Please explain how medical histories work?

Let's see, I think you are asking can you rely on the medical history given by a mother giving up her baby for adoption, to be what is needed for the baby-child's future needs information wise.

I would want to know that the mother is HIV negative and has been tested and the baby tested for HIV. I would also want to know any medical histories so far on the mother's relatives, such as Diabetes, of late adult onset, which is not as much of a big deal as Juvenile Diabetes (Diabetes development in children and teens yrs) can possibly cause big health problems so you would want to know this. I would also ask the Adoption Agency representing the child to find out this information first from the mother before you adopt. Ask these questions about the childs father also. Ask about any Cancer in the family relatives, Heart attacks and Stokes and the ages of the grandparents when these occured. The ages of grandparents when and if they have died and what they died of. Any sibblings with medical problems and sibblings of the 2 parents. Average family heights and weights and just anything you can think of that the child would want to know in the future at a later date, but will never be able to ask. No the medical history will not be complete for a 29 yr old unless you know the family history on both sides, as many illnesses don't manifest themselves until older ages.

Closed Adoption: Disadvantages for the Adopted Child

The closed adoption experience is different for every child; however, here is a list of potential disadvantages that an adopted child may encounter with a closed adoption:

Identify confusion - There is a chance that a teenage child may struggle more with identity because of the absence of communication with the birth families.

Preoccupation with adoption issues - A child in a closed adoption may be slightly more prone to experience a preoccupation with adoption issues.

Limited information - Whether it is medical histories, family genealogies or family histories, a child of a closed adoption has limited access to information about things that most people take for granted. This lack of information leaves the child with many unanswered questions.

The closed adoption is experienced differently in each adoption. The most important thing for all parties involved in the adoption process is communication. The more communication about wishes, desires, and expectations, the more comfortable each party will be in the adoption process. In a closed adoption, this communication takes place through the adoption agency or adoption attorney.

Not sure if I answered your question, but hope this helps and good luck! Oh, I would also ask if any learning problems and mental disabilities of any of those relatives, how many afflicted and the level of education obtained by relatives of the mother and father. May be important for you to know that to help you understand possible intellectual /mental difficulties of the future.

No one can ever have a complete medical history unless they know their ancestors history. Nevermore, if you dont stay in touch with your current extended family your not ever going to have a complete medical history. "Now if you are within the child bearing years what kinds of medical history can you pass along with a child?" An incomplete history. Secondly, we still live in a world where disorders like depression, anxiety are seen as weaknesses and as such are rarely disclosed. Third, it's not until someone gets cancer or a some serious disease before people start querying about their medical history. Thats when you find out that uncle Johnie died .. so did great uncle ray.. and so did aunti fay... but in a closed adoption that information is rarely updated on those records. "Is 29 old enough for a medical history to be complete? Will ALL of your medical malfunctions manifest themselves by the time you're 50?" Nope and Nope. You could be 75 before anything serious happens. Even then a 75 year old may not be aware of any extended family being seriously ill. "Can a complete medical history be obtained in a closed adoption?" No. It can't even be achieved with non-adoptees. You can only know what is known at any point in time. But that is only dependent on that known being fully disclosed. Of course there are going to be some nice people out there who do the right thing and update the child records continuously, but in reality it rarely happens.

Of course it is understood that you will live longer and continue to develop whatever medical issues come your way. The medical history to pass onto an agency working with you to surrender the child for adoption involves your family's history as you know it. They are particularly interested in diseases that are genetically linked.

By the time this child is grown, there will be much more known about genetics and medicine, and perhaps the child can submit a DNA sample and have all the info required.

You are a brave and noble person to do this.