Birth Mothers Amplified

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified we are closing out Season 1 with an episode from our awesome hosts, Emma and Muthoni. They talk all things past and upcoming with exciting talk of our plans for Birth Mothers Amplified season 2. We hope you will take the time to listen to Emma and Muthoni wrap up our final episode of season 1 and even look back on a few of your favorite episodes from this season as well. Check us out on instagram @birthmothersamplified for more information about our podcast, birth mother guests, and content.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by 3 birth mothers. These incredible women discuss open adoption and all things adoption relationships. They discuss common questions about open adoption, how each of their open adoptions have developed over the years, and the benefits of open adoption. Every adoption is unique, so we are so excited that Katie, Nacole, and Nikki could join Emma and Muthoni to each talk about their individual experiences with an open adoption relationship and why they chose to navigate their adoption journey with an open relationship. Please visit us on instagram of Facebook @birthmothersamplified to learn more about our individual guests from this episode.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified we are joined by Latoya, a birth mother of 16 years. Latoya found herself in an unplanned pregnancy at the age of 18 her senior year of high school. She had a son she was already raising at that point and was faced with making the decision as to how she would proceed with this pregnancy. Latoya initially considered abortion before she was informed how far along she already was. She shares how her experience at the abortion clinic and learning this information changed her mind and encouraged her to look for more options. Latoya courageously shares her story and the difficult decisions that led her to choosing adoption. Here is how Latoya describes her adoption journey in her own words: "There are those who viewed my decision to be a birth mother as selfish, but in fact this journey has been the true definition of selflessness. No longer do I walk this path in shame or embarrassment. For being a birth mother requires strength and grit, and greater than these, it requires love."

Latoya has four more children, between the ages of 19 and 2 and is also in nursing school! She is working on starting a non-profit organization to help young girls in crisis situations. She is an incredible woman and we hope you take the time to listen to her episode!

Disclaimer: the audio quality on this episode is not great. Because we record with our guests remotely, this can happen. We encourage you to watch the video version of this episode and turn on subtitles on Youtube.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, we are excited to share the second part of our last episode, an informative, yet emotional episode that we feel is much needed for birth mothers. Emma and Muthoni are joined by Birth Parent case worker Heather and birth mother Leslie. Leslie shares her story and discusses how she felt grief and began to heal after placing her child for adoption. Heather shares her professional experiences and discusses the resources available to birth mothers that can aid them in the healing process and enable them to face the grief and difficult emotions faced post placement. If you haven't checked out part 1, we encourage you to watch or listen! We hope you enjoy it!

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, we are excited to share an informative, yet emotional episode that we feel is much needed for birth mothers. Emma and Muthoni are joined by Birth Parent case worker Heather and birth mother Leslie. Leslie shares her story and discusses how she felt grief and began to heal after placing her child for adoption. Heather shares her professional experiences and discusses the resources available to birth mothers that can aid them in the healing process and enable them to face the grief and difficult emotions faced post placement. Because there was so much to cover and discuss on this topic, we will be releasing part 2 in the upcoming weeks. We hope you enjoy it!

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, we are delighted to have a personal conversation with Emma and Muthoni where we get to hear them answer questions that our listeners submitted! These questions include not only adoption topics, but lifestyle questions, wedding updates, and more! We also aim to update you on the upcoming plans and exciting changes as we wrap up season 1 and look forward with anticipation to season 2.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

Lacy placed her daughter for adoption 14 years ago after realizing she would not be able to parent and provide her daughter with the life she deserved. Her journey has been full of ups and downs and everything she feels she has learned throughout it has shaped her into the woman and mother she is today. She chose to alter her post-adoption agreement from open to semi-open after experiencing how difficult it can be to navigate life without facing your emotions. Lacy was able to find support from other birth mothers to help heal and she is now active within the adoption community to try to give back to other members of the adoption triad. Lacy is now happily married to the birth father of her first daughter and they are parenting 3 children of their own together.

Disclaimer:

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

Katie's story has always been about adoption. Since she grew up as an adoptee in a closed adoption, she wrestled a lot with identity and worth. Her parents have always been supportive, but something deeply rooted in Katie couldn’t settle down. Katie refers to herself as rebellious, letting others define her worth, and hurting. However, she was completely unaware that this was all from trauma due to loss and relinquishment. She always wondered about her birth family growing up, but didn’t have the money to unseal records through the agency at 18-early 20’s. Due to this, she decided to put a pin in her search for a while and ended up facing two unplanned pregnancies during that time frame. Her parents adopted her son and after facing her second unplanned pregnancy, Katie chose an agency the second time. Her story is complex, deep, and will give a perspective on what it is like to be an adoptee and a birth mother of two. 

Disclaimer:     

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.  

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by Ana, a sweet and passionate birth mother and mother. Ana's been a birth mother for 6 years to a sweet little boy. She lives in Texas with her husband and daughter and loves to bake and watch binge worthy shows including The Office, Parks and Rec, and reality TV. She's a stay at home mom, so quarantining is nothing new to her. During her episode, Ana shares the joys and pains of becoming a mother after placing her son for adoption, how she came to her decision, what is was like making the decision to place, and the journey she has been on following placement. She discusses what it was like on her journey to become a mother, and the emotions she faced hitting milestones experienced in previous years when pregnant with her son.

Disclaimer:    

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, we are so lucky to hear from Macy, a birth mother with a semi-open adoption relationship with her son. A little over 9 years ago,  Macy found herself at an urgent care appointment with the shock of a lifetime finding out she was pregnant. She knew from the beginning of her pregnancy that she wanted to place her son for adoption and through a turn of events, found the family that she felt were supposed to be the parents for her child. Macy and the adoptive parents decided on a semi-closed adoption before her son was born so every six months she gets an email and pictures from the adoptive mother. Over the years Macy has succeeded in different ways she never thought she would have.

Disclaimer:   The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

 This week on Birth Mothers Amplified we have the privilege of hearing Katie's adoption story. Katie was a previous guest on our panel discussion about holidays and we wanted to give her an opportunity to share her unique story. Katie has some incredible insight as she discusses what it is like to hit the 18 year mark post-placement with her son. She placed in 2002 as a 9th grader navigating a relationship with her boyfriend of 7 months at the time. She shares the raw emotions she still feels today as she recalls her teenage pregnancy as the emotions she feels now that her son is no longer a minor. What a blessing it is to hear the wisdom, experiences, and lessons Katie has gained and learned from her adoption journey. We are so grateful to Katie for her willingness to share her story!

 Disclaimer:    The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

 This week on Birth Mothers Amplified Emma and Muthoni are joined by two guest for a panel discussion on holidays. Ashley and Katie join our hosts to discuss what holidays are like once adoption becomes a major part of your life. Both of these incredible birth mothers are well into their adoption journey and have many words of wisdom and experiences to share. We hope that this episode and discussion is one that is much needed in the adoption community and that will be a conversation that many will relate to as we head into the holiday season.  

Disclaimer:    

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by Maddison, a birth mother of 17 years to a beautiful teenage boy she placed in 2003. Maddison's story takes us back to when she was 14 years old and her mom suspected she was pregnant. She discussed the shame and guilt she felt navigating a pregnancy as a young teenager and how she dealt with those feelings. Maddison also had 6 weeks after birth to spend time with her son, which is another factor that is unique to her story. She also discusses how it is never too late to get help; a message we hope all expectant mothers and parents feel and learn from listening to our podcast and joining our community.   

Disclaimer:    

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by Kami, a birth mother of six years. As a teenager, she placed her daughter and shares what she learned as a result. One of the most prominent topics discussed in her episode is the importance of communicating desires and hopes when making an adoption plan, and forming a relationship with adoptive families. Kami shares how her adoption started as a semi-open relationship, and how it still changes as both her and the adoptive family navigate life post-placement. Kami communicates her grief process, how communication and relationships affected it, and how her life has changed because of adoption.

Learn more about Kami by visiting our instagram page @birthmothersamplified. We hope you love Episode 12!

Disclaimer:

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.  

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by Megan, a 28 year old birth mother who placed her son for adoption in 2014. In this episode, she will take you through her journey and how she decided to choose adoption over all her other options. She talks about how she navigated changes through her journey and the difficulty she faced managing expectations. She also discusses the relationship that has evolved over the years with the adoptive family and how she has grown and developed that relationship while navigating her role as a birth mother.  

Disclaimer:    

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by Destiny. Destiny is a birth mother, a military wife, and a mother of two. Destiny hopes that her story will help mothers who already have children and/or married couples considering adoption. She reassures those who have any questions, concerns, or wavering thoughts; you always have a choice, no matter the situation. She has a unique story and so willingly shares the incredible details with us. We hope you will be moved by her story as much as we were. 

Disclaimer:    The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week Emma and Muthoni are joined by Mackenzie, who placed her daughter for adoption three years ago. Today shares how she connected with the family she chose, how she navigated an abusive relationship as a teenager, and how she decided that adoption was the best decision for her and her daughter. Mackenzie has an open and sweet relationship with her adoptive family and shares how their journey united them.

Disclaimer:

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.  

This week Emma and Muthoni are joined by Melody. Melody is a birth mother of 8 years, and is grateful for the opportunities to build a family-like bond with her child's adoptive family. She has learned to find joy in the journey of her adoption, even through the grief. She is beautifully honest about her story and shares what led to her decision to place.

Disclaimer:  

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.  

This week, Emma and Muthoni are joined by birth mother Dominique. Dominique placed her son for adoption in November 2016. She has an incredibly unique story, touching on topics such as the difference between closed and open adoptions, adoption education, communication between birth parents and adoptive families, and placing a child after parenting previous children.  

Disclaimer:  

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.  

In this week's episode of Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by Courtney, a proud birth mom and passionate advocate in the adoption community. She loves to share her adoption journey and help reduce the stigma and shame that often follows birth mothers for years following their decision to place. She desires for others to know that adoption is a healthy and viable option for families. Courtney shares about her adoption journey, coming to find her worth, and how both of these key factors in her life have shaped her through the years.  

Disclaimer:  

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.

Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by birth mothers Katie and Lacy for a panel discussion on open adoption. They discuss common questions about open adoption, how each of their open adoptions have developed over the years, and the benefits of open adoption. Check out our instagram page @birthmothersamplified to check out more about Katie and Lacy. 

Disclaimer:

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.  

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by birth mom and Brave Love Ambassador Lori. She is now an empty nester after raising two beautiful daughters. In her episode, Lori will discuss topics such as parenting after placing a child for adoption, open adoption, and being an advocate in the adoption community today.   

Disclaimer:  

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.  

Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

 This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma and Muthoni are joined by their first guest, Ashley. Ashley placed her first daughter for adoption in 2006 after an unplanned pregnancy during high school. Ashley discusses how she used her experience to help other Birth Mothers and Hopeful Adoptive Families as an adoption caseworker.

Disclaimer:  

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.

Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week on Birth Mothers Amplified, Emma will be sharing her story. Not only is Emma one of our hosts, she's also an incredible example of a birth mother sharing her story to strengthen others. Emma placed her child for adoption in 2016 and has come quite a way since. Her story touches on topics such as teen pregnancy and birth father involvement. You won't want to miss it.

Disclaimer:

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.

Birth Mothers Amplified is co-hosted by friends and fellow birth mothers Muthoni and Emma. Most weeks they are joined by one or more birth mother guests to talk about adoption topics.

Birth Mothers Amplified thrives on empowering the women who make adoptions possible and allowing birth parents to speak their truths and share their stories authentically.

This week, Muthoni will be sharing her story. Muthoni placed in November 2016 and has an open adoption. She is a huge fan of the office and is an enneagram 9. She is passionate about uplifting other women and finds a sense of community in supporting the women that make adoptions possible and allowing them to share their stories.

Disclaimer:

The Birth Mothers Amplified hosts are not licensed medical, legal, or counseling professionals. The content of this show is based solely on the experience of the hosts or guests and should not substitute seeking the advice of licensed professionals. Content in each episode may contain issues that could trigger strong emotions for some listeners. Not recommended for young listeners.