When I refer to Amnesia I am referring to the loss of memory that is a result of a traumatic event. There are two types of amnesia. The first is a loss of memory that occurs before the time of the event and the second is a loss of memory that occurs after the time of the event.

Some natural mothers experience amnesia around certain aspects of the adoption experience such as date of birth, hospital, birthing details and events, places and significant people at that time in their lives.

Natural mothers were not prepared for the aftermath... more

13 If you are an adoptee and do not know how long your natural mother kept you, try contacting the primary newspapers in your town of birth to try to get your birth notice. Often, if it was known the natural mother intended to relinquish a child the hospital would not give the birth info to the newspapers -- some actually would stamp "DNP" on the records (Do Not Publish) so no mistake would be made. HOWEVER, if no decision had been made at the time of your birth it is possible it made it to the paper. A long shot, but worth a phone call... more

13 If adopted, find out if your hospital had birth journals -- small handwritten books of births, often called ob/gyn logs. You can try the records dept, archives dept, or the birth registrar's office, division of medical records. Wherever you go, try not to say the word "adoption" but try "genealogical research". Keep in mind that hospitals are not required to keep your actual records forever. 14 Natural mothers should contact the hospital and doctor and billing departments of hospitals to get their records. Who knows what... more

Adoption laws, agency attitudes and practices have been changing the past few years. Some of these changes may be very significant and meaningful to a triad member searching for birth family. If it has been a few years since you checked agency policies, you might be pleasantly surprised to find some positive differences. These changes could be reflected in both differences in policies and attitudes of the agency workers.

Check your state laws to determine if any important laws have changed. Some states have made important changes in the past few years that could make an... more

7 Whether you are a natural parent or an adoptee, file waivers of confidentiality. This is to reassure record keepers that if the persons you specify come looking for you, you WANT them to get your identifying info. There are no guarantees, but it may very well help. You want to file these with the agency, attorneys, but especially with the county court in which the adoption was finalized, which is usually the county the adoptive parents lived at the time of the adoption. If you are a natural parent and do not know what county your child... more

3 Register with the International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR). Information regarding this registry can be found at www.isrr.net 4 Adoptees should talk as much as you can to your parents. They may know more than they would volunteer, but might share with you if you ask. It is understandable to be scared of hurting them so you may want to explain that your searching has nothing to do with them but everything to do with yourself.

Also talk to other family members such as aunts,... more

I also believe that sometimes there is an element of denial for some few adoptive parents who think their excellent parenting is able to "fix" and eliminate all adoption issues. ("Denial" that word everyone hates to hear. Unfortunately, many of us birth and adoptive parents sometimes employ it in adoption scenarios.) Of course, good parenting can certainly help a child grow and thrive. However, I think it is a mistake to believe even the best parenting can eliminate all adoption issues.

I was pleased to see acknowledgment that adoption issues... more

1. Organize yourself. Get files and notebooks, keep a sheet accumulating the info you have learned, and a log showing what you did, when, and the results. Not only will this keep you organized, it will show you where you are and have been which comes in handy during those down times. It also gives you an area in which to brainstorm.

Under a tab heading in your binder, make a place for all the documents you have accumulated in your search. This should include copies of (always place originals in a safe place) your birth certificate,... more

For starters, no matter who you are, you will more than likely be working without an original birth certificate, unless the adoptee is born in one of the states that are providing copies of the original birth certificate. If you were not born in one of these states it is highly unlikely you will get one. In a majority of the states the records are closed to adoptees wanting their original birth certificates, but it never hurts to try Natural parents cannot find out their "child's" name after adoption either from the birth... more

The group number is not related to geography. It is the order in which social security numbers are issued for a particular area. Before 1965 half the group numbers were used. Odd numbers were used below 10 and even numbers were used above 9. After 1965 the group number assignments changed so they continued with the low even numbers and high odd numbers. Group numbers for each are assigned in the following order:

Odd numbers, 01 to 09 Even numbers, 10 to 98 Even numbers, 02 to 08 Odd numbers, 11 to 99

All possible... more