Birthmothers.info - Research into the effects of adoption separation on mothers.

Infant adoption in North America is a growing industry that depends upon young mothers surrendering ("placing") their infants for adoption. Many mothers report that adoption agencies, facilitators and lawyers, have withheld information or have misled them about the known long-term effects of surrender. This site has been established in order to make research regarding these emotional and physiological risks readily available -- to professionals, expectant mothers, policy makers, and to the general public -- as well as to provide information about the adoption industry itself.

Following are abstracts summarizing the findings of the research published on this website.

Abstracts:

1) The Trauma of Relinquishment: The Long-term Impact of Relinquishment on Birthmothers who Lost their Infants to Adoption during the Years 1965-1972, Judy A. Kelly, M.A.

ABSTRACT. Major findings of the study were: (1) the relinquishment experience was a traumatic life event for 99% of the participants; (2) 97% of the respondents reported being misled or misinformed of the effects of relinquishment; and (3) 94% of the participants reported that they did not receive adequate counseling at the time of the relinquishment. The profound effects of the imposition of secrecy was a prominent theme in the post-survey discussion group. That 41% of the survey participants had received hysterectomies is a finding that merits further investigation.

2) Psychological Disability in Women Who Relinquish a Baby for Adoption, by Dr. John T. Condon (Medical Journal of Australia) Vol 144 Feb 3 1986 (PDF file, 708Kb). Copyright © Medical Journal of Australia.

ABSTRACT. During 1986, approximately 2500 women in Australia are likely to relinquish a baby for adoption. A study is presented of 20 relinquishing mothers that demonstrates a very high incidence of pathological grief reactions which have failed to resolve although many years have elapsed since the relinquishment. This group had abnormally high scores for depression and psychosomatic symptoms on the Middlesex Hospital questionnaire. Factors that militate against the resolution of grief after relinquishment are discussed. Guidelines for the medical profession that are aimed at preventing psychological disability in relinquishing mothers are discussed.

3) "Bachrach's Study: How Pro-Adoption Organizations twist the Facts" by Bernadette Wright, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT. To convince mothers to surrender their babies, adoption agencies and anti-choice organizations often purport that mothers (and their infant sons and daughters) will be better off separated. Several pro-adoption organizations have relied on a 1986 study by Dr. Christine Bachrach of the National Center for Health Statistics to support this claim. This article compares what pro-adoption organizations say about the Bachrach study with what the study actually says.

4) Infant Adoption is Big Business in America, by Darlene Gerow

ABSTRACT. Infant adoption is big business in America, grossing an estimated $1.4 billion in 2000. There is a huge disparity in the supply-and-demand of infants, which creates desperate and intense competition among adopters. While buying and selling children is technically illegal, some agencies circulate a fee schedule with children listed in categories by race and sex with prices proportionate to their desirability. Prices can range from $25,000 to $50,000 and upwards. This article first appeared in the Fall 2002 edition of the CUB Communicator, the national publication of CUB, Inc. Post Office Box 230457, Encinitas, CA 92023 U.S.A.

Professional Opinions

Dr. Geoffrey Rickarby: Excerpts from the submission to the The New South Wales Parliament Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into Past Adoption Practices Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3. (G.A. Rickarby MB, BS, FRANZCP, Member of the Faculty of Child Psychiatry, RANZCP, MANZAP, Consultant Psychiatrist.)

Survey Taken In United Kingdom by Trackers International

Note: There is a large market for newborn babies for adoption. Adoption "counselors" in North America like to refer to expectant parents as "birthparents" or "birthmothers", while calling the unrelated person hoping to adopt a "parent". The objective of this so-called "respectful adoption language" is to make the acquisition of healthy newborn babies by infertile people seem "normal". The euphemism "adoption" is used to deflect attention from the reality - this is a transfer of human babies from loving (if naive or pressured) relatives to customers.

The misleading, disrespectful terms "birthmother", "birthfather" and "birthparents" are used on this website for search engine purposes only. The terms "mother", "father", "single parent", " family member" and "natural mother" are accurate, respectful, and nonderogatory terms. See "Why Birthmother Means Breeder" by Diane Turski for more information.

Other misleading, dishonest terms include "biological" child, "genetic" sister, "surrogate" mother, egg "donor", or sperm "donor". These terms are used to make human beings appear to be unrelated to their own family members. Why would a "donated" child (or adult adoptee) wish to learn more about - or contact - her "biological" sister or mother? Why would she say after reunion that it "feels like" her "biological sister" (or other relative) is her sister (or other relative)? Because true families are created by nature, not by government edicts or by the adoption or "sale" of babies.