In Texas Adoption, What is the Difference between Expectant Mothers and Birth Mothers?

If you are currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, you probably have some questions about the adoption process. You may be wondering whether or not adoption is even right for you and your child, or where you will fit into your adoption plan. While you will always be your child’s biological mother, there is an important difference between expectant mothers and birth mothers, depending on where you are in your adoption process.

We understand that adoption can often be confusing, especially if you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or are unfamiliar with the adoption process. However, Adoption Choices of Texas is here to help you throughout your adoption journey, and we are here to give you all the information you need to know about adoption in Texas.

If you need help with adoption now, you can call us at 888-307-3340, text us at 888-307-3340, or email us here.

Who is Considered an Expectant Mother?

An expectant mother is essentially the same as a pregnant woman. During your pregnancy, you will commonly be referred to as an expectant mother, even if you are considering or in the adoption process of making an adoption plan. 

Your experience as an expectant mother will be very different from your experience as a birth mother. The most obvious difference is that as an expectant mother you will be pregnant, but there are a number of other differences as well. If you are making an adoption plan, you may face many difficult choices during your pregnancy, such as deciding who you want to raise your child or whether or not you want to be a part of your child’s life. While you are pregnant and preparing for your child’s birth, it is important to remember that Adoption Choices of Texas is here to support you along every step of your adoption journey.

Who is a Birth Mother?

Unlike an expectant mother, a birth mother is a woman who has given birth to her child and placed him or her for adoption. While you are navigating your adoption process, it is important to remember this distinction, and that you will not be referred to as a birth mother until you’ve officially entered the adoption process and decided that adoption is the best option for you and your child. Then, of course, after your child has been born and adopted, you will be forever called a birth mother.

As a birth mother, the most important decisions of your adoption plan will have already been made and set in motion. This means that you will not be facing the same challenges as an expectant mother, but your struggles as a birth mother still may not be easy. Fortunately, if you are having difficulties getting accustomed to your new role as a birth mother, Adoption Choices of Texas is here to help and support you, even if you have already given birth.

Why Does the Difference between Expectant Mothers and Birth Mothers Matter?

Whether you are an expectant mother or birth mother depends on where you are in your adoption process. The difference is important because it can eliminate the confusion that often arises around your role in the adoption process, and it can facilitate conversation between you, as the birth mother, and your child’s adoptive family. By understanding your place in the adoption process, you will be in a better position to decide what is best for you and your child.

The Difference between Expectant Mothers and Birth Mothers

As a pregnant woman in Texas considering adoption, it is important that you know your options and your role within the adoption process. At Adoption Choices of Texas, we are committed to making sure you are well informed and have the information you need to make an adoption plan that works for you and your child. If you are an expectant mother or birth mother and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you in any way we can.

As an expectant woman or birth parent, to learn more about adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Texas. You can call us at 888-307-3340, text us at 888-307-3340, or email us here. If you are hoping to adopt, please visit us here. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!

Meet the Author: Jennie Knuppel is a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying English Literature. She is currently enrolled in the English Honors Program, for which she is writing a thesis in comparative literature prior to graduating in the spring of 2022. Jennie has previously taken courses in literature and both creative and technical writing, and she spent four years working in her high school’s journalism department. 

Jennie is also currently working as a barista, and, in her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family and pets.