Creating meaning: The birthmother's experience with adoption

Abstract

Grounded theory methodology was used to describe the perceptions of five birthmothers relating to the surrender of their children for adoption. Data analysis revealed a process whereby birthmothers create patterning in their lives that encompass the major concepts of Hurting, Healing, and Creating Meaning. The phenomena of 'Creating Meaning' began for each woman with the surrender of their child for adoption. Following the surrender, periods of hurting were experienced by each birthmother. The continuation of life events led each woman to also experience healing interludes. As interactions with important others, themselves, and the environment evolved, an increasing awareness of the overall impact of the surrender emerged for each birthmother. This research represents initial work in an area with limited previous knowledge and delineates a first step in the discovery of the process used by birthmothers in creating meaning in their lives after the surrender of a child for adoption.