I spent 4 weeks in a mother and baby unit AMA

[SquigglyOne]

Would love to raise awareness and support those facing admission xx

They are informed, they just don't tell you. There's a mark in your files about it.

It's going to be in your records forevermore.

Well speaking only from my own experience, yes the police were informed as I made my own 999 call as the psychosis was terrifying me and i had moments of still being lucid and aware that i was becoming dangerous. Social services visited the house while i was admitted, but that was to ensure we didnt need extra support and that there was no cause for concern other than my psychotic episode.
There was no follow up but its probably right that external agencies are involved when dealing with families in crisis?

Also, before speaking highly of the staff, you could use your legal right to get a copy of your patient records. Some might be nice to your face, but what they write about you, is another matter entirely.

Not wearing makeup? That will be noted down as a negative. Having baby vomit on your clothes? A negative mark. Wearing a nightgown instead of clothes? A negative mark. Looking insecure when holding your baby? Obviously a bad mother. In my case in addition to the above, it was implied that as a person with autism I should have not bred in the first place.

This sounds very scary. I never knew.

Hope OP is doing okay. 💐

Bump 😊

Op how are you now? I was also on an mbu many years ago for 2 months and they were brilliant with me. My son is nearly 8 now. Hope things are now going better

Wow that’s horrific. The one I was admitted to couldn’t have been more different, I cannot fault them. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been through that.

How was the food @SquigglyOne ? Did you get a choice on what to eat?

Was there much to do with your baby like baby classes and stuff?

Thank you for starting the thread, OP and I hope you're doing well now.

Are mothers only admitted that are experiencing suicidal ideation?

How do you wish friends and family spoke about it with you and what helped at the time? I have one in law who went to an MBU, I never like to ask questions about it because it feels so intrusive.

I’m doing really well thank you!
baby is nearly one now! I’ve also gone back to work part time without too much trouble!

Food not so great 😂 typical hospital food and tiny portions! Though they do have a full kitchen with loads of snacks and encourage you to cook meals. Have to admit - I ordered in a lot of takeaways 🙊

I’m really not sure if
mothers have to be having suicidal thoughts to be admitted - I do think your mental health has to be pretty severe and I got the impression they try to keep mothers at home as much as possible. At A&E they wanted to send me home with daily visits from the crisis team - I had to make it very clear I wasn’t safe at home before they considered admission.

I wish friends and family would speak more about my time in hospital! Any time I bring it up most people get uncomfortable and change the subject. It’s a shame as it only feeds into the unjust stigma around mental health. I do think it would be very individual when it comes to being happy share experiences though.

Thank you for sharing OP. I have a 6 month old and was diagnosed with PND, doing much better now on meds etc but those first 3 months or so we're brutal and I was incredibly suicidal. I had the crisis team come out to me but they just stood and stared at me as I cried on my baby and I felt like an animal in a zoo. I wish I had gone to an MBU sometimes, just for a break and to be kept safe, because for weeks I really wasn't and feel lucky I'm alive at times. Again, much better now.

How did it work with your baby? Did they take them away a lot? Did you make any friends with the other mums or were they too ill? How long were you in for?

@RapunzelHadExtensions I am so sorry to hear you have been struggling - PND is so awful but glad you are on the mend now!

In my case, the nursery nurses only took my baby overnight - I was able/happy to do all other care for him (of course they would watch him when I needed a shower/had a meeting with the psychiatrist etc) I think it’s very individual how much care is provided by the nursery nurses depending on how unwell mum is.

I was very lucky that the other mums on the ward were lovely people - I got on well with all of them tbh and there is plenty of opportunity to socialise. I think it was a big part in my recovery as it made me realise that I was not alone and other people were going through similar challenges as me.

My stay on the unit was relatively short - I was only admitted for four weeks. Again, I think this varies massively - there were a couple of ladies who had been there for four months when I was admitted and were still there once I was discharged.

Thanks OP.

Definitely agree with the 'not feeling alone' thing. I go to a perinatal mental, health group and it's been so useful if only for those 'Oh wow you get that too?' moments.

I'm so glad you got support.

Were family / friends able to visit?