A hospital tour in St. Louis showed me a side of adoption I wasn't ready for.

Reese Fox · 2026-04-05T04:50:04.694513+00:00

I was at Mercy Hospital last fall for a pre-birth tour with the hopeful adoptive parents. The social worker pointed to a room and said, 'That's where you'll sign the papers after delivery.' It hit me then that I was being shown a process, not being asked what I needed. I left feeling like a part of a schedule, not a person making a choice. Has anyone else felt rushed by the system during a hospital visit?

the_willow4mo ago

God that's so awful, I'm really sorry you went through that.

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holly636mo ago

My hospital tour made me feel like a number on a checklist, so @jessicajohnson's advice is spot on.

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jessicajohnson6mo ago

My cousin went through this at a hospital in Kansas City. You have to tell them your birth plan before you even get there, in writing. Bring a support person whose only job is to say "we need a minute" when the social worker shows up. The paperwork can always wait until you are physically and mentally ready, no matter what they say.

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