To think people on adoption leave should get the same benefits as those on maternity leave?

[Rufus27]

I'm currently on adoption leave with a young baby. Went to collect a prescription for myself today. The pharmacist immediately said, 'it's free as you're on maternity leave and he's under one'. I explained he was adopted and she rather apologetically explained that in that case, I'd have to pay.

I'm taking slightly longer leave on social worker's recommendation as DS is delayed developmentally and obviously we need as much time together as possible to build a secure attachment. Therefore our finances are currently significantly reduced.

AIBU to think that adoptive parents on leave should qualify for the same 'health benefits' (if that's the right term?) as people on maternity leave? As someone who needs fairly regular prescriptions, even with an advanced payment card, the cost quickly adds up.

I know it may sound petty - I was in two minds even to post this - but it feels like yet another example of the system working against adoptive parents. I lost count of the number of days of unpaid leave I had to take due to compulsory adoption training days, adoption panel etc. yet colleagues who are pregnant had paid leave for scans, appointments etc. In fact, some colleagues even questioned why I even needed adoption leave at all (not like I'd given birth, after all).

You are putting your own interpretation of the rationale onto the free prescription philosophy, but it's wrong.

It should be free.

Prescriptions should be free for everyone. But there you go.

The free prescriptions (and dental) are there because pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding can cause many issues so as a pp said - pregnant/postpartum women blanketly get it free as its easier than distinguishing between who does/doesnt need it and if it is/isnt related to pregnancy etc.

On this point i think yabu as you have no need for prescriptions for any of these reasons HOWEVER you should (and are by law?) Entitled to the same amount of paid and unpaid maternity leave? - apologies if i have got that wrong

I'm in two minds on the prescription issue. On one hand your income will lower as it is for those on maternity leave. On the other hand the free prescription cover is because being pregnant can cause all sorts of health issues you wouldn't normally experience and your immune system suffers too.
I do agree that you should have had paid time off for pre adoption meetings though.

I still agree with you Rufus. Our little man rocks too, and I'd never swap him for nothing. Congratulations on your adoption! 💙

Bet your LO is fabulous

I'm a birth mum and an adoptive mum, and I agree about time off for prep classes, whether they be antenatal or adoption training (although it does require telling your employer your plans, which I avoided doing for as long as possible)

On the prescription benefits, it's one of those situations where a blanket approach to post-partum mothers is easier and cheaper to administer than limiting free prescriptions to conditions that are directly linked to pregnancy and birth. Unfortunately you don't qualify for them because you didn't carry and deliver him.

I remember having an argument with a dentist over whether I should pay for dental treatment when my DS was six months and two days old. He was born prematurely so my health card thingy still had another five weeks validity, but the dentist insisted that my entitlement was linked to the date of DS's birth. TBH I still don't know who was technically correct, but I didn't pay because I argued that my card was still valid; I hadn't accessed any extra services over and above basic care; I wasn't trying to claim "extra time" beyond my card; and having a prem baby meant that I had "lost" several weeks in a haze of hospital appointments when he was born so I was only just able to do things like schedule and attend a dental appointment for myself.

Well I never needed antibiotics for a cut on my maternity prescription. I did need equipment for my gestational diabetes (although due to the demands on the NHS I bought my test strips online), antibiotics and pain relief for my post op stitches when they got infected and a root canal. All due to my pregnancies. When I lost my first (at 19 weeks, before I qualified for mat exemption,) I didn't qualify for free anti-depressants as my body hadn't gotten to the point where serious toll is taken. And that felt like the state saying my son didn't count.
But I do get that it probably feels like the state saying you're not counted as a mum so it's a bit of a red flag. But you are. So congratulations on becoming a Mum.

I think you have it in your head the exemption is due to the financial situation due to mat leave.

Where do people who get a year on full pay (yes I know one company who pay this, I sadly left them before kids) fit into this equation, what about those who don't have income issues? If this was the case it would be means tested surely.

It is provided as pregnancy can cause the body to have more issues - I am currently anemic due to blood loss during giving birth and bf. If I hadn't had a baby this is unlikely to have happened. I had pelvis problems after my first pregnancy - again wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been pregnant.

I think you are doing an amazing thing, but there are differences.

I would expect they have worked out that most prescriptions for mum's during pregnancy and a year post baby are due to the pregnancy and not for non related matters.

Ironically in two pregnancies I have used the exemption card twice - annoyingly I had sinus problems that required antibiotics 2 days after the first one ran out!

And I do hope you've got a good support network who are treating you as a new mum (since you are). However you become a mum, it's a major shock to the system and good support on all levels is much more important than anything else.

Why do people think dads don't get it either? !?!

Yanbu with regards appointments etc pre adoption. A scan is the same as a course or screening day etc. It's all to check that Mum and baby are ok.

Congratulations on your new addition to the family

My midwife said it was partly to ensure breastfeeding mums were healthy? I didn't breastfeed so if that is the case I shouldn't have got free prescriptions either. Not sure how you would police this though. But no YANBU you should have the same benefits.

justanothername Can identify with the situation you describe; I remember feeling exactly the same way, though I was less than 19 weeks . Thank you (and everyone else) for your kind words.

Guess IWBU.

Free prescriptions and free dental treatment are to do with the mother's health after childbirth though rather than income. Pregnancy affects teeth for example - hence the old saying of 'a tooth for every child'. Wishing you all the very best with your new baby.

Sorry but YABU. There may be an equivalent to post natal depression for adoption but pregnancy can cause so many other conditions e.g. It makes your teeth crumble and gums infected. I'm in the chemist every week picking up insulin, metformin, needles, clickers and cassettes for my blood sugar monitor as I have GD. I've been prescribed all sorts of things as well as the above including aspirin and high dose folic acid and I haven't even had my baby yet. Adoption doesn't make you any less a mother but it doesn't take the same toll on your body, it's not physically possible.

Stop your mw is incorrect, it is to help the health of every woman who is expecting or given birth, as bf or not pregnancy takes its toll

I think the prescriptions are free because of the issues that arise due to pregnancy and childbirth. The father doesn't get free prescriptions, so I can see why you wouldn't qualify for that. I apologise if this has been said, I only read the first few posts!
Congratulations on your child

No. Yabu. Prescriptions are free for women who have gone through pregnancy as they are more likely to have medical complaints related to the pregnancy which is exactly why they are free.

Congratulations on your baby!

I think yabu about the prescription issue and i am an adopter and a birth parent
My work place give the same rights to adopters which is right but free prescriptions are given because of medical need not a perk

Only read the first page but I absolutely think adoption leave should be equal to maternity leave.

Congratulations on your little one x

I think YABU.

Those who are pregnant or have themselves had a baby get free prescriptions because of what their body goes through.

It's not for becoming a parent (never been applied to fathers, those whose baby was carried by a surrogate, or parents by adoption), nor to reduce cost for a new family. It is totally about removing any cost barrier to proper medical treatment for those going through the actual physical process.

I needed many prescriptions in the first year after dc' s were born. Stitches got infected.piles.mastitis.fancy iron tablets, back and hip issues that arose in pregnancy. I can't remember what else but you see what I mean.most of it for pregnancy and birth related things and huge loss of blood from child birth. I also had gum issues so visited the dentist free-pregnancy related.
I agree you should get adoption related appointments off though.

Sorry but think YABU as others have pointed out the reason for the exemption is due to health needs related to pregnancy and childbirth and not to give new parents a financial break

I money is tight then you may qualify for free prescriptions on financial grounds but that is a separate issue