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Each member of the adoption triad (adoptee, birth mother, or adoptive parent) will have their own answer to this question. Each individual will also have their own perspective, given the trajectory of their lives and the multiple variables of the people they came in contact with as well as their past and…
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There are many voices out there, whether other adoptees, previous birth mothers, adoptive parents, or the general public. They all have their story regarding adoption and its impact on their life. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and trying to research more about adoption, you may be feeling confused and frightened by…
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Stranger Anxiety – in the era of Covid This era of COVID-19 has left many parents in a state of turmoil and unpredictability as their “norm”. Many parents of new little ones have had a particularly difficult transition to parenthood as they may have been isolated during pregnancy or with a newborn….
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Healthy Pregnancy Center for Disease Control (CDC) Learn what you can do before and during pregnancy to improve your chances of having a healthy baby. Before you get pregnant, try to reach a healthy weight. Obesity increases the risk for several serious birth defects and other pregnancy complications. If you are underweight, overweight,…
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How can I help? During the days following a newborn’s arrival, family members and friends might be excited to rush over to cuddle with the new little one. While this is an exciting time as a friend, aunt, godmother, etc., it is important to remember the mother and her well-being. It is easy…
Continue ReadingGrief and Loss as a Waiting Family Grief and loss may be commonly associated with losing a parent, baby, or friend. In the context of adoption, grief and loss may be connected (and rightly so) with the birth mother’s grieving after placing their child for adoption. Another area of grief and loss in…
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The first thing that I want to address is “the fit” when choosing the adoption agency that you plan to work with. Our belief at Hopeful Beginnings is to do your due diligence in researching the different agencies out there. You will get an immediate feel by how they address certain issues such…
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With the recent news of an infant being found in a Chicago alley, we felt it important to continue to spread awareness on the life saving Safe Haven Law. It is clear that the likely terrified and desperate biological parents of that infant had no idea what to do. If only they knew…
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My information is taken from “What to expect when you are expecting,” by Heidi Murkoff. I have recommended her books for years! I will cover crawling, standing and walking. Crawling Safety Congratulations — and welcome to a whole new phase of babyhood! Now that your infant has mastered movement on…
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Discipline/Shaken Baby Syndrome/Positive Reinforcement Shaken Baby Syndrome is also known as Abusive Head Trauma. This can take place within the home by relatives, friends, and Care Givers in a Day Care Situation, or a Home Day Care. According to Wilkepia: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), is an…
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