Seeing a positive pregnancy test when you’re not ready for a baby is a fearful moment. Paula share’s her journey to adoption in the hopes it helps make a decision for life.
Paula’s Adoption Story
One day I discovered I was pregnant and facing the most difficult decision of my life. My thoughts changed overnight with the realization of the life that grew inside of me. As my pregnancy progressed, I had to decide if my current situation was best for my child, or if there were ways to make my circumstances work out for a child. I thought the realities of single parenthood would not be fair to my child.
When I went to my next doctor’s appointment, I saw a brochure about adoption in the waiting room. I began to see adoption as a way I could provide my daughter with parents who could raise her with every opportunity and stability I couldn’t offer yet. After many hours of prayer and soul-searching, I decided to make an adoption plan for my baby.
I took the time to research waiting adoptive families with an adoption agency and found a family whom I truly loved. Finding them made me more sure about my decision. I wanted them involved in my pregnancy and I had chosen my baby’s adoptive mother to be my labor partner. She went to every doctor’s appointment with me and we would get breakfast afterward. During this time spent together we got to know one another very well and became good friends. I felt that it was important to spend the time and effort to get to know my child’s adoptive parents.
A few months later I delivered a beautiful, healthy baby girl. The time spent in the hospital was precious; together with my daughter’s parents, I was able to care for her. We spent two days in the hospital sharing with friends and family the beautiful life that I had created. It was a time of love and laughter. Emotions ran high in those few hours, but the one that was most present was LOVE!
After we parted and went home, I with my family and my daughter with hers, I knew that my daughter would loved and cared for in every way. I love my daughter with all my heart, and because of that love I was able to give her everything I had always wanted for her. I know that open adoption was the very best plan for my daughter, Alexandra.
Today I am able to share my story with others with the hope of educating as many people as possible about the benefits of open adoption. As a birth mother, I will never have to hide behind a veil of secrecy, and I will always know how my daughter is doing. I do wish I had been in a position to parent her myself, but I am so very excited for the life she will be able to lead due to open adoption. Each and every day I think of my daughter and know that she is loved, safe, and thriving in her family.
I can see from the photos and letters that her adoptive parents regularly send me that she is growing into a lovely young girl. The relationship that my daughter’s adoptive parents and I share is one I know will last a lifetime.
Paula’s Story is an excerpt from So I Was Thinking About Adoption…, a book written by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P. Written for pregnant women who need to consider all of their pregnancy options, this book is available as a free download for any pregnant mom. Ms. Caldwell founded Lifetime Adoption in 1986, and it is now an adoption agency that serves pregnant women and families nationwide as come together for a modern, open adoption.
