Rebecca: Hi, my name’s Rebecca and I’m 22 years old. When I found out I was pregnant I was really scared. It was not planned. I spoke to my grandmother because we were both very close, and she found herself in the same position in the 60s. I decided on adoption because she could help me through that.
After I decided on A Child’s Hope, I called them, and I spoke to Laura. She was very friendly, and it was really nice to talk to her. She knew what I was going through, and it was really nice to have an adoption counselor.
A Child’s Hope was very informative, and I always knew every option I could possibly take, because there are a lot of different roads that you could go. They were very helpful with every detail of the adoption plan.
When I viewed the profile of the adoptive parents I decided on, I pretty much knew that they were the ones, and then once I met them I was reassured of that. We had a really great time, and we just talked a lot, and I felt like I had known them for years. It was perfect.
My hospital experience was awesome. I had the best doctor I could’ve possibly had. Everybody knew what I was doing, so I think I ended up with the best treatment. After I delivered, my adoption counselor came to visit me in the hospital, and she helped me get in contact with the adoptive family. It was really exciting to be able to call them and to give them the good news. It was awesome to hear their voices too. They were so happy, and that really just made me feel a lot better about the whole situation.
Initially when I was considering adoption I was planning on having it closed because at first it seems like it would be easier. But when you get further along and you get more attached it’s really helpful to plan on having an open adoption because you never have to wonder if they’re ok and what’s going on, and when the last time that she went to the doctor was and all that stuff. They’re always just a phone call away, and I think it’s a thousand times easier that way.
Rebecca: Hi! Oh my God! She’s huge! Hi, how are you guys doing?
Adoptive mother: Good!
Rebecca: Good! (To baby) Hi! You are so pretty!
Rebecca: I’m never going to stop thinking about her, and it’s never really going to get too much easier. It’s always going to be the same, but it’s really comforting to know that I can always call my adoption counselor. She’s not only there for me while I’m pregnant; she’s there for me for as long as I’m having trouble with it, and she’s really, really helpful.
I look forward to getting updates with pictures every three months or couple weeks or whenever they update them. And even in between I can always go online and look at them. I’m really excited to see her school pictures, her first day at school and her first play and dance recitals and graduating high school and everything. I can’t wait. I felt like it was the right thing to do after following through with my adoption. I was proud of myself for going through with it. And it’s not easy, but you do it and you know it’s the right thing, and that’s what makes it ok.