These are the stories of women who faced impossible choices and found a way through. In their own words.
Heart to Heart Adoptions has supported Florida birth mothers for more than 25 years.
These are real stories from real women. These are told with their permission.
Every woman’s experience is different. Every adoption plan is personal. These stories are shared to help other women know they are not alone.
If you are considering adoption, reading other women’s stories is one of the most honest ways to understand what the process actually feels like.
Some birth mothers describe their experience with adoption as something that started not with a plan but a time in the middle of the night when they really wanted someone to talk to. Read the story of one Florida birth mother's experience in this post:
What if you didn't know you were pregnant until you were six months along? That is exactly the right time to call. You do not need to have decided anything to receive support. We have women call that talk about how long they have been worrying. Talking to someone who won't judge and will help think through the process take the weight of uncertainty off of you. It is exhausting not having an idea of the future. This can feel isolating. You don't have to feel isolated.
Heart to Heart counselors are experienced working with women. There go to is not to steer you toward adoption, but to give you a safe place to think out loud, ask hard questions, and figure out what you actually want.
A stork situation is when an adoption plan comes together in 48 hours or less. This is what happened for this family and this birth mother. Birth mother need to know this can happen when there baby is here and they need a perfect adoptive family.
→ ReadThey started their adoption process during a pandemic. A birth mother in Florida chose them within 12 hours. What made their profile different and what open adoption has looked like since.
→ Read
"My worker knew exactly what paperwork I needed and what my rights were. She made everything clear and simple."
— DeShawna, St. Petersburg, Florida"I'm so grateful. My life is so much better after knowing Sharyn and my adoptive family, Connie and Archie."
— Torie, Miami, Florida"I checked out three agencies before choosing Heart to Heart. They were the only ones who didn't rush me and really listened to what I wanted for my baby."
— S. Orlando, Florida"I was nervous to make that first call but Sharyn made everything so easy to understand."
— Lavina, Gainesville, Florida"I stopped feeling like a problem somebody needed to solve."
— Birth mother, Florida"When I needed someone to talk to at 2 AM, Jodi answered."
— Ashley, Tampa, Florida"I was living in a small apartment in Hialeah, worried about how I'd pay rent. Heart to Heart helped me stay stable during my pregnancy and found the perfect Puerto Rican family for my baby."
— Carmen, Miami Florida"Sharyn helped me get to my doctor appointments in Jacksonville through all those summer thunderstorms. Now my daughter's adoptive family sends me pictures of her playing at St. Augustine Beach."
— Shaniqua, St. Petersburg, Florida
Yes. All testimonials on this page and throughout the Heart to Heart Florida cluster are from real birth mothers, shared with their permission. Named and city-attributed testimonials reflect the actual experience of real women.
For most women the process of adoption was easy. The hardest part was making the decision. Many women recognized that once the decision was made there was a peace and the process was made manageable with the support offered them.
Adoption outcome for women who have placed their baby for adoption is complex with many layers. For most women, there is grief as well as a peace. Sometimes the grief feeling intensifies. Sometimes the peace is the strongest feeling. These emotions can change, but most women report that for the most part, they feel peace with their decision. Heart to Heart’s post-placement counseling is designed specifically to support women through this.
Heart to Heart serves all of Florida. Testimonials on this page are attributed to specific cities including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, and others. Over the years, we have served women all over the state of Florida.
Reach out to Heart to Heart through the contact page or call 844-522-7700. Your story, on your terms and with your permission, can help another woman facing a similar decision.
We're here to help you explore your options, without pressure or judgment.
Last Reviewed
2026
