Resources for Birth Fathers
December 9, 2020
Telling Others About Your Adoption Plan
December 9, 2020
Placing your child for adoption is an amazing and selfless decision, but it’s also a challenging and emotional one. You might be experiencing a wide variety of feelings, from sadness to panic to relief — and more. All of these emotions are normal after going through an unplanned pregnancy and adoption process.
If you’re looking for post-adoption support and resources for birth moms, we have a list of podcasts, support groups, books, and more to guide you.
Podcasts & Content
We’ve provided a podcast, video content platform, blog, and national organization that can help you find support and community during and after your placement experience.
Twisted Sisterhood
The Twisted Sisterhood podcast is hosted by two birth moms, Ashley Mitchell and Kelsey Vander. In this podcast, Ashley and Kelsey discuss the hardships and emotions they and other birth moms have experienced.
- instagram.com/twistedsisterhoodpodcast/
- Ashley’s Instagram: @bigtoughgirl
- Kelsey’s Instagram: @fromanthamotha
- https://linktr.ee/twistedsisterhoodpodcast
Knee to Knee
Ashley Mitchell, cohost of the Twisted Sisterhood podcast, founded Knee to Knee. She creates video content for women who have made a huge loving sacrifice to place their child for adoption. In Ashley’s videos, she is open and raw about her experiences and journey as a birth mom. She also provides lifting content and resources for fellow birth mothers.
- Ashley’s Instagram: @bigtoughgirl
- vimeo.com/kneetoknee
- sitkneetoknee.com/birthmothers
The Grace Bond
The Grace Bond is an initiative by Leah Outten, a woman who lovingly placed her daughter for adoption at the age of 16. Now an adult, and a mother to five, Leah is an advocate and spokeswoman for birth moms.
BraveLove
BraveLove is a national organization that acknowledges the pain birth moms go through by making the brave decision to place their children for adoption. BraveLove shares stories written by many birth mothers. You can also find videos where birth moms discuss their experiences and stories.
BraveLove holds both in-person and virtual events throughout the year to support women who have chosen to place their children for adoption.
Support Groups
While there aren’t many support groups local to Lafayette, we have included some groups and event possibilities in Indianapolis and Chicago area, as well as some virtual options.
BraveLove
You can find birth mom support events at the link below. BraveLove also hosts birth parent-focused retreats. Because it’s is a national organization, you can search for events throughout the United States.
- bravelove.org/events
- Go to bravelove.org/post_adoption_support and click on the bold red “varied list” to find a list of groups and retreats throughout the United States.
Adoption Support Center’s Support Group
This agency provides support groups in the Indianapolis area.
Open Adoption, Double the Love
This is a private Facebook group comprised of all members from the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees). Members share and support one another in their open adoption journeys: facebook.com/groups/openadoptiondoublethelove.
Adoptions of Indiana
Adoptions of Indiana is an adoption agency that also facilitates a private Facebook group for birth parents. They ask that you call their office to be added to the group.
On Your Feet Foundation
This foundation focuses almost completely on the referral and support of birth moms.
Books & Articles
There are many reading materials (including these short articles) which you may find useful now or at some point down the road.
“Birth Parent Loss & Grief”
This two-page article by Patricia E. Roles walks through the grief process birth parents (specifically mothers) go through.
She describes the numbness and denial which may occur in the initial stage, followed by an eruption of feelings that occurs after the shock and denial start to pass. These feelings can be sadness, emptiness, anger, fear, panic, and anxiety; all are normal. Patricia concludes with the “accepting the adoption” stage. Click here to read the article.
“Choosing for One Child & Not Another”
In this two-page article based on her own experiences, Brenda Romanchik describes how to navigate an open adoption and the questions the child might have down the road. Click here to read the article.
“Grief & Open Adoption”
This article is also by Brenda Romanchik, who goes into further detail about the feelings involved with placing a child for adoption. These emotions include shock, denial, sorrow, depression, anger, guilt, acceptance, and resolution. Click here to read the article.
Looking for more post-adoption support? We can help.
Gifts of Grace Adoption Support Center has worked with expecting moms, adoptive families, and children in the Lafayette, Indiana community since 2013. We believe that quality, affordable, Christ-centered adoption services empower pregnant moms and dads, create thriving adoptive families, and help all children be placed in a loving home.
For more information, please contact us. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
