[missingmyboy]

Growingfamily is the company that did my babe's pics and you won't find your babe on their site unless you purchased pics and agreed to the web posting. My son is not pictured there as we did not agree to have his pic posted on the net.

Shelley

[numbr1dbcksfan]

Awe that is too bad...(FYI- firstfoto change their name to growingfamily....so it is the same company....)

[Volfe]

Yes, I dimly remember agreeing to the web photo though we hadn't purchased any pictures. It was just one of many forms to read, check off and/ or sign. There were sooo many and I did not sign any adoption papers in the hospital either.

You do tell them what name to use for the web photo.

You cannot save the web photo, it uses that non-save technology.

I'd forgotten the company changed names/ hands. But you know, they don't flag your account "Adoption"! And what the agency doesn't know won't hurt them.

This company was very helpful to me and I didn't order them til this past spring. Maybe 5 months after my daughter's birth.

Maia

PS 5/5 is a good birthdate! It's mine too so I'm partial...

[numbr1dbcksfan]

Aha! But you CAN capture your screen and then edit down to just the pic!!And it works great!! LOL!! Sneaky, sneaky!

[michellemartin]

Kara's pic isnt on there either. I definitely have to call the hospital, which I was giong to do after an interview I had today, but then the interview lasted an hour and a half (good sign I hope, cause I'd really like this job). So anyway then I had to go back to my terrible job at the beef hut. So no interviews tommorrow, so I'm planning to stop at the hospital to say I lost the sheet for the agency and I need the customer number. Then off to call the Growing Family place all on my own!!!

[Volfe]

Shellie

Just call Growing Family directly. That is how I did it -- with no ID number -- nothing but my name, my babies name, and the hospital.

I fear the hospital bureacracy. And will they feel the need to call the agency? There are a lot of buttinsky's in my community.

I never called anyone but the photo place. It's a nationwide company, they wont get in between you and your pics (it's just more $$ for them). Besides, they only keep these pics for a year

Maia

[numbr1dbcksfan]

I agree...you should call the photo company first---just dont mention the adoption, just say that the numbers were left off the sheat! And go from there..... Only call the hospital if they say they cant help you....but I dont see why they would do that... Like maia says...it is money in their pocket...and why would they have a problem?? Who would want to pay for pics of someone elses baby????

[michellemartin]

I'm on the phone, I'm on hold. The first lady couldnt find my name or Kara's . Now I'm on hold again as this second lady does some "research"................... still holding...... no name but adoptoin. She says there is a baby with no name- I just cant believe it, they put no name, well she had a name in the hospital... and that they need a letter on file to send me a picture... now I'm being a pain for them and she's transfering me agian to someone else. (Dont worry Maia- i'm writing down names). Oops no transfer. She talked to her supervisor, and they say no I cant get it they need a letter. So I'm sitting here crying hoping that helps her to feel terrible for telling me no and to go around this stupid policy. So now I'm holding again. So far its been a half hour on the phone with these people. Still holding... I'm not thinking this lady's coming back to pick up the line this time. OK she's being adamant about the no pic. She's resending the info for the agency to send in, and also the policy for this stupid rule. Maybe I could sue them for violating my rights as her mother at the time of delivery or something... OK thats me just being angry, I doubt I could sue anybody, but just a thought. So now I'm off the phone no better off than when I started. Well that sucks, but OK, what more can I do about it. The agency obviously didnt send in the letter that I gave them to send in so I'm guessing they wont do it if I give them another letter to send in. I guess all I can do is hope she felt really terrible and sends me a pic all on her own. The lady did seem to feel bad that she could do nothing. She said she couldnt even take the adoption flag off and say I chose to parent cause they'd still need a letter from the agency to confirm that. She said even if she ordered pics they wouldnt be sent because of the flag. No luck for me here. I mentioned that other firstmoms got photos and she said its probably cause the hospital didnt tell them it was an adoption. I did mention to her how would I recognize this child 18 yrs from now with just the baby pic, come on really, how would I? Well I dont want to email this to the aparents so when I visit I'll bring it up then and see if they can get the owner of the agency to send in the form. (the owner works down there where they live, in the other office and I live way up here near Green Bay- they're near milwaukee)

[michellemartin]

Christine, what is the riot act?

[Volfe]

I'm stunned but thinking...

If the hospital tells them you planned an adoption and they restrict you getting pics, then that means they have taken away your rights BEFORE you relingquished them. That would be unfair AND illegal.

It might sound odd, but if you or the aparents have time and inclination, take Indogo's lead and stage a 'sit-in' tell them you will NOT leave until they sign that letter and stamp it and you see a letter carrier pick it up (they can't get it back then).

Meanwhile I'm still thinking. I think the riot act is in order...

Maia

I might have to call them to find out about this "adoption policy". It is discrimination at its worst and illegal on those grounds too.
Unfortunately the boss expects me to work
I'm sorry you are put through this. I was so excited you would get success.

[Volfe]

Perhaps threaten a class action bias lawsuit...

[michellemartin]

If you do call and get their policy before I do, email it to me. I am extremely anxious to read their policy. I'll pm you my email, but I think it might be on my profile also.

[numbr1dbcksfan]

OMG there is NO WAY that the hospital could possibly know if you would relinquish your child. They have NO place to give your private info to anyone, least of all to the PHOTO COMPANY! Wow...there totally has to be some kind of a breach of confidentiality there. How could the photo company have such a policy when no one should be ALLOWED to pass that info to them....the procedure should be that IF the child is adopted, then the birthmother or agency should have to send them a letter releasing the pics to the adoptive parents...not the other way around! I am fuming right now. Ill write them a letter and photo copy it and send it to all hopitals that are on the photo list...Ill send it to them and note that it is CC'd to all of the hospitals..... I am so mad right now. I am so sorry for you Shellie .

Christine

[Volfe]

not only did i get a run around but when i asked for their full names they said they don't use last names there. Well, I told them it is my legal right to know their full name.

They couldn't cite a law exactly just they cannot print the pic w/o permission in cases of foster care, etc.

Foster care is not the same, at that time the state has custody, in this case the mother had custody.

said rule has been on the books for 50 yrs.

Shellie, I need your response to my email! I"m calling back at lunch.

I talked to angel smith, ext 2217 (not sure that iS her last name).

I'm thinking bad press is needed.

Oh, did someone say Monopoly (an illegal business practice).

Maia

[numbr1dbcksfan]

I sent them this email...If I dont hear back tomorrow, I will call directly.

To whom it may concern:
I would like to see a copy of your policy about how to retrieve photos in an adoption situation. It was brought to my attention that your policy in someway prevents a mother from getting her photos if the hospital mentions an adoption situation. I would like to point out that 1) The hospital giving you that information is a violation of a person's privacy, 2) The hospital has NO WAY of knowing whether a mother will relinquish her rights or not. That means that they have no right to take a womans personal situation and pass it on to anyone--LEAST OF ALL a photo company. 3) Making a mother have to get a release from an adoption agency to get her pictures is FAR from a proper procedure. Since the hospital giving that information out is a violation of privacy, the better policy would be to assume that every child belongs to their parent and IF ADOPTED and the adoptive parents want the photos, THEN require a release,as the agency will have the info that you require.
Those photos belong to the mother of the child at the time that they were taken. If a mother cannot relinquish her rights for 3-5 days after giving birth, then they are ALWAYS the property of that person, as that is HER child and it is nobody's business if she thought about or followed through with an adoption plan.
Please forward a copy of that policy to my email *** and home ***.
If no response is given to this email, I will write a hardcopy of this letter and follow up with a phone call until a copy is forwarded to me.

Thank you,
Christine Mazurowski
(A birthmother whose rights WERE NOT violated by the hospital and photo company. My photos did wind up in MY hands.)