straight will help the adoption process move smoother and every term be used correctly.
It is important to know what to refer to yourself when talking to others. It helps eliminate the confusion and knowing the correct terms to refer yourself to will help a lot when it comes to the adoption process. It will help everything run as smoothly as 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: Molly Allington is an aspiring author born and raised in Syracuse, New York. When she’s not watching her latest Netflix obsession, you can find her nose deep in a book or in her writing. She has been writing books since she was twelve and is in the process of trying to get her finished books published. Molly has a BA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. With her writing, she is hoping to share supportive information and help as many people as possible. Once she starts her own family, she is wanting to adopt.
Just remember that you can go at your own pace and you can choose when you want to be known as a birth mother. The difference between an expectant mother and a birth mother comes down to you when you meet the definition of them.
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!