[SarahLaughed]

Remember me talking about a 16y old family member who was pregnant - I just found out the baby was born on January 19th, 2 months early. A baby girl, her name is Leia.

The baby was born at 32 weeks, she weighs 3lb 14 oz and her hair is blonde. And her mom says she is doing well.

My heart breaks looking at that tiny baby girl.

[anilorak13ska]

HI Sarah. I didn't catch your earlier post... but were you hoping to adopt this baby? What's the story?

[SarahLaughed]

Originally Posted by anilorak13ska

HI Sarah. I didn't catch your earlier post... but were you hoping to adopt this baby? What's the story?

The best scenario would be if the 16y mom gets help and support - but as it is right now, there is a good chance that CAS will remove the baby at some point soon.

What I am hoping is to at least be able to take the baby in for a kinship foster and adopt if that is what the mom wants.

However, since I am only step-family, and I have not seen this young mom in 6 years due to estrangement with her mother when she lost custody of her children - I don't know if I would be considered?

I'm not sure what other family is available though, none in the 16y old mom's family would be considered due to their age or circumstances.

I wish I could go find her, swoop them both up and take them home - but I have done my best by locating her on Facebook, offering my help and support and let her know I am here if she needs me. That's all I can do - it's up to her to start making good choices and to show CAS that she will do her best for her baby.

[anilorak13ska]

Sarah - Well, assuming kinship works the same in all areas, the bios are asked to provide a list of all relatives and their contact info, and DSS uses this list to contact the relatives to see if they are interested in placement. If you happen to know the name of the social worker in charge (I realize DSS isn't involved right now), you could contact them directly and offer to be considered as a relative placement. I don't think the "step" part should matter.

Our FD's bios dragged their feet on providing the relative list, finally submitting it with one person on each list! And we know they both have more than one relative each. But if they don't give the names and the relatives don't present themselves, DSS will not go investigating to see if there's any more family out there.

Good luck to you and her and the baby

[SarahLaughed]

I have more info on the baby - the information I have is sketchy at best, I got more info from the teen girl's mom today about the baby and she isn't all that truthful.

The baby was born at 2.10 lbs, with Edwards Syndrome. The drs expected the baby would not live 24 hours but here she is 2w3d old, she has pulled out her ventilator tube, weighs 3.14 lbs and is tube feeding well.

The teen plans to move back with her mom, and mom is quitting her job to take care of them all. Not a good option, under the circumstances.

I am doing my best to offer whatever support I can, I offered to do respite care once baby is home if needed.

They have no idea how long the baby will live, most die before birth, rarely do they live to be 2 months old, but there are a few children that have suvived the odds, so you never know! This little girl is a fighter!