Amy Ford is the Co-Founder and President of Embrace Grace, a non-profit that inspires and equips the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families. Amy shares her unplanned pregnancy story. She experienced rejection from a pastor that compounded the shame she felt about her pregnancy. We delve into ways we have dealt with shame and overcome wounds inflicted by the Christian Church and found forgiveness and peace. If you are interested in joining an Embrace Grace group you can visit: https://embracegrace.com/ Other Resources by Amy Ford: A Bump in Life the book Help Her Be Brave the book Help Her Be Brave the PodcastEmbrace Grace Podcast Then God Made a Women Podcast

I get to introduce you to one of my favorite podcast hosts -- Heather MacFadyen! She is the host of Don't Mom Alone. Heather shares with us the story of her unplanned 3rd son. Even though she had always wanted to be a mom she struggled with the realities of being a mom verses the expectations she had held. I love how honest she is about dealing with anger as a mom and for sharing her journey of healing. And, of course, we discuss solid tips on connecting to groups and putting yourself out there if you are a lonely mom. Go listen to her show and check out the Don't Mom Alone Podcast Club. Books Discussed: Good and Angry by David Powlison

Immigration is a topic that is hotly contested, and off limits at many family dinner tables. No matter your opinion about immigration policy, I think we can all agree that there is a humanitarian crises at the US-Mexican Border. Alma Ruth is the founder of the faith based, humanitarian organization Practice Mercy. Their mission is to bring necessities and pray for hope when visiting refugee camps in the Rio Grande Valley. She shares what it is like to have an unplanned pregnancy while at the refugee camp.  Alma Ruth is also a single mom of two boys, and tells us about her surprise pregnancies. Support Practice Mercy Foundation on Facebook And follow them on Instagram @practicemercy

Dara is a  freelance writer who covers maternal health, race and class issues in motherhood, and mental health. She shares the story of her third pregnancy, which was unplanned. We also grapple with questions about how motherhood changes your identity and work/life balance. Dara's Recommended Books for Black History Month: The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous PregnancyWe Live for the WeMotherhood so White Follow Dara: Blog: http://www.trulytafakari.com/Twitter: www.twitter.com/dtafakariFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/trulytafakariInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dtafakari

Andrea was 15-years-old when she found out she was pregnant. She had no doubt in her mind that she wanted to raise her baby. A few years later, a tragic incident left her a widow with two young children. Andrea wanted to start a new life in a new house, but discovered how little she knew about her personal finances. Getting control of her budget was life changing, and now she is passionate about helping others create achievable budgets and set aside savings. Contact Andrea about Budget Coaching Here  Follow her on Instagram @millennial_money_boss

Annaliese was teaching a sex ed class when she realized she might be pregnant. After seeing the two pink lines, she had to consider all the options available to someone experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Annaliese walks us through her decision making process and how she knows she is a stronger women today because of her choice. Annaliese recently obtained her MSW and is passionate about helping other women navigate their choices. She also has a knack for tracking down scholarships for single moms! If you are interested in contacting her email coracela@umich.edu Go check out  "If I can tell my parents about my pregnancy, so can you" by Annaliese. This is an honest story of the good, bad, and ugly of telling family members about an unexpected pregnancy.

Postpartum depression impacts around 1 in 10 new moms. It is important to know the signs and how to get help for yourself or a friend.   I want you to know that you deserve help and it's easier to access than you think. Today we are joined by Dr. Jo Kim, the Director of Perinatal Depression Program at NorthShore University HealthSystem, and Nancy Segall, LCSW. Jo and Nancy help us understand what are perinatal mood disorders, including postpartum depression.  Nancy helped found Beyond the Baby Blues support group in the Chicago area, and gives advice on finding a support system. Resources Mentioned: Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/help-for-depression/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Postpartum Support International Helpline: https://www.postpartum.net/ PSI Online & Chat with an Expert support resources: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-moms/ Postpartum Stress Center resources for families: https://postpartumstress.com/for-families/

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode contains content about rape. Bethany's love and passion was competitive surfing.  She was preparing to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics on the Canadian Olympic Surfing team. But during her fall semester  of 2019, she was raped and found out that she was pregnant. If she kept her pregnancy she would have to give up her spot on the Olympic team. Bethany is a single mom, competitive surfer, dental assistant, and college student. Her passion for her baby and everything in life is inspiring! You should follow her on instagram @bethany.zelasko Bethany's bother, Israel, was in a cliff jumping accident.  It would bless their family if you help donate to his medical bills at  Israel's Gofundme

Ashley is a Clairvoyant Life Coach and Manifestation Expert, speaker, best selling author, online course creator and workshop facilitator. After being told by her boss to have an abortion, Ashley knew she wanted to parent, even if it meant giving up her dream job. From single mom on WIC to a $20,000 in a day, Ashley knows what it takes to go from nothing to building the life of your dreams. WEBSITE: https://www.ashleyahmadzai.comFACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/ MediocretoMagicalAcademyINSTAGRAM: @ashley.ahmadzaiBOOK: She is Magic Too

Every pregnant woman has questions about what to eat, what not to eat, how many calories are enough, and "will I ever return to 'normal' ?". Hayley, who has a background in dietetics, helps us navigate these questions with the mindset of grace for ourselves and by recognizing how much our body is doing. She gives us tips for on-the-go snacks that are healthy and filling! We also talk about breastfeeding, formula, and 1st foods for baby. More resources for 1st foods for baby can be found here: https://www.feedinglittles.comGo follow Hayley @bewellwithhayley

Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of rape.  Jennifer Christie shares her story of being brutally raped on a business trip. About a month later, she discovered she had conceived a baby during the attack . This is her story of how she, her husband, and her family dealt with the question, "what about in cases of rape?". Jennifer is a sign language interpreter, international speaker, and mom of five. You can follow her on Facebook, or her website. If you have been raped and are struggling with the decision to parent, please reach out and you will connected with resources. www.twopinklines.com

Voices for the Voiceless is a digital community that believes in supporting people with unplanned pregnancies by providing helpful information and social media connection. Mariah, their Lead Editor, joins us to discuss being a friend to someone with an unplanned pregnancy, her journey of documenting unplanned pregnancy stories up and down the West Coast, and sharing an exciting new resource - shemight.com ! Guys, on October 28th you have got to check them out!!!Here are some of the resources Mariah and I discuss: Watch The Voices Docuseries: WestCheck out the study we talked about examining the reasons women get abortions.Read Marish's reflections as a journalist creating the docuseries: I interviewed strangers about their unplanned pregnancy stories. It changed me. (yes, that's me with the space buns in the cover photo)Visit SheMight.com to subscribe for newsletter updates leading up to launch and follow our social media channelsIf you are interested in becoming a monthly contributor for She Might, email us at contact@shemight.com.Read my article on Seven Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Being Pregnant in CollegeRead and sign the Stand by Her Pledge

Katie was focused on conquering accounting classes in college when she discovered she was pregnant. With the dad out of the picture, she started investigating the possibility of adoption so her son could grow up in a financially stable, two-parent household. Katie prepared to become a birth mother and found a wonderful family to adopt her baby. At the last minute the father decided he wanted full custody, thrusting Katie into the role of a single mom in a custody battle. Katie is a fun, spunky, book keeper totally in love with her son and husband. This is truly a story of selfless motherhood ending in happily ever after! You can read more about Katie's story on her blog When Life Gets Bumpy (Isn't that the cutes name for a blog ever!)

If you are a parent, imagine your seventeen-year-old came home and told you they were pregnant. How would you react? Wanda shares her journey as mom and grandma when she finds out her daughter is pregnant as a junior in high school.

Single Mom + College. It seems impossible, right? Well, Monica is here to tell us how she did it! High achieving Monica was planning on becoming a lawyer when she found out she was pregnant. She moved across the country to a new school, had a baby, and graduated on time. Monica is now a very busy mom of three living in TX. Monica is a co-founder of the blog https://everydaymamas.com/It is a beautiful blog that invites moms to tell their stories, share tips and encourage one another. You can follow them on instagram @everyday_mamas

Did you know that Title 9 protects pregnant students?!? I wish I had known that I had legal protections as a pregnant college student. Camille Cisneros, Director of Pregnant on Campus, shares stories of how they have helped women across the nation. Assisting high school, college, and graduate students, Pregnant on Campus is there to help you make your campus most parent friendly and safeguard your rights as a pregnant student. Go read the Pregnant on Campus Bill of Rights, an outline of Title 9 protections for pregnant students, at https://pregnantoncampus.org/

Unplanned Pregnancy + Parenting a child with a chronic illness Emma is funny and blunt as she describes her journey from a suicide ward to being a thriving parent of a daughter with short bowel syndrome. We discuss everything from the enneagram to Friends, and both agree that there should be no mom guilt for feeding your kids mac and cheese. * This episode contains discussion about suicide

Maybe you like pregnancy centers, maybe you don't. Maybe you are asking, "What are pregnancy centers, anyway?" Linda Saccomano, the Executive Director of Alternatives Pregnancy Center, located in the Denver area, explains why she believes that her organization empowers women, especially women with unplanned pregnancies. Alternatives Pregnancy Center Website https://youhavealternatives.org/Articles discussed in the show.https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/why-crisis-pregnancy-centers-are-legal-unethical/2018-03https://www.vox.com/2020/3/2/21146011/crisis-pregnancy-center-resource-abortion-title-x

We are very excited to welcome Zach, our first dad on the show, just in time for Father's Day! We talk about everything from birth control to life with a newborn. Sarah and Zach share about losing their church's support because of their pregnancy. We discuss the pressure they faced to get married to "fix" their pregnancy and what they chose to do instead. I know that these sound like serious topics, but this is such a fun conversation. I have a feeling you will laugh with us! You have to check out Sarah's clothing shop Thimble Joy! Thimble Joy is an organic + ethical shop for t-shirts and onesies with positive messages. They are SO CUTE. You can also follow her beautiful Instagram @thimble.joy https://www.thimblejoy.com/

If you lost your job, had to go to the hospital, or needed an emergency babysitter, who would you call? Many people do not have an answer to this question. Community is often hard to find but essential when you are going through life changes, like an unplanned pregnancy. In our second resource episode we learn about Safe Families for Children. Their mission "is to create a world where children are safe and families transformed through radically compassionate communities. Our mission is to host vulnerable children and create extended family–like supports for desperate families through a community of devoted volunteers who are motivated by compassion to keep children safe and families intact." Hilary, the Intake and Community Engagement Coordinator for Safe Families New York City Chapter, talks to us about what this organization offers. We also discuss what real community looks like and how we should not be ashamed of asking for help. I personally volunteer with this organization, and have been transformed by my experience with them. Check out the national website https://safe-families.org/