[suzyinsd]

I've been reading the adoption forum posts for a month or so. My husband and I are (were) in PGN--but need to re-do our power of attorney form. However, my real question is that I've just been told that our 2-month old daughter is not gaining alot of weight and is apparently spitting (or throwing) up alot of her formula--has anyone heard of a situation where they expedite your case in order to get the child adopted and receive medical care?

Thanks for any help! P.S. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Suzy

[rprater]

Dear Suzie,
I've NOT heard of it happening. In fact, our little girl, who we will travel to get on Sunday, was diagnosed as having CMV at 3 months of age. She was very jaundiced and we were told she was going to have to be hospitalized and have aggressive treatment. We wanted, very badly, to expedite the process but it wasn't possible. However, the medical care our daughter received was EXCELLENT and now, she appears very healthy. My advice........stick it out but demand that she see a physician that speaks/writes English and has internet ability. THEN, correspond with this physician from the USA. I found this to be VERY helpful and comforting. Hope this helps. Robin

[suzyinsd]

Thanks Robin! That was very helpful and I'm sleeping a bit easier! I still hope and pray for the best situation and that she is not very sick, or need surgery!

Thanks again!

P.S. How was your trip! I bet it is so wonderful to bring that baby home!!!

[Inanna]

I agree that it is not likely to be expedited for that reason. Our child has a foot deformity that is correctible with surgery, which he should have had before he learned to walk, but they still have taken nearly a year to complete our (still incomplete) adoption. I hope that it doesn't take yours that long! I hope, too, that they get the baby some medical care. Good luck!

[reneetaylor]

Inanna, this may sound like a strange question, but I'm not sure who to ask. Do you know if the boys are circumsized in Guatemala? I just thought of this the other day and was wondering if that is something they ordinarily do, or if that is a more American thing? Our son will be around 8 months old when he arrives in the US, and I don't want to put him through that pain then, so if he isn't already circumsized we will probably just not bother with it. Any comments on this matter?

[becky]

The boys are usually not circumsized when they come home.

As the mom of two boys, I agree that it may not be worth the pain of having it done at 8 months of age. Also by that age the child will most likely have to be put under general anesthesia...which is always a scary thing!

I'd discuss the situation with my pediatrician, but I think you'd be fine not to do it.

Good Luck,

Becky

[reneetaylor]

Thank you Becky for responding to my post. How old were your boys when they came home? How long did it take? We have been told to expect our son to come home this summer... we are hoping for June or July. That wait seems like forever.

[Inanna]

Becky is right. I have also been told that boys are not routinely circumcised as is done in the US. However, there are many valid reasons for doing so, even in toddlers and older children, and we plan to have it done. I am in the medical field and know of male children who have had painful and often serious complications from infection and general poor hygiene. Children don't always do a great job bathing themselves and as they get older many parents feel it is inappropriate to bathe their children and properly clean under the foreskin. I also know of men who needed circumcision in their elderly years for the same reason. I would rather have mine circumcised at 2 years old than have him need surgery due to stricture when he is 7 or 77. No, it doesn't always happen, but it can and I think a procedure as relatively uncomplicated as this now is better than when they are older. That's just my opinion. But keep in mind that I already know my son will need surgery and, where the anesthesia risk is there, he will still have to undergo the orthopedic procedure so we will try to have both procedures done under the same anesthesia to limit the risk. I think, as Becky said, it is something you should discuss with your pediatrician, but make sure you have all the pros AND cons.

[becky]

Renee,

Neither of my sons was born in Guatemala. I have 4 biological children and my youngest child, Isabella, was adopted from Guatemala this summer. I received her referral immediately upons being paper-ready, and she was home at 4.5 months of age.

As for the boys...it truly is a personal decision. My oldest was not circumcised at birth. At that time, the American Academy of Pediatrics did not recommend it as a routine procedure (although it is still widely done in the USA). Unfortunately, he was one of those rare cases you hear of that did not work out well. He ended up having it done at age 6. At that point, it was general anesthesia, one week off of school, and a whole lot of pain!

Needless to say, when my second son was born a year later, he was circumcised in the hospital! Of course, personally, I still would rather not have done it...but after the first ordeal, we really felt that we had to!

It's a tough decision, and again I agree that discussing it with your doctor is the best plan.

Good Luck,

Becky

[Beth M]

I was in a dilemma about having my son circumsized but after talking to my pediatrician and to European friends, I have decided to do it when he comes home. I have known a number of people who have had to have it done later in life with more complication. My pediatrician said it is a simple, fairly painless procedure at a young age.

[Laura7542]

I had my son circumsized yesterday, two days after his first birthday. We brought him home 8.5 months old. Our doc recommended waiting a few months for Jacob to bond to us but to do it before the year was out. He was put under general anesthesia but it was fine. As far as deciding to do it, I asked around. Only women said not to do it. I didn't talk to a single guy who said don't. I keep hearing of people, well guys, who had it done as teens or adults for a variety of reasons. Frankly, I had no preference but talking to people helped me make a decision. Good luck!
Laura