Jan 08 2021 69 mins 27
What should you expect as you return home with a newly adopted baby or child? What are the common emotions? We talk with Laura Jean Beauvais, a licensed professional counselor and mother of two adult daughters through adoption. She has conducted domestic, foster, and international adoptions for more than 25 years. In this episode, we cover: Adopting a Newborn What are some common emotions when adopting a newborn? What are some common stresses when adopting a newborn? How may the revocation period affect the transition to new adoptive parenting? Expectations of extended family during this transition period. How do the stresses of newly adopted families differ from a family that gives birth to their child? How does the pre-adoption process affect this transition to new parenthood? What are some feelings that come up about birth parents after the baby comes home? Realities of open adoptions Handling grief of birth family Feeling like the presence of a birth mom makes the adoptive mom less of a “real” mom The balance of power shifting from the expectant/birth mom to the adoptive mom How much of your child’s “story” should you share? How can infertility struggles impact the transition period? Adopting a Child Past Infancy What are some common emotions when adopting a child from foster care or through international adoption? What are some common stresses when adopting a child past infancy? The challenge of setting realistic expectations. How to help your child and you settle in to becoming a new family. Post Adoption Depression What is post-adoption depression? What are the symptoms? How common is post-adoption depression? Can fathers also have post-adoption depression? Who is at risk for post-adoption depression? Are there ways to predict which people are more prone to post-adoption depression? How can post-adoption depression impact parenting? What are some steps to take to prevent post-adoption depression? What should you do if you think you are suffering from post-adoption depression? Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)
