Birth Mums' Stories
Click on the links below to read some true stories below.
Kim’s Story
I have experienced both abortion and adoption. Both options were difficult, but one option, abortion, left me with regrets, whereas adoption gave me an amazing son. Here is my story. Being a single mum is hard and having twins is extremely challenging. In the early 1990’s, at 23 years of age, I found myself in this situation. A year later I discovered that I was unexpectedly pregnant. Read more about Kim’s story
Margo’s story
Seeing a post on “Facebook” from Liam Messam about his adoption, made me start to think about what it was like for me as a young teenager who gave her child away. I came from a very caring Catholic family. When I was 17, I met a young man and began a relationship, which soon progressed. After 6 months I discovered I was pregnant. Read more about Margo’s story.
Nicola’s story
I know that not everyone has such a good experience with adoption but I have been very blessed. I placed my daughter for adoption when I was 18. She is now four and has always known she is adopted. Her name is Ellie. I was a typical 17-year old girl, I was never home, always with friends; and I was in a partying phase. I looked forward to the weekend so that I could hang out, do some drinking and have some fun. I thought life was great until I discovered that I was pregnant.
Julie’s story – Julie was a student from China
“I wanted to be a doctor. Unfortunately I didn’t get the grades I needed in China so I decided to come to New Zealand to study. I arrived when I was 20 and I couldn’t believe how lonely I was at first. It all seemed so strange. The thing that struck me most about New Zealand was the lack of people. In China it is so much busier“. Julie is a quiet young woman and she felt lost until she got to know her homestay family. They were good to her and she became close with her homestay ‘mother’. “One day my homestay mother asked me what was wrong. I was upset and I said I thought I was pregnant.”
Brenda’s story
My name is Brenda. I am 38 years old. I have 4 boys aged 20yrs, 16yrs, 13yrs and 17 months. What is unique about me is that my first born was adopted out almost 21 years ago. Ben was born on the 10th October 1986. I still remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was given a general anesthetic as there were complications with the birth so the whole giving birth experience never happened for me. When I woke up after he was born I thought it was a dream.
Gayna’s pregnancy diary
I am writing this journal for you – I guess it is for me also, to clarify my feelings for both of us. All I can say is sorry. I’m sorry I made the choices, or lack of them that got us in this mess. I am so scared and confused- all I want is the best for you and at this point I don’t know what that is.
This is the start of Gayna’s diary that she kept during her pregnancy. You can read it all in this
Abigail’s story
Hi, I’m Abigail.
I am the birth mum of my beautiful 5 year old daughter, who is the light of my life!
I was 17 when I fell pregnant and it was a rather scary time, it’s never easy to be faced with a surprise pregnancy. Read more about Abigail’s story.
Rebecca’s story
I placed my son, Jack, for adoption in 2005, when he was three weeks and two days old. It was one of the hardest, selfless and most rewarding decisions I have ever made. I was alone, scared and without family support, and adoption was by far the best choice for me. I took care of my baby before the adoption, taking that time to form my own special bond with him.
Summer’s story
I placed my son for adoption in 2005. I was 16yrs old and still at school. I chose an amazing couple who had a two-year-old adopted daughter. I chose them because they were very similar to my family. They had the same morals, beliefs and interests. I wanted my son to have a two parent family and to enjoy a childhood similar to mine.