Birth Parents

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Birth parents play a very important role in adoption. In addition to the connection birth parents have to their specific adoption triad, they often play a larger role in peer post-placement support for expectant parents considering adoption and birth parents who are coping with the emotions associated with placement.

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This section was created to provide information on open adoption, post-reunion relationships, and support for birth parents involved in adoption relationships. Unlike the other areas of the site, it focuses on issues that birth parents may face after placement, such as building strong relationship foundations, navigating reunion, and communicating with the child you placed for adoption.

The birth parent experience is unique and often involves emotions and feelings that differ from those connected in other ways. Coping with loss and guilt can be overwhelming for birth parents who lack a support network to help them identify and address those feelings.

If placement is recent for you and you're just starting the process of trying to sort out your emotions, talking with other birth parents can be helpful. First, it's important to remember that it's o.k. to feel sadness. Feelings of sadness often accompany loss and while you likely made your decision based on facts related to your current situation, it doesn't lessen the feelings of loss that you might be feeling.

There are a number of support groups locally and online that provide support, guidance, and information for birth parents after placement. Finding a support group either online or in person that fits your needs is an important first step when starting your journey. Not all support groups are created equal, and what works for one group of parents may or may not work for another. A good fit is important because it will help you work through the early emotions you're feeling so that you can focus on other important aspects in your life.

If you're a birth parent searching for the adult child you placed for adoption, a great place to start, in addition to finding a helpful support group, is the Adoption.com Reunion Registry.

The adoption.com message boards also offer a wide variety of information and support from birth parents who have a number of different experiences.

Whether you're a recent birth parent or a birth parent who is currently enjoying a relationship with the adult child you placed for adoption, having a support network in place can prove to be an invaluable research.