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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

How Can I Support Birth Mothers?

Birth mothers are the heros of adoption.

They are the ones that make adoption possible.

This month tell them how much their choices, actions, and sacrifices have meant and do mean to you. Tell them that you know they will never forget, and neither will you.

Gina, birth mother to her 9 year old "Butterfly" has provided us with the perfect way to do just that. Gina is the force behind

a charity that creates baskets that new birth mothers can carry with them as they leave the hospital- she does not want them to walk out with empty arms.

"The Birth Mother Baskets {bmb} actually started as a small service project for me to do for Christmas in 2002. I wanted to show support to other birth mothers and let them know it’s ok to talk about your placement, to be proud of your decision. I wanted something that the birth mothers could take home with them, after placement. I didn’t want them to go home with empty arms. That’s when I thought of a gift basket full of items, just for the birth mother, to show her she is not alone. I took ALL the resources I had at that time (which wasn’t much). I then called around to every local business that I thought might donate. My small goal of filling 20 baskets became 60 and I was thrilled with the response. I then distributed them to local hospitals and social services to give to each birth mother.

With such a great outpouring, by those around me, I was able to continue filling baskets for about four years! Some of these donations came from businesses, friends or speaking engagements that I have done here locally. In those four years, I have successfully filled over 300 baskets!!"




Gina has created these adorable word birds to help raise funds to fill these amazing baskets. At only $10, and with the proceeds going to such a great project, this is a great time to be thinking about Christmas presents (sisters, moms, grandmas, friends, who wouldn't love a little word bird?)

You can also donate cash directly to Birth Mother Baskets, or send Gina any of the supplies she lists on her website that she often uses to fill the baskets.

To kick off my month long blog-o-thon in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month

I am giving away one of these adorable word birds!

You want one don't you! (I know I do.)

So you can enter FOUR times.
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me how a birth mother has touched your life.
2. Tweet or Facebook about this contest (with a link back to this post)- then leave me a comment letting me know.
3. Blog about this contest and then leave a comment with a link to your blog.
4. Make a donation of any kind to Birth Mother Baskets and (you guessed it) leave me a comment (no need to tell me what kind of donation or how much, anything is great.)

Please be sure that you leave some way for me to contact you in case you win!

Entries will be open until midnight on Nov. 10th. I will announce a winner on Nov. 11th.

Also, be sure to visit Gina's blog. Her post, sharing with us her journal entry just FOUR DAYS after placement, is so beautiful and enlightening.

19 comments:

  1. As a friend became a birth mother, she introduced me to adoption and started my journey to working in adoption and supporting other expectant mothers.

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  2. wow - what a perfect project. I would love to get one for my daughter's birthmother.

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  3. This is such an amazing project. I hated the fact that I had to walk out of the hospital empty handed. A basket would have been nice. The overwhelming feeling of being utterly alone isn't a good one. Thank you for what you are doing for other birth moms!

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  4. 1. as a birthmother i have met numerous others thru outreach and support groups, each is unique beautiful and full of love for her birthchild. i got to watch my then roommate give birth to her son and 2 days later place him in the arms of his forever parents. what an experience!

    2. i facebooked about this giveaway on my personal profile and my adoption group page! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82019623067

    3. i blogged about it here: http://birthmothers4adoption.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-can-i-help-support-birthmother.html

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  5. This post, and Gina's story, made me cry and cry. Tears of joy, sadness, appreciation, and empathy. As a mother, I could not even fathom the heartbreak of leaving the hospital empty-handed, no matter the circumstances. What a kind and wonderful way to celebrate the strength and soothe the loss of placing your child up for adoption.

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  6. I had a friend who gave her daughter up for adoption. I remember admiring the strength and love that it took for her to make that decision. I can't imagine what it would be like to grow a life inside of you and then leave the hospital empty-handed. This is such a great cause. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. What a great way to raise awareness! If it weren't for birth mothers, we wouldn't have our lovely niece in my family. She is the oldest grandchild on my husband's side. After trying for over 9 years, she helped make my sister in law a mother.

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  8. my cousin gave up her baby for adoption, and I thought of her minutes after giving birth to my own daughter. I was (and am) simply amazed by her strength and goodness in giving up her baby.

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  9. I think this is a great way to get the word out. We continue to keep you and Ali in our prayers. I'd love to be entered in the contest.
    much love.

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  10. I love you, am I exempt from the contest?

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  11. No Princess, you are not exempt, and I love you too.

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  12. I had the opportunity two months ago to meet my own Birth Grandmother (my Mother's Birth Mother) for the first time. It has been wonderful to meet and get to know such an amazing woman and to better understand what she did for my mother-and by extension me.

    All of my grandmothers have been remarkable and amazing women, each in their own right. I have loved been able to better understand one more piece of where I came from and how it has shaped me, my mother, and my family.

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  13. What a wonderful organization. I am going to purchase a little word bird for each of the teachers at my yoga studio (www.mlcyoga.com). What a great way to show my appreciation for them, while also showing my appreciation for birth moms!

    Thank you for giving us this opportunity to show our support!

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  14. I'm so grateful to the TWO wonderful birth mothers who gave up their sons for my friend Andrea to raise. It has meant the world to her and her husband to have both sweet boys in their lives.

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  15. A good friend of mine lost a child to still birth and wasn't able to get pregnant again. It caused a lot of heartach and pain for her. In the past year she has adopted a little boy and her life seems more complete. She is much happier and it is all thanks to a young birth mother.

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  16. I also twittered!
    email: layla12@gmail.com

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  17. As a birthmother for over a quarter of a century and after listening to many other birthmtoher’s discussing the long term affects of adoption, I have also put together a list of the perfect adoption gifts that can go into a basket: http://www.adoptionbirthmothers.com/adoption-gift-ideas-the-perfect-birthmother-gift-basket/ They are more on the snarky side, but many in the community do agree, it’s way more realistic.

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