Adopting a child can be an immensely beneficial experience for an individual or family. If you are interested in pursuing adoption, there are several important aspects to educate yourself about regarding the health and medical care of an adopted child, before, during, and after the adoption. If you choose to engage in an open or semi-open adoption, you should be able to acquire a fair amount of health information.
Additionally, with open adoptions, you may be given the opportunity to help provide for the birth mother’s prenatal care, accompany her to doctor visits, and even be present for the actual birth. As a prospective adoptive parent, you can also request the health records of the birthmother through the agency or attorney handling the adoption. If you are seeking to adopt an older child already living in the United States, you can make arrangements to spend time with him or her before the adoption to become familiar and more knowledgeable with the child’s health in general. By and large, before you adopt, it is imperative that you have as much medical information as possible about the child in consideration for adoption. The most common factors to educate yourself about include the following:
- Birthparent’s age, height, weight, ethnic background, and medical conditions
- Any known diseases or medical issues that run in the child’s family
- If applicable, the health of the child’s siblings
- Information during the birthmother’s pregnancy, whether she consumed alcohol, smoked, or used drugs or any prescription or over-the-counter medications
- Whether the birthmother has or had any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that may affect the child’s health
- Information regarding the birthmother’s prenatal care
- The results of any medical tests administered during pregnancy
- Whether there were any issues during pregnancy, labor, or delivery
- Information on the child at and since birth regarding weight, length, and head circumference measurements
- Whether the child has encountered or dealt with any medical problems, and the results of any medical tests performed
- Overall physical development of the child compared to standard age milestones, such as sitting up, talking, or walking
- Description of the child’s traits and personality, as well as relationships with others
- Description of the child’s care-taking since birth
- Whether the child endured any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
More specifically, potential health issues of a prospective adopted child should be explored thoroughly. Generally, a child will be evaluated for numerous conditions once they are placed in permanent care. However, depending on a child’s risk factors and the comprehensiveness of their medical records, the doctor may check for the following:
- developmental delays
- impaired hearing and vision
- metabolic disorders
- psychological issues (i.e. dependency problems)
- anemia
- blood lead levels
- intestinal parasites
- hepatitis B and C
- tuberculosis
- syphilis
- thyroid conditions
- HIV
- tooth decay
- rickets
- fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects
It isn’t unusual for adopted kids, especially those who have resided in less than ideal living circumstances, to be inflicted with minor infections, colds, upset stomachs, and/or diarrhea soon after arriving to their new homes. Oftentimes this takes place when they encounter new dietary changes and new types of environments. Such health setbacks are likely to resolve themselves as the child adjusts to the new surroundings.
More prevalently, it has been learned that adopted children tend to experience emotional problems associated with feeding as they adapt to their new homes, for example, hoarding food and eating to the point of regurgitating, which is indicative of past food deprivation. Generally, such issues clear up over time, with appropriate medical attention, and counseling. It is important to speak with your doctor should you have any questions or concerns regarding adoption and the health and overall wellness of the child.
If you have questions or concerns regarding potential health and medical issues of adopted children or seeking legal advise about adoption in Kansas, contact McDowell Chartered legal services at 316-269-0746 for more information today!
