Under pressure?
Here are some common sources of pressure that may originate from the adoption workers. If any of this feels familiar, make sure you are protecting yourself and your child.
Navigating Pressure in the Hospital
No matter what you decide, give yourself the space and grace you need to make a decision and spend time with your baby.
Plan to have the family on standby in a nearby hotel. If and when you wish to have them visit, you can message them when you’re ready.
If you’re unsure how much bonding time you want to have with the baby, see if the hospital has a nursery where the baby can stay. At any point, you can ask the nurse to bring your baby back in. Or vice-versa, have the baby in your room but see if there’s a nursery for your baby so you can take a break or get some sleep.
Always allow for space to check in with your emotions and have a plan for how to advocate for yourself. Having a plan A and plan B can be helpful in communicating expectations.
If you need help communicating boundaries, sometimes a nurse or social worker can be helpful. It’s possible that the hospital staff might be unhelpful as well. You can ask for different hospital staff if this is the case, so you can find someone who is an ally—someone who has your back.
Check out our Decision-Making page for more helpful tips on making the right choice for you and your child.