What is a Birthparent?

Being a Birthmother!

A birthmother is a woman who decides to place her child for adoption*. A Birthmother has legally, and voluntarily, terminated her parental rights to her child in order to place them for adoption. Typically this plan is chosen when the woman does not feel that she is ready to parent a child; however, there may be other reasons for choosing an adoption plan for your child. 
Depending on the type of adoption chosen, a birthmother will have varing levels of involvement with the child and the adoptive family. Birthmothers are, none the less, very important people in adoption. They bring life and a chance to their child. They give the biological make-up to their child; the beautiful smile, the green eyes, or maybe the "bedhead" hair that runs in the family! Birthmother's are the bearers of life - and to some adoptive couple, the bearers of miracles!

*We would like to note that a birthmother is also a woman whose child has been involuntarily removed  from her, however, this website generally focuses on the experiences of birthmothers within adoption, and not those of court ordered termination.

Being a Birthfather!

A birthfather is a man who has legally terminated his parental rights to his child. This can come about in many different ways. He may be directly involved with the mother of the child, and they both agree that an adoption plan would be the best thing for their baby. The father may voluntarily terminate his rights. However, there are many times when a man doesn't even know he is the father, or he does not agree to the termination. In these cases, the courts can be petitioned to terminate the fathers rights. This is a very tricky situation, but it does happen; and unfortunately, if the father is not aware of it, or does not have the means to fight back, their rights are involuntarily terminated by the court. For specific information on a father's rights, check with an adoption agency, attorney or the court in your state.

Birthfathers are still very important persons within adoption, and they are too often over looked or left out! They too contribute that beautiful smile to their child! They are half the genetic make-up of the child. The relationship a birthfather has with their child and child's adoptive family will also vary with the type of adoption that was done.

Being a Birthfamily!

Birthfamilies play an important role in the emotional support of a birthmother and birthfather. The birthfamily consists of the immediate and extended family of both the birthmother and birthfather. This means they are the child's birth-grandparents (on both sides)or birth-aunt, birth-uncle or godparents. They will hopefully be there to bring moral support to the birthparents during the grieving process and the trying times of relinquishment. They, as well, hold genetic make-up for the way this beautiful child will turn out, and their relationship with the child also depends on the type of adoption chosen.