Why are baby’s removed at birth

[Kmav72]

Why are baby’s took from hospital at birth and later placed for adoption?
Mother has no previous children to have any understanding behind this. Dad does, but still has contact with older child regularly as older child lives with his mother (child’s grandmother). So I don’t feel dad is the problem.

I’m curious about this because the child that was adopted is my child’s half sibling (from dad). We have no contact with dad or dads family at all to get answers.

All sorts of reasons, but ultimately it all comes down to risk. There is a risk of harm to the child.

If your child has no contact with anyone, then it's not your story to be part of. There's no place for nosiness in adoption.

Many reasons. I agree it all comes down to children being at risk of immediate harm. I know someone who gave their child up 2 days after they were born. They didn't want to parent and were already under social services care as a young person and therefore arrangements were made and the baby went to foster care and them was adopted.

Oh I’m not trying to be nosey at all, just curious as it seems very sudden and I never heard of this to happen so soon as a first child.

I understand risk and harm reasons, but if the child never got to go home I thought there would be more to the situation

Are curious and nosy not synonyms?

If it would affect your child's contact with their father, then it's your business you know about any risk to your child. Another child's story just isn't your business.

I'm guessing there are factors that you aren't aware of. There must be risk to the child that the social workers feel is not acceptable.

It wouldn’t effect contact because there has never been any contact.
But, will either reason behind this effect my child having any contact with his sister, even letterbox?

The reason won't affect letterbox contact, if the adopters are supportive. You can make contact with the LA to suggest letterbox between the siblings, if you wish. But the LA won't tell you the baby's story.

Thanks. I have read some stories as depending on reasons some contact with siblings are denied unless siblings are both with adoptive parents. It isn’t the case in my situation.
I have enquired about contact regarding letterbox and still waiting on a decision.

I think you need to be prepared that this baby is not related to you, and legally not related to your son. He may have no contact with her until she's an adult, if she wishes then. You, nor your son, have any rights here, and I worry you're quite invested in a child your son doesn't know, and is nothing to do with you.

OP I think that a bio half sibling is a significant relationship and if your interest is because of this, because you think it is significant for your dc, then I think your interest is valid.

If you want letterbox or other contact then the more you understand about adoption and why children are removed, the better. It seems you have already received advice about this, as you have sought letterbox contact.

Whether it goes ahead will depend, there is sometimes contact with siblings who are not adopted. It might be worth you contacting the Family Rights Group helpline and talk things through with them and get their advice, you can get their number from www.frg.org.uk

Very sadly some children will be deemed at risk before they are born.
My son and two of his siblings were on the at risk register before they were born. Quite frankly it would have been better for them if they had been removed at birth.
Your son does not have any contact with his father - there must be a reason for that.
As he has another child in the care of a relative, and he is not deemed a fit father for this third child- that should tell you something

Can you explain how my son isn’t legally related to a child who has the same birth father?

I know full well this child is not my child and I have no rights, I am not looking for contact at all to benefit me.
I haven’t done this straight off neither. This child was adopted 2 years ago, I have had time to research and weigh up pros and cons. However, sibling contact seems to be beneficial. I believe knowing siblings, family members is easier being younger, than finding out as a adult.
My child and the adoptive sibling have no other birth family on dads side so why can’t they at least have each other?
And as I’ve also took in mind, if the adoptive parents decide this isn’t what they want I will respect that 100% although, if I didn’t make effort for my child then that part is to blame on me, I’m making the effort purely for my child. I don’t think the adoptive parents are aware there’s another sibling apart from the older sibling.
My child and the adoptive sibling are both very close in age too, neither are baby’s but very young children, she was a baby at removal and early toddler at adoption

The older sibling was with dad and dad only full time when I met dad, he had this child until the recent partner (adoptive siblings mother).
My child has no contact with dad as this was dads choice, he has always had access to contact me and he has chose not to

The adoption creates a new legal relationship and severs the old one. You are right that sibling contact can be very beneficial, it should be assessed on a case by case basis. The adopters of the other child may well agree with you and want to pursue contact. But it is a bit of a quagmire and there are many relevant factors which is why Family Right Group might be helpful as they can talk through them with you.

I made some enquires to establish contact, but I respect the parents decision either way.
Is family right group advice on the situation?

In an ideal world, birth relationships that could be maintained, should be maintained. However, while if your child has little birth family, I can see contact may benefit him, the adoptive parents may judge contact not in her best interests.

You were given good advice on the other thread, about putting a letter on file, and starting with letterbox. You're right it's often better for children to grow up knowing, rather than getting surprises in adulthood. However, this baby has her family now, the legal ties are severed (which we all know is Draconian), but that's the system. She deserves her stability.

You've made two threads in a short time, which suggests this is taking up more space in your head than it maybe should. Legally, this child has her family.

My child has a lot of birth family, all my family, just none on dads side.

I’m just trying to get a lot of information to know what to expect.
The letter would be fine. I respect the wishes of the new family. However, as stated I would feel rather guilty if I wasn't to make any attempt to look into contact.
I’m sure if you’re child had/has siblings you’d try at least to maintain contact?

I have just seen your other thread.

I know of contact between siblings other than where both children are adopted, to answer that question. I personally couldn't advise in relation to how to go about it, but I am aware that Family Rights Group are a charity who have experience of this sort of thing, and I think could advise you on process and would be able to help you with any other general questions such as that set out in your OP or point you in the right direction. You can find the Family Rights Group contact details at www.frg.org.uk

Absolutely, contact can and does happen. Usually where there's a pre-existing relationship, and it's low risk.

As an adopter, my concerns would be that if dad poses a risk, you don't see/know about that. And, as was highlighted on the other thread, what if your son contacts dad in his teens? For this reason, I would probably be glad of a one off letter, but probably wouldn't want ongoing contact. But I'd be guided by SWs, so I'd recommend speaking to the LA.

As an adopter, if I got a whiff of you talking about "rights", I'd run a mile... Fyi.

Thank you, I will have a look on the site.
I’m very clueless how this all works, I’m just trying to understand and get research from those who know how the situations can work

(For example, if baby was relinquished, the parents may feel very differently, and be much more positive about contact, than if the birth family are high risk.)

@Beamur

I'm guessing there are factors that you aren't aware of. There must be risk to the child that the social workers feel is not acceptable.

Not necessarily. The mother may have made the decision that the baby was to be adopted. It's a very tough decision to make and more painful if she had held the baby, made a relationship with it.

I have gone into all detail and stated everything to the best to the adoption worker I did speak to. I’m sure she’ll advise me what she believes is best.
I understand you’re concern there, this is why I was looking for those with knowledge to a similar situation and what works for those.

A one off letter would be fine. As I said, I’m unsure if the adopters are aware there’s another sibling, every child should know who their related to.
There’s a lot of medical information they would need to know also, which dad was in denial about

I don’t think dad is seen as the risk, as stated he had full custody of the older sibling up until the relationship with the adoptive siblings birth mother

@2bazookas Relinquished babies in the UK are vanishingly rare, dad would be offered the chance to parent first, and comes well under "factors OP isn't aware of."

Relinquishment is always unlikely.