Adoption question..

I think you all have a beautiful soul for adopting a child. God bless you all.

I just wanted to know if you receive a photo of your baby before you meet and adopt your child.

Thanks

Re: Adoption question..

Yes, with international adoption, after you fill out your paperwork, you wait for your referral. A referral consists of information about the child and his/her parent(s) as well as picture(s) of your child. If you adopt a "waiting child" -- a child with special needs -- more often than not you will see a picture before you even start the process. With domestic adoption, of course you don't see a picture beforehand because the birthmother chooses you while she is pregnant and you are normally there for the delivery or shortly thereafter.

Re: Adoption question..

with international adoption you get a photo and full medical history (inc. HIV test results). You also get a personal history..or at least as much information as they know about the child. My friends, who adopted from China, were told exactly where their daughter was found, what she was wearing when she was found.

I have to be honest, you fall in love with your child long before you get that photo..very similar to how I felt when I was pregnant. I loved Molly from the first time I saw the two pink lines. I am in love already with my son..the moment I sent in our first set of paperwork I felt it. It is hard to imagine but something I have heard echoed by almost all adoptive moms.

Re: Adoption question..

The first time we saw our son was in a video. There he was sitting on top of a slide singing and bopping to a little song then sliding down. I will never forget it. Yes, it was love at first sight.

With International adoption generally you receive a photo or a video of your referral, however each country and in some cases different regions of a country work differently. For example some regions of Russia provide pictures, videos social and medical history of the child; and some regions require that you travel blind. Traveling blind means you are provided with little to no information about the child until you go to meet him/her.

Message edited 8/2/2006 10:56:57 AM.