Deprived of Adoptive Parenthood: Recognizing Prospective Adoptive Mothers’ Pre-Adoption Loss

This study examined the pre-adoption loss experienced by prospective adoptive mothers following an undesired termination of an intercountry adoption process before the child was placed in the adoptive home. The qualitative data comprised six narrative interviews with women with experience of pre-adoption loss. Based on an abductive analysis of the six cases, a typology of pre-adoption loss is proposed. The differences across the three types presented, are related to the reason for termination of the process, the expectedness and graduality of the loss, the sense of control and outcome in terms of parenthood. Further the dominant emotions and the social responses to the loss are examined. In practice, professionals need to recognize pre-adoption losses and offer appropriate counseling and support.