Infant Adoption Guide Podcast

Infant Adoption Guide Podcast

By Tim ElderSociety & CultureKids & Family
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Infant Adoption Guide Podcast episodes

  • Pro-Family Pro-Adoption Book with Terri Marcroft: Episode 107

    Why do only 1% of women in the U.S. who are in an unplanned/crisis pregnancy consider adoption? We as Christians need to re-examine how we can we better support and embrace these women. We are inviting families, sisters, fellow church members, parents, grandparents to suggest the loving, positive option of adoption. Our new book Pro-Family, Pro-Adoption: A Christian's Guide to Unplanned Pregnancy Options is a wake-up call, an information resource, a guide, and a story about how we can all do better to support the women around us who are going through or will go through an unplanned pregnancy. We can show her there is a loving, life-giving choice in adoption - and open adoption is something she needs to understand because statistics show that most of the U.S. doesn't know what it is.

    43 min
  • How To Adopt Using Social Media With Lindsay Bruggeman

    Is it possible to adopt using social media? 

    Yes, it is possible. With all of us being connected through social media, it is more possible today than ever before. My guest on the show today is proof that it can work. 

    Lindsay and her husband started a Facebook and Instagram page in January of 2021 and then were matched by the middle of August, just a few months later.

    Lindsay tells her adoption story while sharing her experiences of what it was like to connect with her son's birthmom through Facebook and then meeting her in person.

    She explains how to navigate through possible scams. She talks about the importance of working with a very experienced adoption attorney. 

    While finding a match through social media might not be for everyone, Lindsay gives many compelling reasons why you should at least explore the idea. 

    Lindsay also shares how she is now helping other hopeful adoptive families match through social media just like she did. She created The Helpful HAP (for hopeful adoptive parents) and offers Adoption Matching Assistance. 

    She creates very specific and SUPER helpful monthly social media post ideas and calendars. These are amazing - you should check them out! 

    Lindsay's "The Helpful HAP" on ETSY

    Links we talk about in this episode:
    • The Infant Adoption Guide Membership Community! This is a brand new safe, private place to learn and talk about infant adoption. Come check it out!
    • Follow Lindsay on INSTAGRAM!
    • See what Lindsay offers on her ETSY site!
    • Our FREE private Facebook Support Group – only for those who are trying to adopt a baby.
    • FindMyAdoptionAgency.com – learn how you can find and choose the RIGHT adoption agency to serve you on the infant adoption journey. This is a my online step-by-step course that you can go at your own pace AND includes over 60 agencies in a spreadsheet for you to use. ALSO - get my adoption expense/funding/grant tracker spreadsheet that I talk about in this episode! 
    54 min
  • How To Deal With The Wait To Adopt And Not Go CrAzY : Episode 105

    Anyone who has gone through the process to adopt a baby will tell you that it is a struggle and is often painful to wait.

    They likely say things like:
    "The hardest thing for me is the waiting for that phone call.""Every day that passes feels like I have been rejected.""I think I’m not pretty enough to be chosen, our pictures aren’t good enough.""It was extremely hard to go through gathering all the paperwork and cleaning our home again preparing for another home study.""Feels like, what’s the point? We are losing hope that we’ll ever be matched."
    Maybe this is you. Even if this isn’t, there may come a time in your adoption journey where this will happen. 
    You are certainly not alone. It can feel like you are stuck, like the wait will never end - especially if you have already waited while going through infertility.Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.Here's a fact about infant adoption that you may not know if you're just starting out: NO ONE can tell you how long it's going to take to adopt. Some people find a match with an expectant mom in a few weeks. Some get the call in a few months. Sometimes it can take a few years. WHY? Because it takes time and the right connection for your profile to be seen by the right EM and for her to choose you. You never know when that EM will come along who will want to connect with you. Does that mean you can do nothing but wait, wonder, and go crazy watching your phone? NO.This is how I think about it. There are two waiting phases :
    1. Started waiting. Excited, nervous, waiting for a call phase.
    2. HELP! Is this ever gonna happen for us! phase.
    There's no specific time when you cross from phase 1 to phase 2 - but you'll know when you do.In this episode, I share my experience with waiting to adopt. I will explain these two waiting phases AND what you can do when you are stuck in either phase.Links we talk about in this episode:The Infant Adoption Guide Membership Community! This is a brand new safe, private place to learn and talk about infant adoption in SMALL groups that we set up for you. Come check it out!25 Tips For Surviving The Adoption Wait10 Things We've Learned Through 3 Infant Adoptions - Tim and his wife Tisha share their experiences after having adopted 3 newborns. Our FREE private Facebook Support Group – only for those who are trying to adopt a baby.FindMyAdoptionAgency.com – learn how you can find and choose the RIGHT adoption agency to serve you on the infant adoption journey. This is a my online step-by-step course that you can go at your own pace AND includes over 60 agencies in a spreadsheet for you to use. ALSO - get my adoption expense/funding/grant tracker spreadsheet that I talk about in this episode! Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.
    25 min
  • Open Adoption Story with Author and Birthmom Leah Outten : Episode 104

    Leah is a birth mother of 18+ years in open adoption and a mother of five. She loves to write and share her story. She says, "my adoption story is my testimony of Jesus' healing and redemption. Sharing vulnerably about the beauty and ashes within adoption, I want to inspire hope and show you how open adoption can be done well."
    On this episode of the podcast, Leah joins me to share her open adoption story as a birthmom. Hear how and why she decided to place her daughter over 18 years ago. Learn what it was like for Leah as she was the first expectant mom to have an open adoption in the agency she worked with. Find out why she initially didn't want to choose adoption for her daughter and why she eventually decided that it was the most loving choice she could make.Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.In her story you'll hear:* Why and how Leah chose adoption for her daughter over 18 years ago.* The story of how Leah first learned about open adoption and why that changed her thoughts about placing her daughter. * How Leah's faith played a major factor in her adoption story and still does today with her open adoption relationships.* How she handled the emotional ups and downs by holding on to her faith. * What her experience was like in the hospital when her daughter was born.* How Leah now helps other families adopt through her writing and services.* How Leah has written a new book called "The Sixteenth Year - an Open Adoption Memoir" that tells her story in detail about how she chose to place her daughter when she was only 16 years old.Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.Links we talk about in this episode:LeahOutten.com. This is Leah's site where you can find her new book "The Sixteenth Year" PLUS you'll find tons of articles and the services she provides to hopeful adoptive families to help you through the adoption process.The Sixteenth Year : an open adoption memoir - This is Leah's new book from her perspective as a birthmom from trauma to redemption 19 years later!  Follow Leah on Instagram!Our FREE private Facebook Support Group – only for those who are trying to adopt a baby. FindMyAdoptionAgency.com – learn how you can find and choose the RIGHT adoption agency to serve you on the infant adoption journey. This is a my online step-by-step course that you can go at your own pace AND includes over 60 agencies in a spreadsheet for you to use along with a TON of other resources designed to help you find and choose the right agency for you.The Infant Adoption Guide Membership Community! This is a brand new safe, private place to learn and talk about infant adoption. Come check it out!

    55 min
  • Open Adoption Story with Author and Birthmom Leah Outten

    Leah joins me to share her open adoption story as a birthmom. Hear how and why she decided to place her daughter over 18 years ago. Learn what it was like to be the first expectant mom to have an open adoption in the agency she worked with. Find out why she initially didn't want to choose adoption for her daughter and why she eventually decided that it was the most loving choice she could make.

    55 min
  • Tim’s 4 Tips For Organizing The Adoption Journey : Episode 103

    Are you a naturally organized person? Do you regularly have to-do lists, checklists and spreadsheets to help you get things done?If you are a fabulous organizer or not, when navigating the rough waters of your adoption journey, it can get a bit crazy and even overwhelming if you don’t have some way to get (and stay) organized.There were many hard lessons learned as my wife and I went through our three adoptions. We are fairly organized people and yet there were times when it was difficult to find what we needed. There was even a time or two when we lost some important documents. I share how that happened in this episode. Through it all, we learned and got better at organizing. After talking with many others who have adopted, I've gathered some more organization tips that I am excited to share with you.Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.So here are my 4 TIPS to organize your adoption journey:1. Use cloud based software or apps
    2. Make Lists - good lists
    3. Track your adoption budget4. Get a good binder/folder system for your paper copiesLinks we talk about in this episode:The Infant Adoption Guide Membership Community! This is a brand new safe, private place to learn and talk about infant adoption. Come check it out!9 Things You Need When Adopting From Another State18 Money Saving Tips For Domestic Adoption Travel25 Tips For Surviving The Adoption WaitOur FREE private Facebook Support Group – only for those who are trying to adopt a baby.FindMyAdoptionAgency.com – learn how you can find and choose the RIGHT adoption agency to serve you on the infant adoption journey. This is a my online step-by-step course that you can go at your own pace AND includes over 60 agencies in a spreadsheet for you to use. ALSO - get my adoption expense/funding/grant tracker spreadsheet that I talk about in this episode! Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.Click here to download the transcript of this episode

    17 min
  • Infant Adoption Story with Micah and Emily: IAG 102

    Micah and Emily share their experiences from their infant adoption story as they adopted their son as a newborn in March of 2022. Hear how and why they decided on infant adoption. Find out how they were able to due fun-fund raising to pay the expenses of their adoption. Learn what it was like to spend 2 weeks in the hospital with their son's birthmom before he was born. And MUCH MORE! 

    55 min
  • Pro-Choice Pro-Adoption With Author and Mom Through Adoption Terri Marcroft : Episode 101

    We welcome back to the show, Terri Marcroft. She was our guest on Episode 76. Terri is a mom through adoption and founder of Unplannedgood.org which is a wonderful non-profit organization that encourages people to consider making an adoption plan when facing an unplanned pregnancy. Terri now adds the title of author as she recently released her book, Pro-Choice Pro-Adoption : It's Time for a Loving, Positive Response to Unplanned Pregnancy.This book is definitely a refreshing new look at the options for women who are facing unplanned pregnancy. It uncovers why adoption can (and should) be embraced as a loving, positive response.Terri does an amazing job of laying out the facts about unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. and choices that are being made every day by expectant women. She explores each of the options while providing some clear and concise insight as to why adoption is seldom the choice. Here are my favorite parts:
    * I love how a birthmother shares the first part of her story at the beginning of the book and then finishes telling her story at the end of the book.* So many eye-opening statistics about adoption, single parenting, unplanned pregnancies, etc.* LOTS of stories shared throughout the book from birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees!* Terri provides a wonderful explanation of positive adoption language as well as open vs closed adoption.* The FABULOUS resource section at the end of the book! Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.Terri's book is divided into 4 parts:
    * Pregnancy & Adoption in the U.S.* Conversation reset about adoption* The Adoption Triad (adoptees, birthparents, adoptive parents)* Calling for Action (men, churches, corporate America, parents/grandparents, 'sisterhood' of women friends, etc).In this episode, you'll hear:* Why Terri chose the title of her book AND what led her to write it* The #1 thing that Terri wants you to get out of reading her book* The statistic about adoption that Terri wants you to know and why it is important to know it* Some of Terri's favorite stories from the book* How to get/read Terri's book and connect with herYour browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still download the music.Links we talk about in this episode:The Infant Adoption Guide Membership Community! This is a brand new safe, private place to learn and talk about infant adoption. Come check it out!UnPlannedGood.org - Terri's non-profit organization that is spreading the word about open adoption Our FREE private Facebook Support Group – only for those who are trying to adopt a baby.FindMyAdoptionAgency.com – learn how you can find and choose the RIGHT adoption agency to serve you on the infant adoption journey. This is a my online step-by-step course that you can go at your own pace AND includes over 60 agencies in a spreadsheet for you to use along with a TON of other resources designed to help you find and choose the right agency for you.

    45 min

About Infant Adoption Guide Podcast

From the publisher's feed

This show is here to help you adopt. You'll find resources, inspiration and hope to build your family through infant adoption. This interview-based show has guests ranging from adoptive families to…