Honoring Birthdays & Birth Mothers
"I celebrate a woman who will be forever tied to our hearts. A woman who I know sits in the middle of celebrating this little girl and holds a cup full of loss." - Sue, adoptive mom #BraveLove
Coming Soon: Emmah
“I don’t have to hide from my son. He can know why I made the decision I did. And know that I love him.”
"We decided together that we wanted to pursue adoption"
Stephanie and her boyfriend placed their son for adoption. Eight years later they are able to continue to surround him with love and support through an open adoption. This is Stephanie’s story and why she chose adoption.
"Adoption was the best thing for my life and for my son"
Stephanie was parenting 3 children, battling addiction, and pregnant. At 8 months, she made her decision, which impacted her life in the most beautiful ways. This is Stephanie’s story and why she chose adoption.
"I gained not only a son but his parents"
Jennifer found out she was pregnant at 27, which was the same age her birth mother was when she made an adoption plan. This is Jennifer’s story and why she chose adoption.
Honoring Adoption: the traditions, gestures, and gifts
As we know, adoption impacts people forever. Nowadays that often looks like a relationship. Here are some ideas, traditions, simple gestures that honor the relationship between birth families and adoptive families, no matter how open or closed.
Gift Guide
Looking for a gift for a birth mom in your life? Reference this list of BraveLove products.
"How was I going to take care of a whole child?"
When Sara was pregnant with her daughter, she was at a difficult place in her life. She wasn’t able to take care of herself at the time, so the question of how she was going to be able to take care of a child was overwhelming. This is Sara’s story and why she chose adoption.
A Mother at Peace - Calli's Story
"My heart, mind and spirit are at peace knowing he is with the people who could love AND care for him best." - Calli, birth mom
Whitney's Story
Not too long ago, Whitney's life looked pretty dark and chaotic. Then she found out she was pregnant, and it turned upside down. She knew she couldn't parent. She also knew she wanted her child to be in a safe home with two loving parents. Today, not only does Whitney get to be a part of her son's life, but she gets to encourage other birth moms.
"There were a lot of people who didn't understand how I could have one and place another."
Kandice was already parenting her 9-month-old son when she found out she was pregnant again. As a single parent, there were challenges that made parenting a second child incredibly difficult. This is Kandice’s story and why she chose adoption.
"It was a tough decision, but the right decision for me."
Beginning her senior year of high school, Laura found out she was pregnant. Neither parenting nor abortion felt like the right choice. This is Laura’s story and why she chose adoption.
Adoption Isn't Easy: Megan's Story
"The hardest decision I ever had to make was also the most loving." - Megan, birth mom #BraveLove
Why Adoption? Part 2
No two stories are the same. They're beautiful, messy, complicated. Here's a sneak preview of more stories that are coming out soon...
"I didn't make the wrong decision because I have success now."
Brittni carried a lot of shame for past choices in her life. She was battling loss and addiction, and life seemed to get worse before it could get better. That's when she found out she was pregnant. This is Brittni's story and why she chose adoption.
"I'm still a mom no matter what"
Married and raising three children, Gwen and her husband were pregnant with their fourth child. Pressured by her spouse to end her pregnancy, Gwen made an adoption plan instead. She found an adoption agency in the phonebook and made the call. This is Gwen's story and why she chose adoption.
The Best Outcome - Meghan's Story
"Some days I am more emotional than others, but I have never felt an ounce of regret about my decision to place him. He has a better life than I could have ever given him and that is what he deserves.” - Meghan, adoptee and birth mom
"How can I do this?"
At first, she had an incomplete picture of what adoption looked like, but then she learned how much of a say she actually had. This is Noelle’s story and why she chose adoption.
Maternal Mental Health
Hello, my name is Emily Morehead, and I am a Psychotherapist in Texas. I specialize in working in the Infertility and Adoption Community. I recently had the opportunity to speak at Postpartum Support International's Conference with my presentation "Serving in the Adoption Community - A Clinician's Guide to Psychotherapy with Expectant and Birth Parents."
"We just want to belong"
Katie did everything she could to make it work in order to parent her son. Six months later, she made an adoption plan. Some time passed, and she was faced with another decision to place for adoption. This is Katie's story and why she chose adoption (twice).
An Impossible Decision - Mia's Story
"I was 17 years old...with my high school best friend, expecting a baby." - Mia, birth mom #BraveLove
"I wanted more for her"
Already parenting her young daughter, Meredith found out she was pregnant a second time. However, this new pregnancy came with extra challenges in which Meredith realized it would be too difficult to parent her two daughters. She wanted to give them the life she felt they deserved. This is Meredith’s story and why she chose adoption.
"I learned that I had control over my options"
Lacy was in high school when she found out she was pregnant. Life seemed out of control. Without support, a partner, and stability, Lacy decided to make an adoption plan. This is Lacy’s story and why she chose adoption.
Just Released: Why Adoption?
No two stories are the same. They're beautiful, messy, complicated. We can't wait for you to watch. Here's the trailer for a sneak preview of what's to come.
Birth Mothers Are Mothers
"To me, this statement validates my place on this holiday. That as a birth mother, I should still be recognized as a mother," Jennifer said. At BraveLove, we believe birth mothers are mothers. Watch this short clip to see why.