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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on January 7, 2002, at 13:37:45
Hi Everyone,
I am wondering if my psychiatric history will disqualify me from ever adopting. What about having a mood disorder and being single as well? I would like to have a family and I hope to do it with a loving partner. But at present I don't have a husband and I do not have so many childbearing years left. I know risks to the fetus depend on the medication, but I can't predict what my medicine situation will be if I ever try to conceive. What if there are fertility problems. Seems like the option to adopt is an important one.
I am sad at the thought of having to miss out on having a child and I'm afriad that my mood disorder will make this impossible. Does anyone have any experience with adoption when you have a mood disorder?
Thanks,
Emme
Posted by Noa on January 8, 2002, at 19:03:40
In reply to Can you adopt with a history of mood disorder?, posted by Emme on January 7, 2002, at 13:37:45
Posted by jane d on January 12, 2002, at 3:03:23
In reply to Can you adopt with a history of mood disorder?, posted by Emme on January 7, 2002, at 13:37:45
I've wondered about this also so I'm sorry to see that no one has posted an answer yet. During the years that other women were having children I was fighting mental illness. Now that it looks like I may be winning it is probably too late. And nothing I've heard about the screening done on adoptive parents is particularly encouraging. Yet another loss to be bitter about. - Jane
Posted by Emme on January 12, 2002, at 7:36:04
In reply to Re: Can you adopt with a history of mood disorder?, posted by jane d on January 12, 2002, at 3:03:23
> I've wondered about this also so I'm sorry to see that no one has posted an answer yet. During the years that other women were having children I was fighting mental illness. Now that it looks like I may be winning it is probably too late. And nothing I've heard about the screening done on adoptive parents is particularly encouraging. Yet another loss to be bitter about. - Jane
Okay, well it looks like I'm not the only one with this concern. It's getting painful to hold and play with and receive pictures of friends' children and not know if I'll ever have my own. Not to mention hearing about endless engagements, which reminds me of how my illness has sapped my energy for so long and made it harder for me to get out and meet potential mates. But I ramble. Don't want to be too much of a downer on such a nice Saturday morning.
I do know one couple who adopted by finding a young girl who was pregnant and arranging privately to pay for her prenatal care and then adopting the infant. (I don't know if there was any mood disorder for either of them.) Worked out well, and once the adoption was final their medical insurance reiumbursed the expenses as if she had had the baby herself! But if you go through an agency, yeah, I wonder about the screening. I wonder if my pdoc of therapist have had any patients face the adoption issue - I'll ask them.
Emme
Posted by judy1 on January 12, 2002, at 16:45:20
In reply to Re: Can you adopt with a history of mood disorder?, posted by Emme on January 12, 2002, at 7:36:04
If you go through the state and it's screening (and all states are different), then yes you will be questioned about your psychiatric history. If you are willing to adopt an older child and have a strong letter from your psychiatrist then you may be successful. As you mentioned,other alternatives are through private lawyers and Russian agencies- I know of a couple who adopted a Ukranian infant- about 25,000 dollars. You can also go to a fertility dr. and arrange for a surrogate pregnancy with your egg and a donor, or carry your own using a donor. There is no psychiatric screening with fertility drs (first hand here)- again a lot of money. Hope some of this helps, do a search on the web for support groups. From a very pregnant judy (false labor this morning- no dilation) I want to thank everyone for their support, I got over my paranoia and I am on depakote and zyprexa and feel much better. Thank you again
Posted by Krazy Kat on January 15, 2002, at 10:34:02
In reply to Re: Can you adopt with a history of mood disorder?, posted by jane d on January 12, 2002, at 3:03:23
"Workshops
Adopting Internationally
7pm. Information, Q&A. Town Hall, New Paltz. 255-4310. Free."The area code is 845. Perhaps they would have some info?
- KK
Posted by Emme on January 15, 2002, at 16:34:09
In reply to Re: Can you adopt with a history of mood disorder? » Emme, posted by judy1 on January 12, 2002, at 16:45:20
Thanks Judy1 and KK for your input. Judy1, best of luck and happiness to you and your soon-to-be-born child.
Emme
This is the end of the thread.
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