Enter any fertility clinic and you will be inundated with images of hope,trust and success. This world is designed to lure the patient into the world of 'making babies'. Websites of a fertility clinic makes tall claims of successes and the latest treatments on the block. Giving the couple a baby seems to be the sole aim in the lives of these 'baby makers'.Conspicuous by its absence in this world of fertility is the word 'adoption'. None mention it in their websites, and none that I know of ( with one exception) provide adoption counseling.The excuse being that couples who come to them are looking for their 'biological' child and not an adopted one. But these very clinics will go to any length... borrow a sperm, get donated eggs and put them in 'wombs on rent' and produce a baby ( more often babies) with as many as three or more sets of parents. What biology are we talking of then?
I do not claim to have a huge experience in treating infertility. But my little experience has taught me that artificial reproductive techniques are not the answer to every infertile couples problems. Many of them are receptive to the idea of adoption, but the legalities and the formalities often scare them. I have trained in a centre where adoption counseling and assistance was provided routinely.Some of the couples who remain in my memory are the ones who opted for adoption rather than going in for expensive and unpredictable ART techniques. Others who took it up when they failed with IVF. But the common thing about them all was that they are all happy that they took this decision when they did. And they are all grateful for the suggestion that this was an option worth looking at and the counseling and assistance provided by the fertility clinic in the process of bringing a baby home.
It is probably not an option at all for some. But for the others, it is. And isnt it the duty of the fertility clinic to make the couple aware that there are other ways of 'making a family' too. Sometimes just the reassurance that the clinic is with them in this often long drawn process of adoption is big support to the family.
It is not a defeat for us, the baby makers, when the couple chooses adoption over ART. It is just a recognition of the fact that some babies are already in this world waiting for love, waiting for a family.
The inspiration that drives us is the joy of parenthood, and making babies in 'test tubes' is just one way to achieve that.
Adoption, for us, is not the last option, but one that sometimes holds the key to lasting happiness
I do not claim to have a huge experience in treating infertility. But my little experience has taught me that artificial reproductive techniques are not the answer to every infertile couples problems. Many of them are receptive to the idea of adoption, but the legalities and the formalities often scare them. I have trained in a centre where adoption counseling and assistance was provided routinely.Some of the couples who remain in my memory are the ones who opted for adoption rather than going in for expensive and unpredictable ART techniques. Others who took it up when they failed with IVF. But the common thing about them all was that they are all happy that they took this decision when they did. And they are all grateful for the suggestion that this was an option worth looking at and the counseling and assistance provided by the fertility clinic in the process of bringing a baby home.
It is probably not an option at all for some. But for the others, it is. And isnt it the duty of the fertility clinic to make the couple aware that there are other ways of 'making a family' too. Sometimes just the reassurance that the clinic is with them in this often long drawn process of adoption is big support to the family.
It is not a defeat for us, the baby makers, when the couple chooses adoption over ART. It is just a recognition of the fact that some babies are already in this world waiting for love, waiting for a family.
The inspiration that drives us is the joy of parenthood, and making babies in 'test tubes' is just one way to achieve that.
Adoption, for us, is not the last option, but one that sometimes holds the key to lasting happiness
inspirational stuff.....good
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
ReplyDeleteluved it, there vl be hardly few who in this profession would suggest such a thing,am proud of u.........:)))
ReplyDeleteThe reason why we chose this is to be an instrument in providing joy of parenthood, to help make families. Technology can help most, but not all. And even if it does, the long arduous journey through ART may not be for everyone.It is just one of the things in the armamentarium, just that very few of us would acknowledge it,leave alone assisting in it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement :)