[cassady]

What family medical history questions should we ask of eparents that are really important to know for a child? I'm thinking of things like allergies. Is there anything else that you really need to know for a child?

[startedover]

Our daughter's birth parents filled out a booklet provided by an agency with every medical question you can imagine and it goes back through the grandparents. We even got eye color , hair color, and height on everyone. Maybe you can get something like that. I will tell you that we have a open arrangement so when the drs. thought my daughter had ashtma, I just called and asked the bfamily.

[BrandyHagz]

Is there a history of any of the following in your immediate or extended families?

Blood Disorder
Heart conditions
Cancer, including Skin Cancer (explain in detail)
Mental Disease or Defect (Treated or untreated)
Allergies
Genetic abnormalities
Chronic Illnesses
Diabetes

This is just a scratch of the surface really – and hopefully, if you’re planning on adopting, you’re creating a relationship where this information can be updated as it changes, which it will.

My suggestion would be, if you’re really hoping to get a comprehensive medical history, even in addition to the one that agency provides (which was VERY limited in my case) – go to your Dr. and ask to get a copy of the “New Patient” worksheet they ask new patients to fill out – then, sit down with your child’s birth parents and discuss each issue specifically.

You would be amazed at how much comes out later…not due to malice or any sort – but just plain ‘oh…duh, I totally for Aunt Sue had a radical mastectomy at age 23 due to progressive breast cancer”…

I have found out more information about my family history by simply having a relationship with my birth mother…than I ever would have had if I relied on what the attorney provided.

Additionally – as a birth mother myself – my daughter is lucky enough to have ‘real time’ access to her history – and I update it with every single change. I recently went to the Dr. for a lump in my lymph node – that’s important stuff! Stuff that wasn’t part of my Medical History when I placed her 12 years ago!

[HappyTwinsMom]

We got some limited medical history from the girls' birthmom - she filled out a form the agency provided. Basically, we know nothing about their birthfather. We do feel confident, though, that we can contact C anytime we have medical questions.

[belleinblue1978]

you might want to prepare yourself for the idea that you might not get any medical history except with a birthparent knows about themselves. I think one of the things that has been hardest for my son's parents to accept is that I am adopted and can't give medical history beyong my own.