Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Season 2, 132: The Profile of a Birth Father

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Season 2, 132: The Profile of a Birth Father

Some interesting things that the public may not understand or be aware of regarding birth fathers:

• We see repeat birth fathers with different birth mothers at different times.
• Birth fathers can have access to many adoption services, but rarely engage:
  • Counseling
  • Communication with the Adoptive Parents
  • Develop an independent relationship with the adoptive family
  • Sign Adoption Consents
  • Develop a Post Adoption Communication Agreement with the adoptive family
• Birth fathers can have a significant influence over whether a birth mother follows through in her adoption plan.
• Birth fathers need to feel a part of the process and treated with respect and may not have as much knowledge of how adoption works as a birth mother may.  Educating a birth father may increase his cooperation and support with the birth mother.
• Birth fathers may be reluctant/uncomfortable with the adoption process for the following reasons:
  • Sometimes they fear it looks like a failure on their part to provide for their BM or child
  • They don’t know how to explain the process to friends and family
  • They may have other children with other women who did not place their child for adoption
  • They may fear that the BM may not stay with them after the adoption finalizes
  • They aren’t sure if they baby is theirs and they do not want to parent if the baby is not theirs.