At 16, Janelle Basham made an adoption plan. More than 30 years later, her story has come full circle.
In this episode of the Help Her Be Brave Podcast, Amy Ford sits down with Janelle Basham, Executive Director of BraveLove and a birth mom herself, to talk about adoption, community, and the importance of supporting women through life-changing decisions.
Janelle shares how the people who surrounded her during her own unplanned pregnancy helped her feel seen, valued, and supported. That experience shaped her future and inspired her lifelong passion for helping other birth moms.
Years later, Janelle had the opportunity to support her own daughter through an unplanned pregnancy. Her daughter chose to parent her son, and Janelle even had the privilege of sitting beside her daughter’s adoptive mother during labor—a powerful moment that showed how one story of adoption can create relationships and a ripple effect that spans generations.
In this conversation, Amy and Janelle explore the beauty and complexity of adoption, the importance of community support, and why birth mom stories deserve to be heard and celebrated.
No woman should have to navigate an unplanned pregnancy alone. Whether she chooses parenting or adoption, women deserve accurate information, compassionate support, and a community that reminds them they are seen, valued, heard, and loved.
One Adoption Story, Three Generations: The Power of Community
Janelle Basham is the Executive Director of BraveLove, a nonprofit dedicated to changing the perception of adoption and supporting birth mothers. As a birth mother herself, Janelle brings more than 30 years of lived experience and professional insight to her work. She is passionate about helping women facing unplanned pregnancies feel seen, supported, and empowered to make the best decision for themselves and their child.
Learn more about BraveLove.
Find a place of belonging in a support group for moms with unexpected pregnancies or single, young moms and dads.
