We are continuing on with posts detailing the steps in the Viet Nam adoption process. Once your child has been adopted and you’re settling in to life at home, you will move on to the step dealing with the post placement medical exam. Shortly after coming home with your new child, you will need to take them for a complete medical exam with their new pediatrician. It’s a really good idea to find a doctor before you leave, so you can just call and make the appointment once you’re home. There are many pediatricians who now specialize in international adoption, but that doesn’t mean that’s who you need to, or should, go to. Any physician who you are comfortable with and is good with your child can take care of your child, you may just need to do a little more legwork and research if they have never treated a Vietnamese child, or one who has been adopted internationally.

If your doctor is an international adoption specialist, you should be able to show up at your appointment and they will know exactly what to do, what tests to run, how to counsel you, etc. If you are unsure if your doctor will know what to do for your child, there are many resources online that you can print our and bring with you to your appointment. If you know other adoptive families who live near you, ask for referrals and for their opinions of their doctors.

Your child will likely have blood drawn at this first visit. Some doctors run titers to see if their Vietnamese vaccines need to be repeated, others recommend re-vaccinating without doing the titers. It is your decision as the parent as to how you want to handle this issue. We had titers run and Ella showed immunity to all the vaccinations that she received in Viet Nam. Stool and urine samples will be required, and although I’m sure this part isn’t pleasant with an older child, it’s almost impossible to get a urine sample from an infant baby girl. The at home stool sampling was gross, but doable. Your doctor will have their lab run tests for giardia (parasites) and other intestinal and stomach issues.

Your child will receive a complete physical evaluation and you will likely get questions about how you are doing as well. This visit is a great time to bring up any and all questions and concerns that you have. If your child has Mongolian spots, ask your doctor to document them on their chart. If anything questionable comes up on the lab results, ask your doctor to call and talk to you immediately so any issues can begin to be treated quickly. And above all else, if you’re not comfortable or just don’t like your child’s doctor, you have no obligation to them to stay. Keep searching until you find someone with whom you and your child can develop a relationship for the years to come.



More Reading:
Thalassemia in Kids Adopted From Viet NamInternational Adoption Pediatricians
Adoption Medicine
Orphan Doctor