| The Pediatrician's Role in Adoption
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| | specific issues to you. Often you will
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| Mardie Caldwell COAP
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| | have a list of all the diagnoses that
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| Daniel and Megan felt drawn to the little
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| | have been assigned to your child. A
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| dark-haired child they had seen in the
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| | pediatrician can explain them in
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| orphanage half way around the world, but
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| | terminology that you can understand and
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| they felt they had more questions than
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| | discuss possible long-term problems of
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| answers. "Where do we start?" Megan asked
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| | particular disorders. For example, if a
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| as we spoke on the phone. The adoption
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| | child has a diagnosis of Attention
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| agency needed an answer and they felt
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| | Deficit Disorder, your pediatrician can
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| frozen in their fear. After receiving
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| | explain behaviors that are typical and
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| guidance and answers from other adoptive
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| | problems other parents have had in
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| parents who had the same questions as
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| | dealing with their children.
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| Daniel and Megan, they soon brought home
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| | Your pediatrician will also model some
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| their little daughter. Megan shared later
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| | language choices that you may not have
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| how the advice to seek a pediatrician
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| | thought of previously. For example, most
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| early in the process helped them learn
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| | pediatricians will refer to all the
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| what to expect in their adoption and to
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| | siblings in a family as brother or sister
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| have a realistic view of the challenges
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| | not 'adopted brother' or 'adopted
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| they might face. Now, 6 years later, they
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| | sister.' Pediatricians are careful not to
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| have adopted two more children, another
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| | say 'natural parent' when speaking of the
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| girl and a boy from the same country.
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| | child's birth parent. The term 'natural
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| When considering adoption, parents should
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| | parent' implies that you are then the
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| always consult a pediatrician.
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| | 'unnatural parent.'
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| Pediatricians with knowledge of the
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| | You must be comfortable talking openly
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| special needs of older children or
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| | with your pediatrician about all issues
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| international adoptions can be a wealth
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| | relating to the adoption of a new member
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| of information regarding issues that may
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| | into your family. If you do not already
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| arise with your adoptive child. They can
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| | have a family pediatrician, ask other
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| provide vital data before the adoption,
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| | adoptive parents for recommendations and
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| help with the decision making while in
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| | then interview several different
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| the process of adoption, and assist with
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| | pediatricians to find one that seems to
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| on-going issues after the adoption.
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| | best fit you and your family. Difficult
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| Discussing your plans to adopt with a
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| | questions may be hard for you to ask but
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| pediatrician will give you much needed
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| | will probably reveal the most important
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| information about mental and medical
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| | information to you. For instance, you may
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| needs that your adoptive child may have.
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| | hear that a child you wanted to adopt is
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| Your pediatrician can explain some
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| | going to have a lot of issues that you
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| problems common to newly adopted
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| | don't think you can handle. By discussing
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| children. They may discuss issues of
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| | those issues openly, you will be able to
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| attachment, loss, and grief that adoptive
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| | prepare yourself fully for the adoption
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| children often go through. Your
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| | of your child. Or, after discussing the
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| pediatrician may also discuss physical
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| | possible issues, you may decide that this
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| and medical issues that your adoptive
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| | child is not right for you. Do not be
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| child may be facing. Meeting with your
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| | afraid to ask a lot of questions. Your
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| pediatrician before you start the
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| | pediatrician's job is to help you be the
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| adoption process will bring medical and
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| | best parent you can be.
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| mental health issues to light that you
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| | Of course, your pediatrician will be of
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| possibly were not aware of before. Such a
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| | extreme help to you throughout your
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| meeting helped Megan and Daniel decide to
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| | child's life.
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| adopt two more children. They gained
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| | If you would like to learn more about
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| knowledge and confidence, and their fear
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| | domestic and international adoptions,
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| was minimized.
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| | visit to hear interviews with adoption
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| After starting the adoption process, a
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| | professionals, physicians, and adoptive
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| pediatrician can be an invaluable asset
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| | parents. Having good information can make
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| to you. If you are able bring the medical
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| | your adoption journey as successful as
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| and mental health records of the child to
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| | for the journey of adoptive parents,
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| your pediatrician, they can explain
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| | Megan and Daniel.
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