Child Protection / Mental Health

[MS2015]

A Child Protection Conference has been called next week to discuss risks Social Services believe are posed to my unborn baby by my mental health difficulties (Borderline Personality Disorder & pre-natal depression/anxiety) and difficulties in my marriage (instability of relationship & arguments).

This is causing me much anxiety and distress as, whilst I welcome all support being offered and have co-operated fully with all agencies, I feel a Child Protection Plan would place me under unfair and unnecessary pressure and only increase tensions in my relationship and my life in general. I am 8 months pregnant and stressed enough as it is!

I have an advocate from Rethink attending the Conference with me and am getting friends to write supporting statements about their faith in me and my husband to safeguard our child ourselves.

Anyone have any advice?

[wellcoveredsparerib]

Was there a particular incident that led to social services becoming involved? Could you give more information about the arguments you mentioned?

[Cherryblossomsinspring]

Ultimately it is up to you and your husband to show your child is safe with you. I would prepare well regarding the child's general care (know the guidelines on sleep safety, food prep, daily routines, weaning etc) and look into doing a baby first aid course locally, maybe even a parenting course. Also can you show that you and your husband are taking steps to address the arguments such as attending counselling and also showing some understanding of techniques for diffusing situations before they go out of control. I don't know what issues your family has regarding drink, drugs, dv etc but if I was you I would also consider separating from my husband if we were unable to solve the arguments issue and it was going to lead to an unsafe environment (either physically OR emotionally) for my child. If you can show willingness to protect your child by ending the relationship if it comes to that, well assuming you yourself are not a danger to your child you would likely be supported in keeping your child. From what I understand, most mothers who are generally fit mothers but still have their child removed is because of inability to remove themselves from their relationship with a damaging partner. Good luck and I hope your baby has the best outcome.

[Oodear]

I would think that the marriage problems are a bigger factor that the MH issues (assuming you're under support /treatment for them). If your relationship was stable your partner would be a protective factor for baby/support for you but if it's unstable then that could make you worse/leave baby with limited protection.
Read the CP reports carefully and cooperate and it could all be over quite quickly.