Though millions of Americans are touched by adoption in some way, the number of new birthmothers continues to decline each year. So, if you decide to place your baby for adoption this year, what size group will you be a part of?

The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) has some interesting statistics.



Because relinquishment is no longer a common occurrence, there are no really good sources for data nationwide, but we do know that voluntary placement of children for adoption is fairly rare in the United States. According to NAIC estimates, fewer than 14,000 children were voluntarily relinquished in 2003. (The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, an excellent source of adoption information, says that there are about 100,000 adoptions in the U.S. each year, but these are not all voluntary relinquishments, nor are they all infants.)

Here are some additional statistics from NAIC:

• Less than 1% of children born to never-married women are surrendered.

• More white never-married women choose adoption than black never-married women (1.7 percent compared to nearly 0 percent). Prior to 1973, the figure for white women was at 20 percent.

• Those who relinquish tend to be more educated, have higher incomes, higher career and educational goals, and to be from intact, two-parent families.

• The choice to relinquish is most heavily influenced by the preferences of family members and boyfriends.

• Those who stay in maternity homes are more likely to relinquish.

• A higher proportion of unmarried mothers are in their 20s than their teens.

• Informal adoption is becoming more common (meaning family members help to raise the child, instead of asking the mother to permanently give up all rights and responsibilities).

Perhaps this information will help you understand why you will be so heavily courted during your crisis pregnancy. The small number of infants potentially available for adoption are overshadowed by the much greater number of couples hoping to adopt. With only 14,000 babies surrendered each year, the pressure is on to find an available infant...and to encourage pregnant women to surrender. While many adoption workers will not try to talk you into adoption if that isn't what you really want, others aren't so ethical.