Hepatitis B is a contagious virus that can be passed from a mother to a baby at or around the time of birth. It can also be passed from one child to another in an orphanage, through blood or body fluids.
List of Recommended Post-Arrival Medical Evaluations
Adapted from an article by Deborah Borchers, M.D.
Questioning Medical Myths About Adoption
Make sure your infant or toddler is getting the care he needs.
Ask the Doctor: Pre-Adoption Medical Assessment
What kind of referral information will I receive about a child available for adoption, and how do I assess it?
Ask AF: Building a Good Relationship with Your Pediatrician
How can I work with my child’s health care provider to make sure my child gets the best possible care?
Nourishing Beyond Growth Charts
How to assess a newly adopted child’s nutritional status and get a malnourished child’s growth on track.
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
If you’re worried the child you’re adopting has been exposed to alcohol prenatally, what should you watch out for?
Is Special Needs Adoption Right for Your Family?
Why adopt a child with medical special needs? The answers will surprise you and touch your soul.
“We Wanted to Adopt White Children”
I chose our route because I didn’t feel comfortable adopting outside our race. Six bittersweet years of motherhood have taught me to look beyond appearances.
Adopting a Premature Infant
While they may appear fragile, premature infants are surprisingly resilient. Here’s what you need to know about premature baby adoption and care.
Your Child’s Medical History
The information you need to know, and how to track it down.
“Our Agonizing Decision to Decline a Referral”
We thought accepting a referral would be the easy part. It wasn’t.
Prenatal Drug Exposure — What Parents Need to Know
If there’s a possibility that the baby you are planning to adopt was exposed to drugs in utero, what should you be prepared for?
The Adoption Transition Diet
Dana E. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., on introducing new foods and addressing feeding challenges in a newly adopted child.
Why You Need Your Child’s Medical History
A little information about your child’s medical history goes a long way for finding and preventing risks.
Post-Adoption Check-Ups
When you bring your child for their first post-adoption check-up, what should the doctor be looking for?
What to Expect: Special Needs Adoption
I’m considering a special-needs adoption. What might a referral indicate?
Ask AF: How Do I Find an Adoption Medicine Physician?
Is there a certification process for physicians who specialize in international adoption?
Ask AF: Insurance Hassles
Answers to your parenting questions.
“Bringing Him Home”
The medical report faxed to us said our son could “speak in full sentences” and proclaimed him healthy. So who was this eerily quiet toddler on the exam table?
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