FOTF-Logo-Stretch-Color.png
Search
Leah Outten

Leah Outten

Leah Outten resides in the Carolinas with her husband and 6 children. She still maintains an open adoption relationship with her birth daughter and the adoptive parents she chose when she was 16 years old. Using her experiences as a birth mother and a teen mom, she aims to be a source of encouragement and hope that healing and thriving are possible no matter the path chosen. She now works in the adoption and pro-life community through her writing, education, and mentoring. She loves to help adoptive families and birth parents navigate their own lifelong adoption story with the loving support she had during her experience.

Photo of birth mother finding out children adopted want to reconnect

When Your Adopted Child Wants a Reunion

When you placed your child into the arms of another family years ago, maybe you didn’t have a choice of openness or lost contact for whatever reason since then. Perhaps you’ve been hoping for a reunion with your adopted child all this time, or you coul …

The perspective of an adopted child image of adopted kids smiling

The Perspective of an Adopted Child

As families prepare to support an adopted child, trauma-informed education and considering other perspectives are vital. The reality is that adopted children eventually grow up to be adults and will have their own experiences to share. So, how can adop …

Watercolor picture of a pregnant teen girl and suggestions on what to do

What to do When a Teen Girl is Pregnant

When a teen girl is unexpectedly pregnant there are a lot of questions. Find encouragement and practical help from someone who has been there.

Red sneakers of an adoptee stand over a chalk drawn maze of adoption language.

Correct Words for Adoption and the Adopted

In earlier generations, adoption and birth mothers were often looked at negatively. The language surrounding adoption reflected this as well. As adoption has evolved into a more open relationship that seeks to honor all, the language has shifted.

A young birth mother hugs her birth son, happy she's chosen the adoption option.

Birth Mothers and the Adoption Option

If the pro-life community is promoting adoption as a life-giving option, how do we help make it happen? We can’t simply encourage an expectant mother to “choose life” and then leave her alone to figure it out. We must follow up and follow through.

A birth mother in open vs closed adoption cares for her newborn on a changing table.

Open vs. Closed Adoption, A Birth Mom’s Advice

There isn’t a perfect adoption mold. Every case is unique and vital to consider when deciding between open adoption vs. closed adoption

Pink background, woman's hand holds positive pink lines pregnancy test for Teen Pregnancy resources teen mom

A Supermom’s Teen Pregnancy Resources

As a woman who walked through teen pregnancy myself, I’m betting you may not feel like a super anything right now. But you’re doing great, momma! These pregnancy resources can help you make the next step in your supermom journey.

A mother holds her baby and wonders what is open adoption?

What Is Open Adoption?

Open adoption involves, “contact between biological and adoptive parents and sometimes between biological parents and the adopted child.”

Supporting birth mothers for Christmas, a birth mother and her birth daughter celebrating holidays

5 Ways to Support Birth Mothers This Christmas

Just as with any holiday and milestone throughout the year, birth mothers need love and support during Christmas.

A young woman holding her head in her hands, distraught over the results of a pregnancy test

The Fears of a Birth Mother

Even in fully open adoptions, filled with visits and solid relationships, there are fears that every birth mother worries about.

a teenager pregnant child sits alone in need of support.

When Two Lines Are Pink: How Parents Can Support Their Pregnant Child.

Through my tears, I only nodded to affirm my parents’ suspicions— their child, their little girl, was pregnant.

adoptive family is happy for birth mother of pregnant adoptee

Adoption Triad: What is it and why should we care?

It goes beyond the adoptive family unit. Adoptees and birth parents also live this lifelong journey of adoption.

A birth mother still visits her child after adoption.

My Adoption Story is My Testimony

It’s a common misconception that those who choose adoption don’t “want” their babies. For most birth mothers, this is far from true.

A father holds his child

A Father’s Voice In Unplanned Pregnancy

Fathers play a key role in parenting a child, but many aren’t empowered to do so after an unplanned pregnancy.

What a Birth Mom Needs for Mother’s Day Weekend

Fifteen years ago, I celebrated my first Mother’s Day, but it looked a bit different than others. It wasn’t filled with my baby smiling up at me, flowers, or a handmade craft. I was a first-time mother in one way, but also not. I chose life for her. I …

baby-and-birth-mother

Supporting Birth Mothers During The Coronavirus

Viruses like COVID-19 don’t stop babies from needing to be born into the world right now.