Birth Mother

A birth mother is the woman who carries and gives birth to a child, contributing her genetic material and biological connection to that child. In adoption contexts, "birth mother" refers to a woman who has placed her child for adoption, distinguishing her from the adoptive parents raising the child. The term emphasizes her role in the child's origin and often carries emotional and legal implications regarding the relationship and responsibilities she has—or has relinquished—toward her child. Understanding this term is important in discussions about family, identity, and the complexities of adoption.