[Fran27]

We're having our first post placement visit this week. The thing is, I'm not too sure what to expect!

What do they usually look for? I guess I'm a bit nervous because we've been so busy the living room is a mess (it's the room the front door is in so we've pretty much used it for storage since we came home with the babies), and we don't have the nursery ready yet. The babies are in our bedroom, and we change them there, and we set up a dresser in the living room (it's very close) with their clothes, so they really don't have their own space yet...

I know I'm probably worrying for nothing, but what's been your experience?

[Celesyee]

I'd love to hear info on this as well...we're anticipating a post-placement shortly after we return home. And I can't believe the babies are already 4 weeks old!!!

[tweetybirdus]

Don't worry too much about that. They're just seeing how you're adjusting to parenthood. That the babies are being taken care of and going to well baby visits, receiving vaccines, etc. I would just tidy up a bit. Just be yourselves and it's more like a conversation than an interview type thing. It's not as nervewracking as the homestudy home visit.

[Wisdom]

We had our first visit a little over a week ago and it was very easy going. She just wanted to see how we were adjusting and wanted to know if we had questions about anything. Our son was awake and we fed him while she was there so she got to see us in action as parents. She didn't look at the nursery or any part of our home. The visit was about an hour. We have to have four in all and she even said two of them could be via telephone.

[Oceans]

A friend of mine had hers about a month ago. They asked height/weight at birth and now, Any other health problems, asked how they liked parenthood, asked about bonding and also asked how the relationship with the birthfamily was going.

Was easy she said... Good luck! (you wont need it )

[Fran27]

Thanks, I know I'm worrying for nothing, and I really like our social worker too, but, you know

[kelceesmom]

It was so not a big deal. Like the homestudy I was freaking out. They just wanted to see how things were going, how we were adjusting, if the baby was growing, that sort of thing. If I remember correctly we had to show that vaccines were given and the doctors notes from the birth and such which we were given copies of.

[mommy3]

I agree with the "don't worry" advice wholeheartedly. I was worried for our first adoption's post-placement visit and then learned to not worry at all (but I did get anxious anyway!). I treated the visit like a true "visit" -- and realized that's exactly what the SW did. She wanted to hear about how our child was doing, how we were adjusting and about the fun we were having. We were open and candid -- and love seeing our little one fall asleep while we all talked, just perfect! Try to not worry -- you'll do fine. susan

[Tiffanni]

We just had our last post placement visit last week and yeah, there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Ours was pretty quick and painless.
Our social worker was more interested in the well beaing of the baby than the looks of the house.
Good luck!

[aclee]

TY was born a MONTH before your two and we haven't even had ONE of our 6 required meetings yet. I'm not happy. She told me when we got Ty that she would give us a little time to settle in to be a family, and maybe in mid-late Feb we could start our visits. Now she's even ignoring my e-mails.

Okay, sorry...anyway...I'm sure it will be fine They all ready approved you, now they are just coming to make sure your babies aren't being duct taped to the wall or anything

[HansenFamAZ]

We had to have four with DS. CA required her to ask the same questions everytime. She was embarrased the third and fourth time to ask formula type, AGAIN!

Asked for new things DS was doing. Just make a little list to help you remember what had happened since last visit, esp if you have alot of visits to do. =) (Like smiling, babbling, follows an object, holds bottle himself, rolls over, laughs, responds to name, bats at mobile, etc.)

Asks for height and weight, number of bottles a day, ounces per bottle.

How you and DH are adjusting, how your kids are adjusting. any changes in relationships (We joked that we sleep on different sides of the house now and get no sleep!)

Updated her on Bmom contact and how she was adjusting. (Don't think this was a required question. Just chatted about it cuz she knew our story.)

We held, fed and changed DS there. SW is just collecting info to fill in the post placement report.

Funny story (well now it is.)

We got our DD when DS was 5 months. When DD was about 5 months I was out running errands. SW called and asked where I was. Told her I was out running errands with the babies. She wondered when I'd be home cuz she was there for our last visit! I started laughing hysterically cuz I had it for a month later on my calendar. We always did them on Fridays so my DS could be there. This was a Tues! Besides the babies, we have a 7 and 9 year olds and the living room was piled full of folded laundry and then all the regular dishes in the kitchen, etc. I told her my house was a mess and husband was at work. Told her I was sure appt was a month later. She said she did not care, that it was then or we could not finalize on Adoption Day on Nov! I said ok, but be prepared. I took her right into the den, which is right inside the front door and we visited in there. DS was about 10 months and trying out his new teeth. She was wearing shorts and he bit her right on her knee! I turned to DS and said "Don't do that! She might change her mind!" She laughed and said there was no way she would!

Needless to day, they are painless visits and fun for them to see what your new one looks like and see how they grow.

DON'T STRESS AT ALL ABOUT THEM! Once I saw how cauaul they were, I was happy to meet with her showered and stopped putting on make-up! =)