A hospital tour in St. Louis showed me a side of adoption I wasn't ready for.

I was at Mercy Hospital last fall for a pre-birth tour with the hopeful adoptive parents. The social worker pointed to a room and said, 'That's where you'll sign the papers after delivery.' It hit me then that I was being shown a process, not being asked what I needed. I left feeling like a part of a schedule, not a person making a choice. Has anyone else felt rushed by the system during a hospital visit?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly635h ago

My hospital tour made me feel like a number on a checklist, so @jessicajohnson's advice is spot on.

jessicajohnson14h ago

My cousin went through this at a hospital in Kansas City. You have to tell them your birth plan before you even get there, in writing. Bring a support person whose only job is to say "we need a minute" when the social worker shows up. The paperwork can always wait until you are physically and mentally ready, no matter what they say.