I interviewed for a new position in my company today. I really want this job. I answer the phone all day and I'm just ready to move away from the phones and find a new challenge. This job has been great for me. It's been 6 months and I like the company and I just feel ready to grow a little bit. I think the interviews went well, and now it's just a waiting game. I know that several other people are interviewing for the job. They are also internal candidates, so it could be close. I will be very disappointed if I don't get this job, but I am not confident it will be mine. I have a good shot, don't get me wrong. But I don't feel like it's a slam-dunk. I think I did as well as I could, though, so now I just have to wait. I hate to wait.
In other news, I finished my photo album booklet thing for the adoption. I still have to finish up the final version of the Dear Birth Parent letter, but I send my version of the book off to the agency for 'approval' from them. It was a lot easier to make than I thought it would be. It was actually kind of fun in the end. The letter is much more difficult. I only have one or two passes left on that one, but it's not as fun as putting photos together.
The only big thing left on the adoption front is deciding how much exposure to drugs and alcohol is okay. I need to talk to a pediatrician about that, but I haven't had time to make the phone call and I'm really not sure what to say. I think I just want to have a phone call at first, but how do I introduce my situation to the secretary who is going to answer the phone?
"Hi. My name is Rachel and my husband and I are trying to adopt a baby and want to understand more about the effects of drugs and alcohol on a fetus, so we were hoping to talk to the doctor about that."
I dunno. I think that's weird. Maybe it's not.
T and I don't have plans for the weekend, which is great because last weekend was so insane and it's supposed to really rain tomorrow. I'm excited to stay at home, maybe watch some Net.Flix and knit. Then we can watch some football on Sunday. Fall is here, but the weather is really warm so I can't really tell. The traffic is bad again, though, which is always an indication. I like the fall when it gets really cool at night so you can sleep with the windows open and pull up the covers, but during the day it warms up a bit and it's nice to go outside. I love that kind of weather. That means there will be apples soon.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
This is actually a question I know something about - it's one of the topics I teach on. My take on current research is:
Alcohol - although for adults the least dangerous in terms of long-term damage, it's the most dangerous for the foetus. Having said that, there's no evidence that a couple of glasses a week does any damage, even though pregnant women in the US are told no drinking at all.
Cocaine - has been hard to assess the evidence as kids whose mothers took cocaine in pregnancy tend to take it after, and children get exposed to it through smoke. Likely there are minimal longer term issues (some possible behaviour problems, but again how much of that is parent lifestyle is hard to say).
Heroin etc. - withdrawal at birth is a problem but longer term problems seem to be less likely, and if the mother withdraws during pregnancy, miscarriage/stillbirth is likely so taking methadone is usually advised.
Marijuana - evidence is it's about as harmful as cigarette smoke, and most smokers don't smoke filtered but don't smoke as much as tobacco smokers.
Meth - not sure there's been much research.
Ecstacy - ditto.
In summary - although most people would be much more worried about their teens or friends taking illegal drugs than drinking alcohol, for pregnant women it seems the opposite is true.
PS - forgot to say - one of the big problems is mothers who mainly take drug A but also back up with drug B when A is not available, or as part of a session. This is often alcohol, unfortunately, and one of the hardest things is to tell how much of drug B someone has been taking when they are mainly dependent on A.
I would think that doctors have been approached with these questions before and should be willing to answer them for you.
Personally, I'd go with what exposure my own baby/fetus would most likely be subjected to, which would be VERY minimal alcohol and absolutely no drugs. But then, I'm not in the process of adopting, nor do I think I ever will be so it's easy for me to say what I absolutely would and would not accept.
I say just call and get all your questions answered and then you and hubby should go with your hearts and gut instincts.
Good luck! :)
Post a Comment