Medical Check Up Before Adoption
Adoptive parents have to submit a medical report before they officially qualify as parents. The adoption agency will give you a detailed list of the medical tests that both parents must undergo. These are general tests to ascertain that you have no major complications. You may have to undergo the following tests:
Read: Adopting an older child
Laboratory tests
- Serology
- Hemoglobin
- Blood smear
- Urinalysis – specific gravity
- Urinalysis – sugar
- Urinalysis – albumin
- PAP
Complete Physical Examination
- Pulse
- Weight
- Height
- Blood pressure
- Vision
- Ears
- Teeth & gums
- Nose & throat
- Lungs
- Breasts
- Heart
- Pelvis
- Abdomen and
- Nervous system
Read: Who can adopt?
You may also have to submit a brief medical history which will have information about:
- Illnesses you have had previously
- Operations you have undergone
- Hospitalization, if any, with a brief background
- Psychiatric treatment in the past, if any, citing the reason
- Accidents suffered
- Significant family history (diabetes, heart disease, hereditary or congenital defects)
Health documents and reports must be supported by a fitness certificate certified by a qualified medical practitioner declaring both adoptive parents as fit and fine, with no genetic disorders or other complications – past or otherwise.
Tips & Tricks
Dieting during pregnancy can cause abnormalities and a low birth weight in your baby; therefore your ideal weight should be reached before pregnancy.
Taking folic acid in its natural form before pregnancy can prevent serious birth defects. You can find them in fruits and vegetables, fortified cereals, and enriched bread products. If you’re planning to conceive, you should consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day.
If you are on contraceptive pills, it could take a few months before your periods are regular and you begin ovulating again. It usually is best to stop the pills at the end of a cycle to avoid mid-cycle bleeding.
Before buying a home pregnancy test kit, be sure to check the expiry date. For accurate results, take the test after one week after the missed period; testing very early, can give you negative results.
Green tea and orange pekoe (popularly known as 'regular') are considered to be excellent fertility enhancers. Research has shown that women who regularly drink tea, increase their chance of conception.
