A question about adoption

[Diamond_Dog]

Or rather, giving up your baby for adoption.

I was watching a woman on TV today talking about giving her baby up for adoption when she gave birth many years ago. (She had recently connected with her daughter who is now an adult)

She went through the labor and when she was just about to deliver, the nurses blindfolded her.

She said she did not see her baby but she heard her cry. They took the baby away within minutes.

Is this standard operating procedure, to blindfold a woman in this situation? Does anyone know? It seems so cruel. And to have the government of your country possibly force you into a situation like this ….

[No Vested Interest]

1. I think not standard today in USA. Many mothers have chosen the adoptee parents,

who frequently pay living and medical costs for the prospective mother.
Open adoption is now more the norm.
Addendum: some children likely not wanted by adopters - handicapped, not the same race, etc. - moms likely won't know in advance and may sign away rights.
Did that happen to an American mother, or to one born or living in another country? Perhaps third world?

[Diamond_Dog]

2. No, it was in California. African American mom,

The mom was on a TV show years ago and unfortunately I cannot recall the name of it.

[Croney]

3. I have never heard of such a strange and heartless thing.

Almost 60 years ago I gave up a baby for adoption (abortion was not available) and I held my child and chose a name. Because of that record, I was able to connect with the adult person (renamed of course) when internet searches became available.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. Thank you for your insight, Croney

When she mentioned that, people seemed astonished. Seemed extremely cruel to me.

I am glad that didn’t happen to you.

[StevieM]

5. I am so sorry that you fell victim to the Baby Scoop Era.

It was a terrible time.

And I am glad that you were able to reconnect with your child.

[Mosby]

9. I think the adopted kids born during 50s 60s

Don't think it was a terrible time.

[StevieM]

10. For the mothers it most definitely was a terrible time.

Most of them were forced to give up their children, who they loved, never expecting to see them again. They had no idea what became of them, and were told that they never would know. Parenting was not an option that our society allowed for these women. They were told to forget about their babies and move on with their lives.

Most of them couldn't do that. The pain lasted a lifetime for these women. It was horrific.

As for the children, some did well, others did not. I think many of them would have also done well if their mothers were allowed to keep them and raise them, like they wanted to.

[StevieM]

6. Those tactics, and worse, were quite common during the Baby Scoop Era. (eom)

[iemanja]

7. Open adoptions are standard today

So no blindfolding.

[Ms. Toad]

8. No, but it is (or was when my sister went through it) standard procedure

to advise patients not to see the child, hold the child, feed the child, etc. I hope things have changed since then (80s), as the move to more open adoptions has taken hold. But it probably hasn't changed anywhere.

As to the woman's recollection of her experience - it sounds both extreme and unnecessary. You're generally draped when you give birth - so you can't see the baby born. Medical personnel would have to deliberately bring the baby into her line of sight. so there would be no need for a blindfold.