Birth Mother Matter Adoption S3, Ep207: First Conversation With a Birth Mother

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption #88: Covid-19, Adoption & Masks AT BAF Adoptions are proceeding as normal in terms of how many women are coming into our agency and choosing to make an adoption plan.  We are still taking all precautions: Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation are taking the necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of our staff, adoptive families, birth families, and contracted professionals by implementing procedures that align with guidance issued by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Until further notice, Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff are taking the following measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19: In the company of others, gloves and masks will be wornMaintaining social distancing guidelinesBoth Building Arizona Families’ and the Donna K. Evans Foundation’s offices are cleaned and sanitized daily Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation management will ensure that all staff meeting in-person with clients, families, or constituents have access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), in accordance with CDC guidelines. .

23 Juni 202017min

Podcast 88: The Pressure on Family Members When Working in the Adoption World Working in the adoption world is an emotional rollercoaster, time becomes no longer your own, beliefs become rock solid resolute, and you want your loved ones to embrace your passion with the fierce velocity you do.  This all-consuming career choice can have positive and negative effects; sometimes even when things are explained on the forefront of your career they are hard to conceptualize.   The connection made between case workers and birth mothers and adoptive families is unparallel.  Often times questions asked are: What do your kids think?Does your spouse have any issues with the hours/mental/tollInterruption of family time and important eventsProjection of belief systemDinner table discussionsTravelFamily ImageChildren’s image of adoptionWhat if kids’ opinions differ When adoption social work burnout begins what does it look like to the family?  How does it affect them? When is too much – too much? The benefits of having a family member who works in the adoption field?

23 Juni 202036min

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Podcast 86: What If I Am on the Fence About Making An Adoption Plan & When is it Too Late to Place My Baby For Adoption Sometimes life presents options and opportunities where walking a new path, paving a new road leads to choices, options an opportunities that you may not have considered before.  Adoption is a choice that is as old as time, biblical and honorable.   It is also a choice where you can receive support; emotionally, mentally and possibly financially during and after your pregnancy.   Sometimes situations in life change, unforeseen circumstances arise or maybe you realize that you aren’t ready or able to parent or be the parent you want for your baby.   Sometimes women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy make an adoption plan early in their pregnancy to receive assistance throughout their pregnancy, have time to develop a relationship with their chosen adoptive family and to mentally prepare themselves.  Other times women are not mentally ready to accept that they are in fact pregnant and wait mentally to accept the fact that they are pregnant.  When a woman waits to acknowledge that she is pregnant, she is denying herself and her baby prenatal care and may make other choices that she may not make if she knew and accepted that she is pregnant.  Denial of a pregnancy does not make the pregnancy disappear nor does it change the outcome.  Denial may seem easier in the moment, enabling postponing feelings, emotions, choices and reality; but long term doesn’t help.  Regardless of when you choose adoption as the best plan for you and your baby, we can help and you are not alone.  The first step is to call and know we will answer. We can be reached at (623) 695-4112 by phone or text 24/7.

16 Juni 202020min

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption #85: Naming Your Baby Adding adoption into the equation, adds another layer.  This is a very, very touchy subject for all parties involved.  This is the way  the law works, at least here in Arizona.  A birth mother can put whatever name she chooses on the birth certificate.  The adoptive family can have the baby’s name legally changed when the adoption is finalized.  That being said, naming can be a very, very touchy and emotional experience  for all parties involved.  Usually, the baby’s last name remains the birth mother’s until the adoption is finalized. In the best situations, birth mothers and adoptive families decide on the baby’s name together and that name is kept.  Here are some other situations that seem to be the next best scenarios: The birth  mother and adoptive family each choose one of the baby’s names; the adoptive family chooses the first name and the birth mother chooses the second.Vice versaThe birth mother names the baby but understands that the name will be changed when the adoption is finalized. There are some ways to facilitate these best-case scenarios: The adoptive family gives the birth mother their favorite top three names and she choosesVice VersaThe adoptive family incorporates the  birth mother’s name into the baby’s name with her permissionBoth sides present why their choice of name is important and when the opposing side hears the reasoning understand and agrees. A birth mother may want to name her baby and know that her baby will have this for the rest of their life.  The adoptive family will get to raise the baby and allowing a birth mother this opportunity is an amazing way to show her how much you appreciate her!

14 Juni 202018min

Podcast 84: Getting to Know Your Poddcast Co-Hosts Listen and learn all sorts of fun facts about your co-hosts as we dive into our own lives, so you can learn more about us. Hearing chosts once a week and learning bits and pieces of their lives being interwoven as adoption related matters ar discussed.  However,  we thought it would be fun to dedicate one podcast to learn more about us as people and why we do what we do, more about our backgrounds and how they influence our thoughts, beliefs and viewpoints.  Thank you all so much for continuing to listen to us, for opening your heart and mind.  The adoption community is one we feel so blessed to be a part of.

9 Juni 202033min

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption #83: Adoption in the News 1) Gerber Babies selected first adopted baby!  Magnolia Earl, a 1-year-old from California, was selected from among more than 327,000 entrants to represent Gerber in marketing campaigns. 2) The first newborn to be legally surrendered under Arkansas' new safe haven law was dropped off at a Benton fire station last week.  3)  DIscussion of the Open Letter to FX about Norma McCorvey Documentary From: The Pro-life Advocates who actually knew Norma McCorvey   Choosing adoption means choosing an option with support, aftercare and access to financial resources.  Adoption is a beautiful choice and one that is increasingly becoming a more popular choice.  If you are pregnant and are considering adoption, we are a licensed, full-service, non-profit Arizona Adoption Agency.  We believe in adoption aftercare services and have a program on site to provide continued support through the Donna K. Evans Foundation.  You can contact us 24/7 at (623) 695-4112.  You are not alone and we want to help, thank you for considering adoption, you are making an amazing choice.  Call or Text: (623) 695-4112.

8 Juni 202019min

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption #82: Two Lives, One Choice Part 3 of 3 With any documentary there are always people for or against the message the documentary is projecting.  This particular documentary "AKA Jane Roe" is particularly controversal due to the subject matter of abortion.  In the adoption community, abortion is an alternatve that negates many of the beliefs and stands of adoption; choosing lives, building families, improving the lives of birth mtohers, and so on.  During this podcast we: Discuss our opinions on the film.Expectations vs. Reality of the documentaryDiscuss what we liked and didn’t likeWhat we came away with…What we believe the influence of the documentary will have on abortion We also examine what causes peoples’ opinions, beliefs, and morals to change: Life experiences/ Events in their livesEducationThe notion of “Confirmation bias,” the tendency people have to embrace information that supports their beliefs and reject information that contradicts themInterpersonal influence system Building Arizona Families believes in adoption and started the You Before Me Campaign to support and celebrate birth mothers.  www.ube4me.life

3 Juni 202030min

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Eopside 81: Two Lives, One Choice, Part 2 of 3 Understanding both side of the abortion coin: ProLife and ProChoice will only educate either side to a greater extent, thereby enabling them better prepared to make a make life change.  As a believer in the ProLife Movement, stepping back and looking at the ProChoice beliefs enables us to see where they are coming from; what data is used, what specific points are targeted along with "Where, Why and How?" In order to extend an "olive branch" we need to meet the opposite side either in the middle on on their turf.  Sometimes the promotion of a belief is just repetition on the part of the "believer" without really understanding or even having correct information.  Join us as we dive into the topic of abortion and disecting the framework of why ProChoice followers subscribe to this belief.

29 Maj 202027min