I remember when I found out I was pregnant. Feelings and emotions invaded my mind, my heart. Shock. Fear. I didn’t know what to do.
My husband and I talked about it before we even married – we knew parenting wasn’t for us. Abortion was not an option.
We wanted to make the right decision for our child. So we chose to give this beautiful gift to a family that would love her, that would do all they could to keep her safe and well.
But it’s not a decision to enter into lightly – you have to put a lot of thought into it. Picking up the phone to call someone – to actually tell someone I wanted to place my baby for adoption – was incredibly tough. Who could I trust? Who would help?
As an attorney myself, I knew I didn’t want to call a lawyer. Instead, I wanted to call someone who would really listen to my concerns and wishes, who would truly care about me as well as the future of my baby.
A friend recommended CHS. I still remember my anxiety. It took a leap of faith to dial the numbers. But as soon as I did, I knew I was in good hands.
CHS has the knowledge and experience to help birth mothers; everyone is so sensitive to our feelings. My counselor constantly asked how I felt, provided reassurance, reminded me I was going to be OK. And CHS connected me with other women who had been in my shoes – their support was incredible.
Every woman is unique, each situation special. CHS understands that. But there’s one feeling that unifies us all: we’re scared.
It was tough being pregnant. Some days I felt good; other days, I felt horrible. My emotions traveled all the highs and lows imaginable—shame, disappointment in myself, unhappy, happy, blessed to bring a new life into the world, excited to feel her move around. It’s terrifying. But to give the gift of life to someone…now that’s amazing.
I have no regrets about my decision or about my pregnancy. Leaving the hospital was painful – I’ll never forget that pain – but I wouldn’t change a thing. I had the privilege to experience the joy of bringing a baby into the world, the opportunity to feel a new life grow inside of me. And then I had the honor of selecting the family that would raise her…the parents who had dreamed of holding her in their arms, of watching her grow, of guiding and encouraging her.
I hope she has a wonderful life full of experiences, successes and failures…and that she grows and learns from each one. I hope she’s loved and knows what it means to be part of a family…that she knows just how blessed she is.
She has two families – in our minds, she’ll always be our daughter. We’ll always love her.