“I knew adoption was the best thing I could do for my son.”

What’s it like to experience an unplanned pregnancy while you’re still in college? Check out Hannah’s story and how she came to decide on adoption:

“When I saw that positive pregnancy test, I knew I couldn’t make parenting work. I was a full-time college student at the time, deep in debt, and my baby’s dad”wasn’t in the picture. My son would’ve been in daycare full-time, only seeing me for a few minutes in the early morning and at night. I would have had to work all the time just to afford the necessities. I knew adoption was the answer for me because there are so many couples that desperately want a child, and are prepared to care for one.

“I think almost everybody in my life thought I’d change my mind. I remember the moment I first felt my son kicking and dancing in my stomach, and wondering, ‘Am I really going to do this?!’ But somehow, I knew adoption was definitely going to be the best thing I could do for him.

My mom was a teen mom, so that’s one of my big reasons for choosing adoption. And it’s not because she wasn’t a loving, wonderful mom to my sister and I. Our childhoods were just chaotic, staying with grandparents and babysitters while my mom worked. So I never really thought about changing my mind on adoption.

After I delivered my son and came home, I felt kind of empty for the first few days. It wasn’t sadness because I knew I did the right thing. I don’t regret my decision to adopt out my baby.

Even now, three years later, my life still isn’t sorted out. I still have trouble ‘adult-ing’- paying bills, getting up early to go to work, etc. I’m still figuring things out, and I’m glad that my son doesn’t have to live through all of my mistakes. When he grows up, I want him to be like ‘OK, cool, she did it so she could graduate and make something of herself.’ I want him to be proud of me someday.”

Written by Heather Featherston

As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.

Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.

As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.

Read more about Heather Featherston