birth family

Read as much about open adoption as you can before you even connect with an agency. Also, has your brother and the expectant mom gotten any counseling? If not, they need to. This is a huge decision. In addition to the information you find by Googling open adoption, there are some good books out there as well. The Open Adoption Experience by Roszia and Melina as well as The Spirit of Open Adoption by Jim Gritter. If books are overwhelming, I have written a few booklets that might be helpful. If you pm me, I'll send them to you for free. Feel free to ask questions. I am a birthmom in a fully open adoption. (One of the first in MI) My son is 22. Brenda Romanchik

I don't think that they have gotten counseling, this has all transpired over the last 2 months. She didn't even find out she was pregnant until she was 5 months along. She had another child who someone adopted and after she had her a Dr told her that she couldn't get pregnant again, so needless to say, this has come as quite a shock to both of them. I just know, as far as where the family stands, we would love an open adoption, but the choice is untimately up to them and the family who adopts her. They do not have the money to raise a child and want someone who can give her a good life. I would take the child myself but I just had a baby in August and I don't think that I could handle having 2 babies at once, financially more than anything else. Personally, I just want to see my niece go to a family who can give her a great life with a lot of love. I know that I am probably rambling on here, I just don't know how to word this so as not to offend anyone.