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Adoption

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One week after placement,can’t cope please help

189 replies

Joy121 · 19/10/2018 09:49

Hi,
Please don’t judge me for this, I just don’t know what to do. My husband and I brought a 3 day old girl home last week as a foster to adopt placement. We’ve waited years for this after 8 years of failed fertility treatments. I thought I’d be so happy but I just feel terrible. I feel anxious and sick and can’t stop crying. I feel like I don’t want to hold her or feed her. What’s wrong with me? I’m scared if I tell my social worker she’ll say I’m not cut out to adopt. Maybe I’m not. I just don’t know what’s going on with me. Please help me.

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 22/10/2018 13:23

How are you today Joy.

Joy121 · 22/10/2018 15:11

Thanks so much everyone for your replies and checking how I am. I spoke to my GP today to let her know what’s going on and she said she doesn’t necessarily think it’s PAD but maybe just the shock and suddenness of everything. Plus the unexpected grief I’ve been feeling for the birth babies I never had that I thought I’d dealt with. I have to go in and see her in a week but phone earlier if I get worse.
I fed and changed baby’s nappy today and although it wasn’t easy I didn’t feel so sick about it but I did wake up panicking this morning. My fear is that at the end of the fostering placement (which I’m sure you all know can take up to 26 weeks for court procedure) I still won’t have bonded and my husband will want to adopt and I won’t. Because all I’ve ever wanted is to be a mum so how can I be feeling like this?
I have listened to all your advice and will carry on and give it longer and hope for the happy ending that many of you lovely ladies talk about x

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 22/10/2018 16:27

Because all I’ve ever wanted is to be a mum so how can I be feeling like this?

I think it’s very normal to feel the way you do. Your whole life has been turned on it’s head - in the process we are urged to think about the losses our DC have experienced but don’t really give much space to our own losses. I’m not really talking about grieving birth children here, though that may be an element for you, I’m talking about the loss of identity, professional status, independence, freedom that comes with being a parent on parental leave. I had a massive shock, spent much of my first few months in tears - yes some of it was knowing I’m responsible for two little lives, but some of it was the reality of my life being chopped into 3 hour chunks of nursery/school drop off and pick up, knowing I needed my DH to agree if I wanted to go out for coffee, being in around the house - a house that didn’t even smell like me anymore.

It’s a massive adjustment and I think your GP is wise not labelling it PAD just now, it sounds like you’re going through a huge transition - one which most people gradually do over a 9 month pregnancy.

Give yourself time, I saw a therapist for quite a while too which really helped me sort out my feelings. A friend of mine who adopted told me she spent the first 4 months feeling like she was having a breakdown which really helped me not judge my own feelings. It’s a hard transition - which doesn’t help make it easier but does hopefully help you not blame yourself for feeling the way you do.

Italiangreyhound · 22/10/2018 22:17

Joy can you keep s journal.

Do contact doc if it doesn't get better. But, of course, I hope it will. Flowers

Did you say PND rubs in your family?

Italiangreyhound · 22/10/2018 22:18

runs

MagicKeysToAsda · 23/10/2018 11:11

Just checking in Smile Please try not to set "performance deadlines" for yourself - a bond is a very slow-growing thing for lots of people (definitely me) that comes by mm not in a thunderbolt. Little tiny shifts inside all add up, we can't see them or even feel them at the time. For me, it's only looking back that I can recognise the moments when my feelings strengthened and my confidence started to creep back. One day, or morning, or half-hour at a time, and try not to think in months or "24 weeks" as I suspect that might add to the overwhelm.

I am going to sound like your mum now, or a very bossy friend: make sure you eat, try to sleep (so far as is possible with a tiny baby), and start a self-care list somewhere - a list of little things for you that make you feel better. My list has: lindor Grin, lighting a candle, Victoria wood video clips, phoning a friend, proper coffee... All things that in 5-10 minutes can bring me back to myself. Other people might have gardening or meditating but that's not really me, and you have to pick stuff that actually makes you smile, not stuff that "ought" to make you feel better. Go to your list and do something on there, at least once a day and more if you can. Thinking of you today.

Joy121 · 24/10/2018 11:07

Thanks for all your replies. I feel worse, if possible. The grief seems to be overwhelming, and completely caught me off guard. I keep looking at the baby and thinking I’ve made a terrible mistake and that I was stupid to think that adoption could be the same as having a birth child. I feel awful because I know it’s not her fault and she needs the love of a mum but my heart just feels numb and cold. How long should I press on and hope it changed before admitting defeat? X

OP posts:
Kr1stina · 24/10/2018 12:00

It’s unlikely that you have made a terrible mistake. Otherwise you , your husband, your referees and your social worker would probably have spotted it by now.

So it’s much more likely that you are not thinking rationally because you are grieving and / or depressed.

Adoption is not the same as having a birth child, particularly at the stage you are at. Because you’ve not had the months of preparation, emotionally and physically . And you don’t have the oxytocin from BF.

However once you get through the initial stages, parenting an adopted adopting a child is very very similar to parenting a biological child. I say this as someone who has both, I forget which ones are which.

And many other adoptive mums will say the same.

However what adoption won’t fix is your grief for not being able to conceive, keep pregnant, give birth, breast feed, and have a child who is biologically yours.

Many find that their grief about these things is changed by adoption, but for some people it never goes away completely .

But the only way to cope with this grief is to keep going through it. It won’t go away if you give the baby back.

What baby needs from you is her physical needs met and lots of talking to and cuddles . And preferably as much physical contact with you as possible.

Can you do that ? You don’t need to love her , I’m fact it would be quite unusual if you did.

She cant see that you are cold and numb. She will not suffer as long as you do the above. I’m not minimising your suffering but don’t make it worst by thinking that you are harming her, you are not.

Please go back to your doctor today and tell her how you are feeling. See if she thinks that meds would help.

MagicKeysToAsda · 24/10/2018 13:26

Yes, to all of what Kr1st1na said. Your GP said to call her if things got worse, so please do that. Touch this baby as much as you can, and let yourself let these feelings out in between. I have found either walking or driving somehow good for releasing grief, perhaps something to do with being moving. I know grief feels like it will break you, but I promise it won't. It's huge, and it will change you, but as Kr1st1na said, the only way is to go through it. I'm going to PM you.

I'm so sorry these feelings are so very hard. It will pass, it will. You're brave for facing what you're feeling, you're strong for looking for a way forward. You can do this, you can.

Thepinklady77 · 24/10/2018 14:18

I have Pm-Ed you a useful link. Hugs.

Italiangreyhound · 24/10/2018 15:30

Totally agree with Kr1stina and MagicKeysToAsda.

I think you need to go back to the GP. If post natal depression runs on your family I think the GP needs to take tgis very seriously.

Just so you know I am mum to a birth dd and adopted ds. Once they were both established in my life there is no difference in my mind or heart between my children.

Good luck, sweetie, hang on in there.

Italiangreyhound · 24/10/2018 16:17

OP this is a small thing but I have heard a womem suffering with cancer talk about swimming and how therapeutic it was.

She said something like ' the water takes your pain'.

I really do not want to be flippant and your baby is too young to go with you but could a trip to a pool at a quiet time of day (no kids) be helpful? Just alongside all the other things?

flapjackfairy · 24/10/2018 18:29

What does your partner think ? Is he bonding well ? Does he have any reservations ?

Kewcumber · 24/10/2018 19:00

I can remember feeling paic and like I was babysitting for he longest time. I also remember very piously feeling that I would do the best for DS desipte the fact that I may never love him, I didn't understand how I didn't love him when he was so damn cute (and everyone kept telling me that). I also felt sad that I was obviously never going to be able to forget that he was adopted and it was always going to be an issue in the background.

After the first about 5 weeks, things started improving gradually (imperceptably) everyday improved a little and at some point between that first 5 weeks and a year I was totally besotted by him. No idea when it happened.

He's 13 netx month - 12 years on from our first meeting and I would not choose to do things differently now even if that choice were possible. I would 100 times rather have him than any other child (by birth or adoption).

It is a very hard transition. You don't feel normal. But you are.

thomassmuggit · 24/10/2018 20:02

You won't bond with her yet! Be kind to yourself, you've only just met!

Post adoption depression is real, and please seek help from your GP if this continues. However the first few weeks are a massive shock of sleep deprivation and being out of your depth.

Take each day at a time.

NWQM · 24/10/2018 21:05

Big hugs - we've been there. We called the social worker twice to say it just wasn't happening for us. I've also worked in maternity and have heard this so much from birth mums too. Please give yourself time. Lots of good advice here about self-care, accepting help & taking care. All good stuff
to listern to. We were not told that post adoption depression was common but it so is.

mamoosh · 24/10/2018 21:44

Oh dear, a huge hug for you. All I can say is share my own experience. I felt absolutely dreadful when we got our son. I cried most days for months. In the end I saw the GP and started antidepressants. Our SW also referred me to the post adoption counsellor. I just felt so numb in the first appointment with her but she really understood about adoption and the sessions really helped. I realised I was still grieving for the birth child I never had. We are two years in now and so much more settled as a family. Do ask your SW for the post adoption support now as I had to wait for the counselling. It sounds like you are finding adoption overwhelming, I did too with this strange little baby and all his needs. I would imagine with foster to adopt that the extra uncertainties just make it feel even more different right now than the dreams you had of family. Parenting also obliterated any time I had for my usual coping mechanisms. Try to get some time in for these and it really does help. You can do it, hang in there.

Italiangreyhound · 25/10/2018 20:54

@Joy121 don't answer of you don't want to. But.... How was today? Flowers

Joy121 · 26/10/2018 10:31

Hi everyone, thanks so much for asking after me. I really appreciate the private messages I’ve been sent, I’m really sorry I haven’t replied. Things have got worse, I feel like I’m really not coping. GP has put my citaloptam. I think I am going to have to tell SW to end placement and I’ll get grief counselling and then see what happens after that. I have really tried to do what people have suggested, skin on skin etc but it’s just too painful. I wake up feeling sick at the though of her and that’s not fair on her at all, she deserves so much more. X

OP posts:
user1494670108 · 26/10/2018 10:43

Joy, can you take it a day or even part day at a time while you see if the citalopram helps? It really does sound like pnd and grief to me. How does your partner feel? I hope he/ she's got a good chunk of adoption leave to spend with you

ohlittlepea · 26/10/2018 10:43

A couple of things that may help, could you try carrying the baby in a sling, or a little baby massage, your little one is so young so will probably only like a minute or two even just feet? There's you tube vids on how to do it. Skin to skin touch increased oxytocin which can help with bonding :). It might feel forced and awkward at first but it can help. Hope today is going ok.

ohlittlepea · 26/10/2018 10:50

So sorry just seen your latest message. Is there anyway you can take a break for a couple of days at a friend or family members and then come back home and see how you feel? Xxx

Boomchicawowow · 26/10/2018 11:50

OP can any family help you at all? If you decide to end placement we will all support you but I think we are all just so worried that you will deeply regret it. Is your husband currently off work? If not, can he take emergency leave?

Boomchicawowow · 26/10/2018 12:06

You’ve mentioned grief counselling and seeing what happens after that but I think you need to be aware that adoption is then usually not an option once you have given a child back. I do not say that to upset you, more it is a truth that you will need to be able to live with. Please do exhaust all options first Flowers

GiddyGardner · 26/10/2018 12:35

You are doing better than you think, you are able to recognise the grief and you have already sought help. You are also reaching out on here, so despite how you are feeling, you are doing well. Have you spoken to your social worker about how you feel? Do you know of any other adopters in your area? If not, maybe your SW can put you in touch with one, who can give you some moral support. Honestly, talking to someone who just 'gets it' without having to explain can really lift you.

Have you managed to get out of the house either on your own or with the little one? This is another thing that is really saving my sanity, even if it just for a walk around the block. Isolation can make everything feel a lot worse. i hope you can give it more time, it will get better, you will feel better, but do keep talking, everyone here is supporting you.