To answer an earlier question about Hyperemesis and how long it lasts: it is a terrible disease that lasts full term for some of us and can leave some women sick after delivery. With my first HG pregnancy, all was well as soon as I delivered. With my last full term HG pregnancy, I continued to need medication for several weeks and then had ongoing digestive issues. It can also take a while to rebuild stores of vitamins and minerals after long term malnutrition. My littlest is 18 months this week, and I’m just starting to feel good: no more muscle (well, very little) pain/weakness from being bedridden, restless leg syndrome from mineral depletion, and general exhaustion of having an infant and being malnourished. There has been some talk at the HER forums about “refeeding syndrome,” which sounds like what I had/have. So recovery time varies.

Does anyone know why the issue of Interstate Child Protection Compact (ICPC) hasn’t come up in the discussions of this case? I know FL has no revocation time for babies under 6 months, but I started to wonder about NC and learned they have a 7-21 day period, depending on circumstance http://www.adoptionsolutions.com/general/state_laws.htm#withdrawal%20of%20consent%20anchor

(I think it fishy that young moms have less time). ICPC is a legal requirement to finalize an adoption, right? If ICPC was filed, then Ms. Quets could have revoked under NC law. So I assume it wasn’t filed. Am I wrong in thinking this cannot be a legal adoption without ICPC?

But I can tell you that once you have started down the adoption path (which she did while sick) it is exceedingly hard to get off it. It is not at all easy to tell people who are counting on your baby (and pressuring you to “follow through”) to take a hike. Even if she was feeling better by the time she signed, it is completely conceivable to me that she was still feeling coerced.

This case is full of so many strange and unusual twists! The birth mother is 49 years old for instance.

I am truly not trying to be a jerk – I just don’t get it. I find it odd that a woman who CHOSE to get pregnant and obviously had the financial means to support these children did place them for adoption over an illness that is temporary. It seems if she contested the adoption within the time established by state law, then that should be a no brainer-so why isn’t it? The whole thing is odd.

Personally as an adoptive mom, I would never be calling someone to persuade them that they can’t parent and I would not be able to look my children in the face and tell them that their birthmom contested their adoption 12 hours after she signed.

Heather, I agree that there needs to be consistent laws across all states. I am also on board with after-birth matching and signing TPRs in a courtroom. Both of my children’s birthmoms signed TPRs in court 5 & 9 weeks after birth. After waiting that time, I am not for an across the board revocation period. I would rather give birthmoms the information and time up front.

And yes, AMEN!