Jeanette
what a truly inspiring story of love. So true - their mothers may grieve and miss them but their unselfish love for their child is immeasurable.

I have never felt guilty adopting our son - Australian born.His mother relinguished him at 10 months (and other children before him at toddler ages in previous adoptions) because of her overwheming love for him. She made a concious choice and the Adoption agency told us in 1994 they always counsel birth mothers to keep not relinguish - though in our son's case social worker said it was best thing for him.

DS Birthmother felt even with help (she wrote our DS a letter) that she was unable to properly care for him. She was in 30's so not young either.

IF adoption ceased where would these kids go - through a lifetime of no-one to love them specially. In overseas countries there are much worst fates as Jeanette mentioned .

Why should we feel guilty for wanting to love and nuture a child who would most likely be left in institutional system or on street.

There are so many children (not babies) who are unwanted in foster care system and abused children who are still with parents who keep them in Australia. These parents obviously have less love for their children.