Grief Associated with Florida Adoption

Adoption does not come without grief. As a whole, adoption is painted as a picturesque experience, and while it is beautiful in its intentions, it does leave behind a wave of pain in its wake, especially for birth mothers. If you’re a woman considering adoption as an unplanned pregnancy option, Adoption Choices of Florida is here to help you prepare, no matter the cost. It’s never a good idea to jump into life decisions without all the facts, and we’re not going to hide the most taboo of adoption topics—birth mother grief. 

In this week’s blog, we’re breaking down feelings that you, as a potential birth mother, may feel in the midst of a Florida adoption. 

Unplanned Pregnancy Fear

Fear is the most primal of fears. It can influence our decisions in more ways than we as human beings care to admit. If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you’re sure to be consumed by this tumultuous emotion. After all, the unknown is terrifying.  Is adoption the right option for me and my baby? How do I start the process? What kind of people adopt? Am I alone in this process? These are the questions that plague your mind—and they all come from a place of fear. We’d be lying if we said that you won’t experience fear, even after you kickstart your adoption process. The truth of the matter is this: only you control how you react in the moment. That said, we’ll be there, holding your hand every step of the way. 

Feelings of Worthlessness

Feelings of insecurity or poor self-image can be heightened when facing an unplanned pregnancy. Especially if you feel like your pregnancy will lead to rejection by your partner or family. This can create feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, and feelings of being unwanted. At Adoption Choices of Florida , we know that you’re anything but these awful insecurities. But we also understand that they’re a part of life, which is why we aim to remind you of that around every corner. You know yourself better than anyone else. If you’re prone to feelings of worthlessness, know that they might be heightened during a Florida adoption. 

Anger and Unplanned Pregnancy

You’re entitled to your feelings, and feelings include anger. Anger at yourself, anger at your situation, anger at your loved ones’ reactions—wherever your anger may be directed, it’s necessary. Experiencing atypical emotions is a normal reaction to an unplanned event. And facing a pregnancy that wasn’t necessarily in the cards falls under the ‘unplanned event’ umbrella. Our advice: Prepare yourself. You are going to have to give yourself time to process your anger, to separate fact from feeling. Know this is going into your Florida adoption. Ask yourself: Are you, and possibly your partner, prepared for these emotions?

Guilt Post-Adoption

It’s possible that you may also feel overwhelmed by guilt post-adoption. Birth mothers make an incredibly difficult decision when choosing to place their children for adoption. Feelings of regret, no matter the circumstances, are completely natural. Placing your baby for adoption is a life-altering decision, and the weight of that choice leads birth mothers to these unsafe headspaces, where they’re drowning in negative emotions. While these feelings are valid, they’re also important to work through.  That’s where we come in! With our monthly birth mother support groups, we’ll be sure to remind you of the selfless decision you made. If you choose adoption, your decision will be one borne of the purest love for your unborn child and nothing else. 

Grief Associated with Florida Adoption

Feelings are just that—feelings— and you are sure to feel a multitude of them during and after the adoption process. Placing your baby for adoption is a life-altering decision, and the weight of that choice can lead you to a hazardous headspace full of grief and negativity. But the good news is that you aren’t going in blind. You’ve done the research. You’ve prepared as much as you can. And, you won’t be alone. 

With Adoption Choices of Florida, you will never be alone. Feelings of postpartum post-adoption depression are nothing to be ashamed of, and help is available to you at every turn.

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678

About the Author: Patience Bramlett, a University of Southern Mississippi news-editorial graduate, is a seasoned and award-winning freelance writer. She is also a passionate reader, whose only wish is to live life without fear of the unknown. Her motivation and inspiration to live her best life stems from the words of John Lennon: 

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

When Patience is not exploring Colorado with her husband, she’s drinking coffee, forever figuring out how to tame her hair, growing her library, and trying to break into the publishing career.