Birth Mother Assistance
Table of Contents

The content of this website can help a birth mother who is considering placing her child for adoption or a birth mother who is planning on raising her child.

Included here is information to help any birth mother living in any of the U.S. 50 states or a U.S. birth mother who, in a civilian or military capacity, is living in a foreign country.  It includes the following links to other websites: 

PregnancyAndChildren.com was created to help any woman who wants to know more about pregnancy and about the child she has delivered or may give birth to in the near future.

BirthMotherResources.com is designed especially to help you and the many other teen and adult women who are pregnant or may have already given birth to a child.  The website will help you whether you are planning to raise your child yourself or are thinking about placing your child for adoption. 

ChildAdoptionLaws.com will provide you with information about the adoption laws of your state of residence and about other important adoption laws. 

AdoptionServices.org provides you with information about a non-profit adoption agency that is licensed in multiple states.  Adoption Services is able to help a birth mother living in any state, or even a U.S. birth mother who is living overseas, with a full array of adoption services.  You can contact the staff of Adoption Services 7-days a week, 365 days a year. There is never any obligation on your part and all calls are confidential.  All services are free to birth mothers, birth fathers and pregnant women.

Resources for pregnant women and financial resources includes information to help with the many expenses related to a pregnant woman's care, her prenatal care, preparing for a new baby, and then the care of the baby. State and local health departments, community free clinics, and other organizations that offer medical care are included.

Support groups are available for pregnant teens as well as adult pregnant women and birth mothers. Each support group offers something a little different but all try to offer non-judgmental support, encouragement, information and alternatives to ensure that a woman knows the resources she needs regarding her pregnancy. 

Medical assistance information for a pregnant woman or birth mother ranges from general health concerns to more specific concerns like health and diet, delivery, depressions, and prenatal care.  The information in this section deals with the more general overall health concerns including assistance with food, nutritional counseling, and access to health services and health insurance.

Health and nutrition and weight gain are concerns of almost every pregnant woman and birth mother.  The food you eat every day, even before you are pregnant, is important for your health.  Once you become pregnant it is even more important to eat right since you are eating for both you and your baby.  This is a good place to help get you started on nutrition, diet, and weight gain. 

Drugs and alcohol consumption should be a critical area of concern for every pregnant woman and birth mother since any amount of alcohol and drug, legal or illegal, that the pregnant woman consumes impacts on both her and her unborn child.  Even over the counter medicines and drugs prescribed to you by your health care provider before you became pregnant might be harmful to you and the growing fetus during pregnancy.  

Labor and delivery information is critical for every pregnant woman and birth mother. Many women do not really know the signs of labor and do not understand the labor and delivery process.  It can be a very emotional and frightening experience unless you are prepared for it.  It is important to know the signs of labor and learn about the different options available for giving birth so you feel confident and comfortable with your experience.

Morning sickness and nausea is one of the most common complaints of pregnancy, affecting around 70 per cent of pregnant women. It is estimated that approximately 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women experience discomfort from the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. 

Depression can occur during or after a pregnancy.  Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called perinatal depression while depression after pregnancy is called postpartum depression. Depression may be one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy.

Prenatal care is very important and should be started as soon as possible. It can assure a birth mother that you and your baby are as healthy as possible. Prenatal tests can serve several useful functions.  It is important to take the time to educate yourself about these tests and how they can help you and your baby.

Pregnancy calendar is an illustrated detailed guide to all the changes taking place in a birth mother and in her baby.  Each week of pregnancy includes a description of your baby's development, as well as an explanation of the changes taking place in your body. You will also find important medical information that can help keep you and your baby healthy.

Selecting a hospital or a birthing center is something too many pregnant women and birth mothers do not give enough thought too.  The closest hospital is not always the best. This site explains the different types of hospital and birth center options a pregnant woman or birth mother may want to consider. 

Crisis centers are available throughout the U.S. and Canada.  These crises pregnancy centers are staffed by caring individuals who want to help pregnant women and birth mothers through this difficult time in their lives. Many centers are medical clinics with a full range of free services. The staff is trained to be non-judgmental.  

The child welfare agency in your state can help you understand the adoption laws, regulations, and procedures of your state.  The professionals in these offices can be very helpful to a birth mother or birth father. This site lists the State Child Welfare Agency website for every state and will help you locate the appropriate state office.

Great News!  We have now created a single large source of information on the Internet to assist pregnant women.  Everything you need to understand pregnancy and how to care for your child, plus financial, medical and emotional help resources are now all in one place to help make life easier for you.  Please visit our new site to assist pregnant women at:

PregnancyAndChildren.com

Medical issues for a pregnant woman or birth mother range from general health concerns to more specific concerns like health and diet, delivery, depressions, and prenatal care.  This section deals with the more general overall health concerns including assistance with food, nutritional counseling, and access to health services and health insurance. 

Emotional assistance is also available to help with depression and support groups are listed as added resources.

Financial and other types of assistance for pregnant women include programs offering financial aid and other types of help for women who need assistance. State and local health departments, community free clinics, and other organizations offer medical care. There is also the special government program for women, infants, and children called WIC.

Unplanned pregnancy resources includes information about Birthright International  which offers support to girls and women who are distressed by an unplanned pregnancy and are looking for alternatives to an abortion.

WIC program, the special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, provides nutritious foods, nutrition counseling, and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge. WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk.

Infant safe haven laws address infant abandonment and infanticide.  Infant safe haven legislation has been enacted as an incentive for a birth mother in crisis to safely relinquish her baby to a safe haven where the baby will be protected and provided with medical care until a permanent home can be found.

Shelters for pregnant women in the U.S. and in Canada are available but may be hard to find.  Some are private, others are public, and many are not general public knowledge.  Do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Your local women's shelter can put you in a safe place.  You can call them and talk to an understanding woman who will do everything she can to help you. Don't assume you are alone in your pursuit of help and a safe place to reside.

Domestic violence is a horrible thing to experience.  Hotline advocates provide support and assistance to anyone involved in a domestic violence situation, including those in same-sex relationships, male survivors, those with disabilities and immigrant victims of domestic violence.

Agencies A-Z gives you a comprehensive list, with links to each, of hundreds of federal agencies and departments many of which can be a valuable resource for a pregnant woman, birth mother, and birth father. 

Benefits and Services lists the multitude of U.S. federal government benefit programs and services available to pregnant women, birth mothers, and birth fathers.  This site helps you to access government benefit eligibility information through a free, confidential, and easy-to-use online screening tool.

Adoption support groups as well as pregnancy support groups and parenting support groups are provided to help a birth mother who is planning on raising her child or is planning to place her child for adoption.  Support groups can help a birth mother with physical, emotional, and financial issues.

Parenting a child can be a wonderful experience. At the same time it can be challenging financially, physically and emotionally. Parenting or planning for an adoption is two of the options of every birth mother.  These resources in this section are for a birth mother who is seeking help and ideas for raising her child. 

Support groups for a birth mother is specifically for a birth mother who plan on raising her child. These sites support, inform, and connect teen and other birth mothers so they can better face the challenge of parenting.

Birth fathers encounter many new issues presented by the baby,  Becoming a father presents each man with a unique opportunity.  To help you learn more about the changes you will face and how to get help, this site is a good place to look.

Child development from ages 0-21 is provided by experts to provide a birth mother and birth father with detailed developmental information. 

Child/infant health provides baby care advice from experts for a birth mother and/or birth father.  Included is health related information from a variety of sources including the Mayo Clinic, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of Health, and the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine.

Breast feeding has been shown to help protect a baby against many illnesses, including ear infections, upper and lower respiratory ailments, allergies, intestinal disorders, colds, and many others.  This site will help a birth mother who is thinking about breastfeeding her child. 

State by state WIC program will take you to the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in your state of residence.  This program provides nutritious foods, nutrition counseling, and referrals to health and other social services at no charge. WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk.

If you are considering placing your child for adoption, you will find the resources below very helpful.

Where to start gives a birth mother and birth father a valuable overview of the entire adoption process and practical information about adoption alternatives to help you decide whether to place your child for adoption or raise your child yourself. It describes the benefits of counseling and reviews the different types of closed and open adoption arrangements. Tips for working with adoption agencies, independent attorneys, and adoptive parents are included. Emphasis is placed on moving ahead at your own pace. Remember, it is your baby and you have all the choices, so take your time. 

How to get started gives a valuable overview of the adoption process and information about adoption alternatives. First, you will need to educate yourself about pregnancy, parenting, and adoption.  Then you will need to decide whether to place your child for adoption or raise the child yourself.

An agency adoption is the safest type of adoption for a birth mother and her child. An "agency adoption" is arranged through an adoption agency that is licensed and monitored.  Many birth mothers and birth fathers are not aware of how the type of adoption that they choose can affect you and your child.  Whether you choose an agency adoption, private adoption, open adoption, or a closed adoption can have a big impact on your life and the life of your child. 

Private adoption can be much more risky than agency adoption.  A private adoption is arranged through a private individual, often a lawyer, physician, facilitator, or referral service.

A closed adoption  is an adoption in which you, the birth mother, and the family interested in adoption do not know each other's last names or other specific identifying information.

An open adoption is an adoption where the birth mother, birth father, and the family interested in adoption exchange identifying information and are then able, if they so choose, to be in direct contact with one another.

Using an adoption facilitator is one type of private adoption that needs a special warning. Adoption facilitators have become such an important area of concern that the U.S. government has stepped in and has warned both birth mothers and adopting families to work with an adoption agency and avoid adoption facilitators.

Selecting the right agency that meets the needs and desires of a birth mother and birth father is a very important early step. Agencies come in a variety of forms. But the most important fact for you to remember is that agencies are licensed to make sure you and your baby have options and protections that are not available when you deal directly with an adopting family or some other private source. 

Placing children with a relative of the birth mother or birth father is a special type of adoption that some pregnant women consider.

Support groups are available for pregnant teens as well as adult birth mothers and birth fathers who are thinking about adoption or have already completed an adoption placement.  Click on the link to see support groups in your state and support groups across the U.S.

Emotional issues, problems, and concerns frequently increase during and after a pregnancy. This site looks carefully at depression and at other emotional issues that a birth mother and birth father face regarding adoption.

A birth mother's legal rights are protected in every U.S. state and territory.  One of the most important legal rights has to do with the ending of parental rights. The ending of parental rights, called a termination, surrender, or relinquishment of parental rights, ends the legal parent-child relationship. Once the relationship has been terminated, the child is legally free to be adopted.

The birth father's parental rights are important since the birth father also has rights. Some birth fathers may be actively involved in the adoption process; others may not wish to take part in the adoption at all or their whereabouts may not be known.

Child Adoption Laws is a website to help you learn about your rights and includes the child adoption laws for every state.

Infant safe haven laws have been added to many state statutes to help reduce infant abandonment and infanticide. Infant safe haven laws are intended to act as an incentive for birth mothers in crisis to relinquish their babies to a safe haven where the baby will be protected and provided with medical care until a permanent home can be found.

The following chart of states provides all of the previously discussed areas of information, resources, and support groups for each state.

Please consider reviewing the information on the other websites we have created to help you::

Pregnancy And Children
Birth Mother Resources
Child Adoption Laws
AdoptionServices.org

I hope that the above information and this website are helpful to you. Good luck and please feel free to personally contact me or my staff.

Dr. Vince Berger
AdoptionServices.org