Adoption Policy???

[jodyangel, RN]

So we've had issues with people coming in labor with no legal paperwork lately. There is no nursery. Nurse kept a newborn with her at desk last night because birth mom didn't want to see the baby.

Email from NM saying to cal youth services if this happens again with birth m refusing to care for her newborn.

So just wondering how most places handle this?

There is no social worker employed. Just case management!

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

Wow. Your facility should have an adoption policy in place. Mom's do have that option NOT to see their babies, BUT should've also made arrangements prior to this whole event. Your case management department should also be versed in adoption as they should be involved even when you are dealing with an agency. Most times an agency can be contacted immediately but many things have to be put into place. Perhaps advice from your risk department may be helpful THe baby is a patient of the hospital and needs to be cared for. We have had to have patient safety attendants sit with a baby in the room taking care needs, with a nurse assigned to it for assessments and things like that until an foster care or adoptive family can be located.

Sounds to me like you need a policy tweak as far as adoption goes.

[jodyangel, RN]

Well...the manager stated that we were a rooming in facility with No nursery..so she said the birth mother had to care for the baby. So then the birth mother...who spoke No English decided she would keep the baby. There was no paperwork or agency involved. Major cluster...

[rn/writer, RN]

Yow! This was not a good situation for anyone involved. Your facility needs to have policy in place for the most common adoption scenarios, including one in which the birth mother doesn't want to see the newborn.

If the patient received prenatal care, this should have been discussed ahead of time with social services (private agency, Child Welfare Dept., etc) trying to set up at least a foster home placement before the birth. But even if she was just a walk-in patient with no prenatal care, she deserved better than she got. I'm not faulting you or your coworkers. Management that doesn't recognize and accommodate a birth mother's request not to see her baby is seriously out of touch and out of line.

The baby should have been taken out of the mother's room and cared for by staff, even if it meant calling in an extra person.

So, she decided to keep her baby. I'm guessing some will say that this was the best outcome, and it may be, but it could just as easily be an emotional decision that she will eventually regret. Because of the language barrier she will probably not lodge a complaint, but she was treated disrespectfully, all the same.

[jodyangel, RN]

Well I don't know if its a good situation for the mother to keep her or not..she has nothing at all for the baby and only her brother for support but its not my call for sure.

Yes I'm working somewhere where there are many problems with policys. Many. This is just one of them.

Apparently this girl did have sufficient prenatal care, and the mother who was going to adopt worked at the clinic she went to.

Ugh huh?

Social service in the hospital? Its the case manager..not a real social worker. Gosh honestly Im worried about that baby. The first day that they put the baby in the room with her she wasnt even changing or feeding. I took care of her last night tho and she was holding and feeding..so thats an improvment. And they got her a pack and play and corificeat.

[Jolie, BSN]

Obviously a policy needs to be adopted, which will take time. But my immediate concern is the well-being of a helpless infant who may or may not be wanted by his mother who is woefully ill- prepared for his care @ home. Please contact child & family services to request evaluation & support for them.

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

OUCH. Despite "no nursery", that baby is a patient of the facility and needs to be cared for. There was a reason this mother wanted to give this child up for adoption and folks should've been called in to assist her, whether it be social services, case management, adoption agency or at the very least child protective services. With the concerns you mentioned, red flags are everywhere and NOT ACTING will result in some adverse reprocussion. This can so come back and bite you in the butt if this kid goes home with mom and something happens and there is documentation of neglect and adoption wishes and not wanting to see the baby etc and the facility did nothing to accommodate or faciilitate a resolution. Holy cow, I am so frustrated FOR YOU and this Mom/Baby. There are sooo many people who want to adopt babies...all it would've taken was a phone call...

[jodyangel, RN]

I'm off and won't be back. But they did consult case management who does the social type stuff. Yes the newborns wellbeing is my concern too. I have Many concerns..

[klone, MSN, RN]

Oh, Jody. Your hospital sounds so bass-ackwards! I'm sorry, but the stuff you post about your unit is just so awful.

[jodyangel, RN]

lol Klone thanks for noticing. The staff there seems quite content. I feel like its So very messed up!

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I grew up knowing I wasn't wanted. It really, really sucks.

Prayers for that poor baby....

[rn/writer, RN]

You're wanted here. Thought you'd want to know that.