Post-Adoption Contact Experiences of Birth Mothers

Abstract

This research examines the post-adoption experiences of 223 birth mothers who relinquished a child for adoption in the United States post-1989. This analysis relied on quantitative data collected for a larger mixed-methods study that sought to understand the pre- and post-adoption experiences of birth mothers. Results of the current analysis found that more than two-thirds (n = 155, 69.5%) of birth mothers in the study reported current contact with their child. Birth mothers who had continuing contact expressed greater satisfaction with their decision to relinquish their child for adoption than those who had contact in the past but no longer (n = 38; 17%) or those who never had contact (n = 30; 13.5%). More than two-thirds of the birth mothers (n = 156; n = 70.9%) indicated they would like to have increased contact with their child. Practice and policy recommendations include increased education for expectant mothers about post-adoption contact and the enforceability of contact agreements.