Birth Moms Real Talk

"Karen faced her 'own' birth secrets that she strived to 'untangle'. This gave Karen a unique experience as an adoptee confronted with finding her original birth certificate (OBC). Karen was passionate about the 'Real Talk' of adoption laws from state to state. She shared her story with passion, peace, and purpose. Karen had a straightforward attitude about societal pressures placed on birth/first moms in the United States. The essence of her story is that childhood experiences profoundly impact one's entire life."

Super Bowl LX airs on February 8, 2026 and is scheduled to air an Ad on Adoption . We had the chance to preview this ad. Cindy, another Birth/First Mom and I had a very transparent and candid conversation about this ad. Our conversation pointed out the glaring exclusion of the expectant woman’s voice , she was Not a Girl in the Middle , she was a Woman facing a decision.

The voice -over shared what she would miss by being pregnant, not what she could experience by raising her child . For many years, 45 years for me , I was faced with this same rhetoric in 1973 , choose life and allow a married couple to raise your child because that would be ‘ Better”. The only sure thing is that it would be ‘ Different”.

Let me be very Clear, my son had a good life . At the same time , we know that separation from birth/first mother is trauma. The adopted child has ‘ preverbal’ trauma, because they couldn’t talk , they had no voice or choice. I always imagined the scenario of a child being placed , not ‘given away’ that if a child had a voice , they would say , NO, I want my mother. God is so magnificent in the miracle of creation . We as mothers actually ‘ grow a little human’ , that 9 months creates a ‘birth bond ‘ that will never be broken , separated or not.

Listen to this conversation and please share this episode and comment to me and others. Let’s Conversate and have a “ Real Talk’ about Adoption .

Sydney says she was a relative “ normal” kid whose family expected her to

behave at a certain standard because of her “ family influence” in her town .

Early in Sydney’s life, trauma and grief entered her life with the tragic loss

of her mother. . She then became the “ mother figure” to her younger

siblings.

Sydney became a mother without family support as other first/birth mothers

experienced. The “family decision “ of adoption was the next step.

Conversations or discussions about this ‘life-changing” decision were not

an option for Sydney .

Sydney’s journey in placement of her son was challenging . Sydney spoke

of being an “ A “ student in school and upon becoming a birthmother, her

life then was considered “ blemished.” We spoke about the stereotype

placed on birthmothers living a “broken life.” We spoke of this simply “ not

bring true “.

Sydney is a shining “voice” in the adoption constellation with her

professional work in public policy and advocacy on the current adoption

landscape.

Shelley was very engaging as she talked about explored “it” with her “bestie” male friend. After three months, as a first-year student in college, she was overwhelmed to learn that she was pregnant. Her initial feelings were numbness, shock, and fear upon this life-changing news. We spoke about where she was, who she told first and all the specific details that birth/first moms experience as specific as time of day, what we are wearing, and the words remembered our entire life. Life stands still for a moment when moms receive this news.

Shelley received “immediate support “from all in her life. Shelley’s college professor played an integral role in her life and placement of her son. We spoke about how “support” could change the scenario from one choice to another.

Shelley’s reunion with her son was “Amazing “. The first hug with her son felt like ”Home”. The nature and nurture of adoption is “Powerful.

Happy New Year 2026 . BMRT Podcast adds a new perspective , a new series in addition to interviewing Birth/ First Moms journeys. Yvonne will be having group chats with moms as well as discussing the practice of Radical Acceptance with adoptees, birth/first moms, and adoption moms as part of the new podcast series .

We will return with our monthly BMRT Facebook LIVE Triad discussions, and we will Launch BMRT LIVE in Washington, DC, Atlanta and Sydney , Australia in 2026 . Stay tuned to participate and more details.

Our ‘ Hot Topics “ and “ Real Talk “ will be more engaging about the trauma suffered by the triad of adoptees, birth/first Moms, and adoptive moms.

After 7 years of reunion with her son , Yvonne is in a place of ‘ Radical Acceptance” and wants to help all in the adoption community to find their paths to Grace and Healing .

Yvonne has expanded her advocacy of helping with opening the access of original birth certificates ( OBC) by testimony in state legislatures.

Yvonne is sharing her voice in new spaces, such as adoption events, retreats, conferences, congressional hearings, and on virtual and social media platforms.

If you want a seasoned Birth/First Mom who brings a Strong voice and diversity in thoughts and perspectives , invite Yvonne as a guest .

Contact Yvonne at [email protected] .

Birth/First Moms , we want to share your journey , connect with us , you can share anonymous, your story is important.

Alycea was a teenager at 17 living on her own when she discovered she was pregnant. Though her independence and struggle in everyday life, she realized that she could not care for herself and her child,

Alycea had an older sister to teach her life skills at 17 when most only start at age 21.

She knew the realities of bank accounts, paying bills, working a job and surviving in life.

Alycea has traveled the path as many birth mothers of riding the ‘roller coaster ‘ of emotions in building a relationship with her daughter.

Cathryn grew up in a very strict family. Her religious background shaped her youth. She described herself as a ‘ rule follower”. She felt she was “ in the way” in the home growing up.

Cathryn had unconscious memories about giving birth to her daughter. Cathryn experienced PTSD while in therapy which prompted her to search for her daughter.

Shanae remembers the age of 9 and 1/2 so vividly. This time in her life was very challenging and brought forth many traumas that disrupted her life. This life-changing moment gave way to her ‘gift’ of writing her feelings in a journal. This was her “ coping” method. Shanae faced doubts of her ‘ truth’ by the adults in her circle.

As an expectant mother, she faced challenges and vulnerabilities in her life. She faced the flop - flop of support from family. Many perceptions of adoption were from what she watched on “ TV’. She is focused on healing herself and her son. Shanae’s message to birthmothers is “ You Belong Here”

In a way, this is my own Birth Moms Real Talk episode from an interview with Damon L. Davis, host of the "Who Am I Really?" podcast. We discussed my reunion with my son after more than 40 years apart. I shared the loneliness of my pregnancy, my desire to keep her son versus against my inability to do so, the moment I came face to face with my son’s adoptive mother and the search to find the man he grew up to be.

This episode first appeared in June 2021 as episode 154 of the "Who Am I Really?" podcast with Damon L. Davis (WhoAmIReallypodcast.com, @WAIReally).

Marisa describes her childhood as being a “tough life” living with her single mom. There were many “ life transitions she experienced at an early age without the comfort and love to deal with her traumas. Marisa lived life on the streets and managed to stay focused towards a better life.

A Friday night invitation for pizza changed her perspective on life. Marisa “Found the Ones” who were meant to be in her life. Marisa shared “words of wisdom” from her life experience and her chosen profession.