[Nicole28]

I was told by an attorney (not specializing in adoption) that birthmother's are assigned a general social security number that is used on the relinquished child's medical records. I questioned an attorney because I saw the s.s. # on my non-ID hospital records and thought that there was a chance that I could locate my birthmom using her s.s. #. Is this true? Do all women who plan on surrendering their babies recieve one general number for confidentiality purposes? I don't see how this would work effectively.

I have her fingerprint, but I figured it would be much easier to use the s.s. # I had on my records. I don't know what to think!

[HappyMomAnna]

I know that some stange things have been done in the past in order to insure that birthmothers could never be found but I have never heard of this one! Honestly? I cannot help but imagine the Law School class where all attorneys are given the birthmother SS# to remember and know for the rest of their lives! I don't mean to make light of your question or search but, I do not think that was an accurate answer from your attorney.

Now--it could very well be possible that in the past there was a 'practice' of attornies using a made up SS# maybe--or perhaps there was a case that uncovered that some attornies were providing the same SS# to birthmothers they handled...but, I just cannot imagine one SS# being the catch all number--can you?

It isn't that hard to have some results when you have a SS#--my advice would be to run with it and see what you can uncover! Maybe you will find out that 79 different birthmothers used that number?

If you do find out that the were using one SS# for all birthmoms...let me know because that would be an interesting investigative news story.

Try the SS# see where it leads you--and Good luck

[Missy M]

Nicole...I don't know what state you're in but I am in TX and on my non-ID info that my reunited daughter recieved my correct and actual SS# is there. IMO what would be the point of adding anything if it was only going to be a ficticious number anyway? A reasonable person would simply leave the space blank or at best eliminate the space altogether. The difference might be that there was an agency involved and not an attorney. Not only did the documents list my SS# but maybe since I was a minor my mom's is also listed.
On the other hand there were so many secrets kept back in the day that nothing should surprise me anymore! Its a wonder they didn't assign us all one name like "Birthmother Brown" or "Placing Patty". Good Luck in your search....MissyM

[Nicole28]

This is what happened - a friend of mine had her mom up get in touch with her friend, who happens to be an attorney. She suggested that I find some kind of reunion/search service and use the social security number on my non-ID hospital records to try and locate my birthmom. I planned on going ahead with her plan, until she called us back and said that the s.s. # written on my records was probably not my birthmother's actual s.s. #, that it was either assigned to her by the hospital (as a general # for birthmoms) or it was some kind of attempt by NYS (where I was born) to avoid giving me TOO much info. on my records. The # is located on almost every page of my hospital records, and in some places it is blacked out - I can tell because there is a copy (on top of a copy) of what I assume to be my hospital bracelet on several pages (all but one) and on some of the pages it is blacked out, and on some it is not. (I hope that makes sense!) Because it is blacked out in some places, part of me wonders if that is actually her real s.s. #.

My other question is this - there is no way that this # could have been assigned to ME, right? My social security number is not on any of the records they sent, but when I called and requested my records, they identified me using my s.s. # instead of my name, because I did not recieve a name while in the hospital.

I know this is all confusing - I hope someone can make sense of it for me.

[Nicole28]

I have a couple more questions - -

On my hospital records, all identifying info. is blacked out except my birthmom's age (23) her race, (white) how many living children she had at the time, (0) and then three things I do not understand because they abbreviated and some kind of "medical jargon." This is what they look like - -

EDC 7-15 (I am thinking that 7-15 could be a significant date)

Grav 1

Para 0

I don't know what 'Grav' or 'Para' mean. Anybody??

[Kitti]

I think I can help you out Nicole. "Grav" is probably short for gravidity which in obstetrical termiology means the number of times a woman has been pregnant. "Para" is short for parity which means the number of times a woman has delivered a viable baby,for example a primipara is a woman who has delivered her first child. Hope this helps you out.
Kitti
ISO daughter born October 4, 1983

[Nicole28]

Thanks for the clarification.

[HooverMis]

EDC - Estimated Date of Conception???
I'm not certain but it seems feasible. Best of luck locating your birthmom!

[Nicole28]

Would that date make sense?

[MamaCass]

EDC = Estimated Date of Confinement, which is the medical term for due date. (the previous posters were also correct with the definitions of Gravida and Para) I hope this clears things up.