Before we came home with Ella I had done some research and found a pediatrician specializing in International Adoption who practices just a few towns over from our own. My husband and I both use the same family practice and we decided that we would have Ella examined by the specialist first and then we would switch her over to our family practice. We have since changed our minds and decided to keep her at the specialist. Part of that decision is because we are comfortable with the level of care she has received and part of it is because we’re going to be moving soon and there’s little sense to keep switching doctors on her.

It was when Ella was diagnosed with Thalassemia Minor that we were so glad that we had decided to see the international adoption doctor. She knew that when Ella’s blood work came back positive for anemia that we would need to do more tests to really determine what was going on. Had we been to a doctor who saw very few Asian patients and wasn’t very familiar with Thalassemia, she may have been prescribed iron supplements, which would have been toxic to her. It was also after this that we decided to stay with this doctor (at least for the time being until we're settled in a new town.)

We’re lucky where we live in that there are a handful of pediatricians who specialize in international adoption within a reasonable driving distance from us. But if you don’t have that luxury, there is plenty you can do to ensure that your child is receiving the best care-especially after you first arrive home. Please look for my next posts that will have links to resources to help you find a great doctor and help doctors without an international adoption specialty understand some medical issues that your child may face.