I placed my daughter (Zoe) for adoption 11 years ago. I was 17 at the time and ready for my senior year in high school, and Zoe’s birth dad was 23. I decided I wanted to place her for adoption as I knew I wasn’t able to provide for her the way a parent needs to. 

I knew we would be faced with many hardships as I grew up in a single parent home. After she was born, she was placed in foster care for 6 weeks. It was supposed to be 2 weeks, however her birth dad brought me to court for custody. Therefore, I took Zoe from the foster home to my home. Can you imagine?? Going through the grief and loss at the hospital and now here I was with my daughter, with no clue how to be a parent!

One word to describe how you felt the moment you discovered you were pregnant?

Terrified

Why did you choose adoption?

The second I found out I was pregnant, I knew I couldn’t raise him or her the way I wanted to. The baby and I both deserved better.

What and who played the biggest role in your decision to place your child for adoption?

Finances and my mother. I knew I couldn’t provide everything a baby needs, much less day care. And I refused to accept handouts from my parents. I wanted to be able to support my child.

Pictured above: Ana and her father on placement day with her son.

One word to describe how you felt the moment you discovered you were pregnant?

I felt completely numb, I was most likely going through shock. I found out I was pregnant when I was fifteen at my sophomore year homecoming dance. My best friend held my hand while we read the test. I remember going home and talking to my mom, lying to her about how fun the dance was. After she went to go to sleep, I laid down on the couch for an hour or two and thought to myself. It took me around two weeks to fully process I was pregnant before I was able to tell my parents. After that point, I really realized how terrified and alone I was.

Why did you choose on adoption? What and who played the biggest role in your decisions to place your child for adoption?

I wanted a better life for my child. My father has a big role in that. He and one of his brothers were adopted, and had a wonderful childhood and family life because of that. I wanted my child to have a mother and father who could fully provide financial and emotional support. As my child would have lacked both, I made the choice as a mother to give my child the life they deserved.