What birthmothers say about adoption:
And why they chose it
In addition to receiving information about adoption, you may also wish to hear from other people who have been in your situation and made the decision to place their children for adoption. Here we have collected testimonials from birthmothers who have shared their stories with us. If you do decide to speak with an adoption agency, the counselors there may also be able to refer you to birthmothers they have worked with in the past.
Courtney Lewis, birthmother
Finding out I was pregnant my senior year of high school was devastating. I did not want to believe it – it took three positive pregnancy tests to convince me that I was really pregnant. I had planned to go away to college in the fall, and I knew that having a baby would change everything. more...
Jessica O’Connor-Petts, birthmother
In the summer of 1996, shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I went to Atlanta to work at the Summer Olympic Games. In August, I became pregnant. The birthfather and I were not in a serious relationship, and I did not feel we would develop one. I faced two choices: becoming a single parent, or placing my child for adoption. more...
Julia Thornton, birthmother
Driving home from school one afternoon my birthdaughter turned to her mother and said, “Mom, if Julie gets married, do you think she’ll have me in her wedding?” Her mom smiled and said, “I don’t know. We’ll have to ask her.” Her mom later shared the conversation with me and we had a good laugh. Joking about my single status, I said my birthdaughter shouldn’t hold her breath, to which her mother replied, “It will happen one day, Jewel.” more...
Janelle, birthmother
I had just turned 18 when I found out I was pregnant. Although I was young and it was unexpected, I felt an unbelievable amount of love for my unborn child. My parents pushed for adoption, especially since I was adopted myself, but I dismissed the idea because of the overwhelming connection I felt with the child inside of me. I made the decision to parent my child, even though I knew that the father wasn’t going to stick around. more...
Rita, birthmother
In most situations, a woman carrying a child does not have to grapple with the decision of adoption. In most situations, a child is born into a family ready and prepared to raise the child. And in most situations, from the time the child is a newborn, parents make difficult decisions and tremendous sacrifices out of love for their children every day. more...
Anonymous, birthmother
I chose adoption because, while I loved my daughter with all of my heart, I felt she deserved a better life than I could offer her. I was only a freshman in college when I became pregnant, and my relationship with the birthfather was not good. When I told him I was pregnant, he pressured me into getting an abortion. When I said that I wanted to make an adoption plan, he said he would refuse to sign the papers. I knew that any man who would try as hard as he did to end my daughter’s life didn’t deserve to be a part of it. more...