[MNStarr]

When we got our referral it clearly said what time she was born, what day, and the name of the hospital. I have had two different people comment on how strange it was for her to be born in a hospital if the birthmom knew she owuld be placing her. Is this a rarity? If they're not born in a hospital is it just at home?

[pvanabel]

Our daughter was born in a hospital and she was referred to us at 3 days old, so I am guessing that she knew she was giving her up. I have heard that the birthmoms with not much money actually enter a backdoor of the hospital - not sure if that is true or not....

[krambk]

Our baby was born in a hospital and referred at 5 days old, my agency had the referral earlier but wanted to wait on Birth Certificate before they referred him.

[jlinberger]

I don't even understand why they wouldn't be born in a hospital. Never thought of it as strange. Hm. Well, our kids were both born in a hospital. Interesting comment.

[WesieMom]

Our little girl was born at home with a mid-wife.

*~LISA~*

[uom88]

We were told our baby was born in a clinic with a physician in attendance.

[MicheleB]

Our first son - born in a hospital
Our second son - born in a hospital
Our daughter (bio sister to first son) - born by mid-wife at home.

[saranbr]

Our daughter was born in GC in a hospital but I would certainly think it to be common for babies to be born in homes (w/ midwives) or clinics, especially in the outlying areas. Travel isn't easy and hospitals aren't in abundance. Just think back to this nation's history-- hospital births not so long ago were for those of privilege and most babies were born in the home with a midwife (if fortunate) or a grandmother, aunt, etc who had "experience" delivering babies.

[ej-momtobe]

Ours was born in a Sanitario...which is like a small clinic with a doctor's office and rooms for the patient to stay overnight...not a full hospical

[brink]

Our three were born in hospitals, two in Guat City and one in Amatitlan. There was a "back door" at the hospital in Amatitlan, where we were told our son's birth mother probably entered. It was for the poor, kind of a social services entrance. This entrance was a corrugated steel gate, while the emergency entrance in the front of the hospital was modern. We were able to visit his birth place on our pick up trip. He was four years old and traveled with us and a driver there.

Just because a woman plans to place her child for adoption wouldn't necessarily mean she would choose to avoid a hospital and face childbirth without medical care. In fact, possibly many might choose the hospital precisely because they were placing their child. The child would recieve good medical care and be among people who could help. People probably don't remember that Guatemala City is a city of over 3million people. There are any number of hospitals there.


One of our son's birth mothers left the hospital before he was released, thereby "abandoning" him in a safe place. He was then referred to a hogar, but had to go through legal abandonment, which took two years.

[TaxDay04]

My daughter was born in a clinic in Guat city.

[Mariais5]

Our daughter was born in a National Hospital in Huehetenango...

[Guatemomtobe]

I lived in Guatemala for a year about 18 years ago. While I lived in Guat City, all babies I knew who were born in hospitals. There was access for the poor at the state run hospitals which weren't as nice as private hospitals but they were OK. I also lived in a very small, very poor community which had mainly clinics so babies were born in the clinics or at home (often a shack with a dirt floor). There are many different conditions in Guatemala.

The lawyers that our agency works with, try to get the girls into Guatemala City to give birth when possible so most are born in hospitals.

[Kimberj71]

I know our attorney told us she prefers for firstmoms to go to the hospital to give birth because of the medical care available to the moms and the babies. Part of the fee we paid for our adoptions went to the hospital care the babies and their firstmoms received.

Kim

[farrarp]

My son was born in a hospital with a MD present. It made me happy as I knew the DNA test would not be a problem. Though I also thought, why did we have to go through DNA testing knowing the baby was born in the hospital with a MD present and the birth mother reliquished him there. Just a delay. Ah that's another issue...guess we all follow the same rules!