Birth mothers' experiences of support before, during, and after adoptive placement

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Updated: Jul 17, 2025

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Emily P Lapidus1, Ciara L Watkins2, Rachel H Farr1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky.

The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|September 7, 2023
PubMed

Birth mothers, or women who have relinquished parental rights of their child, are an understudied and stigmatized population. Prior literature has suggested that protective factors, such as supports (e.g., practical, emotional, peer, informational), are beneficial for birth mothers. This study qualitatively explored perceptions and experiences of support before, during, and after placement among 51 birth mothers whose children were adopted as infants via private adoption in the United States 8 months to 50 years (M = 15.39 years) from the time of data collection. Thematic analysis revealed six overarching themes: (a) impact of lived circumstances, (b) importance of early adequate support, (c) an emotionally complex process, (d) access to timely information, (e) feeling ready to utilize resources, and (f) coping with ongoing adjustment needs. Prevalence of Themes pre-, during, and postplacement were shared among participants. Time since placement and adoption openness (e.g., contact with adoptive families) were also important factors related to these themes. We discuss implications of these results for policy and practice related to birth mothers' well-being and adjustment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

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