4 years ago
I used Open Door Adoption Agency in 2019 to place ...
I used Open Door Adoption Agency in 2019 to place my first born with a family for adoption. It was the best decision I ever made. Amber Childs, my consultant, went above and beyond to make sure I was supported, cared for, and loved from the very beginning. She made sure I was heard and that my needs were met. I would highly recommend this agency and especially Amber to anyone going through this emotional and scary time of an unplanned pregnancy.
Things Amber made sure to take care of for me:
-I was sure of my decision late into my second trimester and when I called, Amber answered and scheduled a meeting with me right away (I think that week).
-Never for a second, did I feel judged or criticized. It made me feel like I could be totally honest with everything. This continued the entire time
-Upon our first meeting, Amber was warm, understanding, and kind. She was never pushy and even though I told her I was sure of my decision, she repeatedly told me that I could change my mind at any time. I truly got the feeling (and was told) that the agency cares more about the best for me and the baby than anything
-Amber was extremely accommodating and funny. Very easy to talk to. I felt comfortable sharing intimate details with her and she never flinched or made a face.
-She asked me if I needed anything and was given help with maternity clothes right away
-Amber went to doctors appointments with me and even drove hours to take me to one out of town. She even jumpstarted my car once! It was amazing, she was wearing high heels!
-Amber was available via text or phone call at anytime. This was truly incredible for me. I am bipolar and pregnancy hormones are an entirely new thing I was dealing with. I would call her and freak out or cry about things that had nothing to do with the baby or adoption process. She always made me feel heard and she always empathized with me! She never made me feel like I was overreacting when in hindsight, I probably was! This was one of the most valuable things to me during the whole process. When I felt I had no one, I always had her.
-Amber is rooted in Christ and would give me words of encouragement and scripture to me at anytime. She was never pushy or elitist about it, just honest and real
-When picking the family, Amber gave no opinion of her own. She gave me many choices and told me I could have even more choices if I didn't like the ones I saw. She was extremely impartial and just let me look and talk. She also reminded me that I could change my mind at any given time
-She made it possible for me to meet the family I chose before the birth. We ate lunch and sat and talked, cried, and laughed for over 5 hours. This was huge, because now I know I LOVE these people, in person, not just on paper. Amber was there with us the whole time even though she had been up all night with another birthmom during a birth!
-This was a big deal to me: Amber is so good with TMI (too much information). I have shared crazy, ugly details about the pregnancy with her (and even post partum) and she never even bats an eye! My mom gags every time! Amber just empathizes and finds a way to relate. Pregnancy can have some crazy details so this was a huge help to me!
-Amber coordinated everything at the hospital to go better than I could have ever imagined. She was there for me, but she also respected my privacy too. I know she did things behind the scenes that I don't even know about
-It's been over a month since I have delivered the baby and have placed her with the family I chose. I was preparing to be kind of forgotten about because I wasn't pregnant any more. But this couldn't be farther from the truth. Amber checks in on me, gives me updates, and has even drove from out of town to see me in person. Not only am I receiving some help with bills during my recovery time, but I am receiving the same amount if not more emotional support and care than when I was pregnant. Amber has made me feel very empowered and like my life has purpose.