Most women who place their children up for adoption come from disadvantaged populations. Unable or unprepared to take on parenthood or a growing family, some of these parents view placing a child for adoption as a commitment to the child’s welfare. Unfortunately, many of those who choose to raise an unplanned child face exceptional difficulties. According to the Child Welfare League of America, as many as one out of five children currently living in foster care will not successfully rejoin their biological parents.

Detractors of adoption insist that terminating the biological relationship between mother and child has deleterious and lasting consequences. According to anti-adoption activist Joss Shawyer, “The shock experienced by new-born babies separated from their mothers . . . contributes towards the high rates of psychiatric disturbances found amongst adopted people.” Other critics assert that most adoptions are not justified and...