BIRTH INFORMATION

Robin was born on May 9, 1966 at 1:56 am at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, GA. She weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. her apgar scores were nine and ten. Birth mother received excellent regular prenatal care throughout her pregnancy and carried her daughter to full term (40 weeks). She labored for approximately seven hours. Her deliver was spontaneous and normal. Low forceps were used. Either a social worker, nurse or the foster parents appeared to have named her "Cindy". Birth mother granted custody of her daughter to the Children's Center of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc., for the purpose of providing her daughter a good adoptive family. Robin joined her foster family (Phillips) on May 12, 1966. Robin joined her adoptive family on June 9, 1966. Her adoption was finalized on June 7, 1967.

When Robin was nine days old, she was described as a very cute and chubby baby with brown hair, dark blue eyes and a medium complexion. It was stated that she was very calm and relaxed. When Robin was sixteen days old, she was said to have had excellent weight gain and was well-filled out. She was described as pretty and somewhat small.

According to a psychological report written in September of 1966, Robin's development at four months of age, was progressing at an above average rate. It was stated that she had a superior behavior development at that time.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH MOTHER

Information about the birth mother was provided by the birth mother.

Birth mother was a 21 year old, unmarried woman, originally from Oklahoma, with straight, dark blonde hair, intense light green eyes and a smooth, light to medium complexion. Birth mother was 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 118 pounds. She was of Dutch descent on her paternal side and German from her mother's side. She was described as slender and very attractive looking. Birth mother had graduated from high school and took several months of business college course. She had been working for three years as an IBM operator and stenographer at the time of her pregnancy. She left her job during her pregnancy. Birth mother and her family are strong Baptists and the birth mother was always active in church activities. Her interests included sports, sewing and cooking. She also sang in the church choir and played an instrument. Social worker described the birth mother as always looking neat and well-groomed and further stated that the birth mother spent a considerable amount of time on her appearance. The social worker was impressed with the birth mother's intelligence, motivation, self-reliance and sense of self. She appeared to be fairly depressed throughout her pregnancy and was said to have felt a considerable degree of self-blame for her situation. However, the social worker felt that she would recover well because of her strengths. Birth mother's health was good. She reported that she had the typical childhood illnesses and had never been hospitalized.

Birth mother's mother was a 62 year old woman with strait black hair, hazel eyes and a medium complexion. She was 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds. She had a high school education and was not employed outside her home. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, and playing piano. Her health was goo except for high blood pressure.

Birth mother's fater was 61 years old with light brown hair, blue eyes and a medium complexion. He was 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 200 pounds. He had a high school education and worked for the railroad. He enjoyed sports and golf. His health was good.

Birth mother had four siblings, three brothers and one sister. They all had strait brown hair and blue eyes. One brother had green eyes. They all had medium complexions, medium builds and were all of average weight. Her oldest brother, who was 32 years old, was 5 feet 11 inches tall. He completed high school and two years of college and worked as an insurance writer. The next youngest brother was 28 years old and was also 5 feet 11 inches tall. He completed high school and went to a business college. He worked in an office. Birth mother's youngest brother was 26 years old. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall and he ran a filling station. Birth mother's sister, who was 30 years old was 5 feet 5 inches tall and 124 pounds. She had completed high school and business college and worked as a secretary. All of the birth mother's siblings were in good health. All of her brothers enjoyed sports. It was noted that the birth mother's family was very close and they participated in a lot of activities together.

Birth mother's maternal grandmother died at the age of ninety-three from natural causes. She had black hair and a fair complexion. Birth mother's maternal grandfather was a farmer and died at a fairly young age from a heart attack. His exact age was not provided. Birth mother's maternal grandparents emigrated to the United States from Prussia.

Birth mother had three maternal aunts and four maternal uncles. They all had black hair, blue or hazel eyes and were large framed. her aunts were short and her uncles were of medium height. They had all graduated from high school. One aunt was a housewife, one uncle was a carpenter and another uncle was an airplane mechanic. One uncle died of old age and two others died of heart attacks. No other information was provided about them.

Birth mother's paternal granparents had brown hair, brown eyes and medium complexions. Her paternal grandmother died at the age of eighty-five from natural causes. Her paternal grandfater died of diabetes in his sixties. He had been a farmer, also a town official and served on the school board.

Birth mother had three paternal uncles and two paternal aunts. They had all graduated from high school and were all health. One was a policeman, another a preacher and one ran a meat locker.

Birth mother reported that on the maternal side of her family, there was evidence of high blood pressure and heart attacks. Birth mother reported that she and her sister suffered from hay fever and that her father got hives when he was tense. Birth mother did not indicate any other serious illnesses, diseases or chronic conditions present in the birth mother's family health history.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH FATHER

Birth mother identified the birth father by first name only. He provided information about himself and his family through written communication with the agency. Birth fater was a 23 year old man, who had wavy, brown hair, brown eyes, and a medium complexion. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 pounds. He stated that he was of German descent on both sides of his family. His religion was Lutheran. He had graduated from high school, completed four years of college and had a Bachelors degree. He was a Lieutenant in the Air Force at the time of the birth mother's pregnancy and worked as an engineer. He reported that his health was good.

Birth father's mother was 50 years old with wavy, brown hair, brown eyes and medium complexion. She was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds. She had an eighth grade education and did not work outside her home. Her health was good.

Birth father's father was deceased. The cause of his death was not provided. He had strait brown hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds. He had a sixth grade education and was self-employed. Birth father had three siblings. He appeared to have had two brothers and one sister, although gender was not specified by the birth father. They were all in good health. They all had straight or wavy brown hair, brown eyes and medium complexions. His oldest brother, who was 35 years old, was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weight 195 pounds. Birth father's other brother was 31 years old. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds. They both completed high school and college, and birth father reported that they both had a white collar job. Birth father's sister who was 27 years old, was 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 15 pounds. She completed high school and was a house wife.

No information about the birth father's extended paternal or maternal family members was provided. No serious illness, diseases or chronic conditions were indicated in the birth father's family health history.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ADOPTIVE PLACEMENT

Birth mother described the extent and nature of her relationship with the birth father. She had been dating him steadily for approximately three months when she learned that she was pregnant. The birth mother stated that she was in love with the birth father and that this was her first serious relationship. She reported that the couple had planned to marry in February of 1966. However, when the birth mother told the birth father of her pregnancy, the birth father stated that he was already married. Birth mother reported that the birth father applied for a transfer and was subsequently stationed in New England. Birth mother tried to pursue legal assistance in making the birth father accountable for her medical and living expenses. However, she was unsuccessful because she reported that the birth father had denied paternity to his commanding officer and stated that he was already married. Birth mother stated that she was not sure whether this was true. It was indicated in the record that the birth mother did make contat with the birth father sometime between February and May of 1966 for the purpose of securing background information about his side of the family. She sent him a form which he did complete and return. Birth mother stated that she found it difficult to believe that she had misjudged the birth father and that he had let her down so completely.

Birth mother's sister-in-law originally contacted the agency in late December of 1965 for the purpose of helping the birth mother recieve adoption services for her child. Birth mother had considered her situation carefully and decided that making a plan of adoption was in the best interests of her child. Birth mother relocated to Atlanta in January of 1966 to seek adoption services. She shared a close relationship with her sister-in-law and was pleased to stay with her and the birht mother's brother. Birth mother's parents and siblings knew about her pregnancy and supported her decision to make a plan of adoption for her baby. Her parents also offered financial support and maintained her payments on her recently purchased automobile while she stayed in Atlanta. Birth mother stated that she was close to her family and all of her family members helped and supported her in making a plan to place her child for adoption. Birth mother came to Atlanta for the duration of her pregnancy and her delivery because the birth mother lived in a very small town and she wished to keep her pregnancy confidential. Birth mother requested that her child be placed with a Baptist family. She was told that the adoptive family would be Protestant but that the Baptist denomination could not be guaranteed. The birth mother seemed accepting of this. Birth mother's parents and siblings were very supportive throughout the birth mother's pregnancy. Birth mother's parents arrived in Atlanta to be with their daughter one week prior to her delivery. Her parents and each of her siblings sent her flowers after the birth mother's delivery.

After she gave birth, birth mother was reportedly depressed and upset while in the hospital. The social worker's impression was that the birth mother suppressed her emotions and would not allow herself to feel deeply. She stated that she did not wasnt to see her baby or know her gender because of the emotional pain. By mistake, the social worker revealed her daughter's gender. The birth mother responded by saying that she felt relief to know about her baby. She was also wanting to know about her daughter's progress and was reassured by the social worker that her daughter was progressing well. In a conversation with the social worker the birth mother expressed concern over her daughter being provided a good home. The social worker reported that it was at this time that the birth mother allowed herself to express some emotion. She revealed to the social worker that initially she planned to cope with the loss of her baby by pretending to herself that the baby had died at birth, but realized that she was unable to do this.