ST. LOUIS - For many couples, giving birth to a child is not an option.
One mother who turned to adoption after marrying late in life is giving her advice for other prospective parents.
It's one of the biggest life decisions someone can make.
"My husband and I met late in life and we knew we wanted a large families because we are both from large families," explained Adoptive Mother Connie Christmann.
While biological children weren't possible for the Connie Christmann and her husband, they made the decision to foster. That... led them to the idea of adoption.
"Of our 10 or so foster kids we had in our home at the time 5 of them became permanent family members," said Christmann.
Connie says this is a great option for couples who can't conceive, but warns it may not always be a simple process.
"Your kids will be processing differently than other kids throughout their lives," added Christmann.
There is another big difference between adopting a newborn privately and adopting through the foster system.
"It's relatively free to adopt through foster care," explained Summer Renne with the St. Louis Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition.
The Adoptive Care Coalition provides parents-to-be with child care credits, legal fees, and a monthly allowance to help with caring for their child.
That's opposed to private adoptions that could cost you thousands of dollars.
Summer Renee says the biggest challenge by far is being there for your child.
"There is that element of loss and separation for our children so I think our biggest challenge is helping kiddos understand their stories," added Renne.
It's something Christmann is now doing at home and at work, recently taking a job at the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition, helping give every child a place to call home.
"It doesn't change the way they fit in your family you know, we are just a family like everybody else," explained Christmann.
For more information about adopting a child through foster care click here.
