AdoptionBaby

Adopting a baby is probably one of the toughest and very crucial decisions between a husband and wife. Lots of things need to be considered when a couple has chosen to pursue adoption. However, all these worries and qualms are replaced with excitement and anticipation when the time to meet the baby for the first time finally comes close.

You may have seen your baby’s photo or adoption paper already or may have personally met the child’s biological parents, but seeing your adoptive child for the very first time in the flesh can really be nerve wracking and can give you lots of hopes and anxiety. Nevertheless, this kind of feeling is inevitable and understandable, especially for first time parents.

However, bear in mind to be moderate in your expectations, because adoptive parents with very high expectations on their child-to-be are more likely to feel some disappointment at first. Sure enough, your child may not look exactly like the one you’ve seen in the photo or the one you have imagined, but thinking about the tedious process of fixing the papers and the long wait you have gone through just to have a child should gradually send you the feeling that your adoptive baby or child is definitely worth the wait. Meeting your little angel for the very first time should be something cinematic and memorable for both you and your child.

Alternatively, adoptive couples who chose private adoption may have the advantage when it comes to seeing their soon-to-be child. A bond between the biological mother and the adoptive parents may be formed even before the child is born during the course of the mother’s pregnancy. At some point, the birth mother could even allow the adoptive parents to witness the birth of their adoptive baby. This alone is certainly a wonderful and special experience already for the adoptive parents, especially holding their baby a few hours right after being born.

In contrast, international adoption can be difficult because of language barriers and cultural differences. With this, it is highly important that the adoptive parents visit their adoptive child’s native country. This visit is usually recommended or required by many adoption agencies to the parents-to-be, for them to have a closer look and experience of their adoptive child’s own cultural surroundings.

Furthermore, children can sometimes be unpredictable, so don’t expect the first meeting to run smoothly as you wished it would. In this case, adoptive parents are expected to be considerate and patient when dealing with their child, especially during the first encounter. Be sure to wear something soft and comfortable for your meeting so when you hold close your baby, he or she will feel relaxed. Don’t forget to let the baby feel how special he or she is by using the touch therapy to lessen the baby’s stress. Studies showed that touch therapy is very nurturing for babies and it plays a vital role in the physical, social and cognitive development in infancy.

A soft touch on the cheeks or in the hands is already enough for the child or the infant to feel your love and longing for them. Research has also revealed that maternal touch, whether from the biological parent or not, is indeed one of the essential channels to communicate with infants and to form a special bond with them. Also, before taking the child with you, hug and hold him close to you after meeting him, and look him in the eyes, this way, a certain kind of trust will already be formed in the child.

While it is true that meeting your adoptive baby for the very first time can bring about mixed emotions, disengaging your dream child away from your mind and accepting this precious gift from God wholeheartedly, no matter what gender or race the baby is, will definitely make you the happiest parent around.