Will A&E call social services??

[YouDoYou18]

This morning I propped my 4 week old daughter up on some pillows right next to me while I got dressed. She lunged forward a bit and rolled off the bed and knocked her head on the bedside cabinet. I know this is my fault, I should never have propped her up, I’d just given her a bottle and as she has reflux she often vomits a lot so I didn’t want to lay her flat, honestly I never even considered she’d be able to lean forward enough that she’d fall forward at this age.

I’ve brought her to A&E, she seems totally fine but I wanted to be on the safe side as she’s so small, and they’re keeping her in overnight just in case.

They questioned me about how she managed to fall as she’s non mobile and I explained that I’d (stupidly) propped her up with some pillows to avoid her reflux causing her any pain and vomiting and she lunged forward and I just didn’t catch her quickly enough. They’ve said that they’ll have to inform our health visitor and ‘everyone’ to make sure there are no concerns.. are they going to call social services??

Rationally I know social services aren’t anything to be worried about if you have nothing to hide, but I so scared. What if they take her and her sister away? What if they don’t believe it was an accident? I’m sat in the A&E waiting room on the edge of tears absolutely terrified, and I’m too scared to ask anyone.

Please don’t have a go at me for propping her up, I stupidly though I was doing what best for her so she wouldn’t be in pain and it just made everything worse.

As she’s too young to move they’re calling the police and social services, doing ct scans, X-rays, checking her over from head to.
We’re also not allowed to go home to our eldest daughter, she has to stay with my mum.
They have said that it’s all routine, but I can’t stop crying. I feel like the worst mother in the world. I don’t even know what to do with myself.

Our child has had at least four head bumps, two in the first year. Also had two ambulance rides for breathing issues, no one batted an eyelid.

Best thing is always to get the child treated and deal with any consequences later, whatever they might be.

We were maliciously and unfairly reported to Ss by Nursery, I went though hell like you but they didn’t even visit , just rang and heard our side and of the story, they absolutely do not have resources to remove two kids from healthy home, there needs to have clear and ongoing neglect and abuse

Honestly don't worry . It's standard procedure. Especially for a tiny baby. The hospital report will likely say that the injuryis consistent with how it happened

Take photos of her notes
Write down exactly what happened
Comply with everything and take all medical advice do what is advised
Contact fiightback (fb support group) if anything changes and you find you need more support

It is standard procedure, they are doing the best by your daughter. Stay calm, stay focused on your little girl and this will be over soon

When I had dc2 I had to take toddler dc1 to hospital after a potentially serious accident and then when I had dc3 I had to call and ambulance for a serious injury accident dc2 had. I had a H. Call me after one and was told I would with the other but didn't.

If you are telling the truth you have no need to worry.

Take care but don't prop her up or leave her on a bed now.

It is ridiculous how many people still leave a small baby on a bed then seem surprised when they roll off. There's no excuse fo it. I am not including you in this as no one would expect a four week old to move themselves, OP.

Don't worry. We did the same, the HV called and when i got upset at what had happened- had PND and blamed myself- she was lovely and reassuring.

They will definitely inform social services as they should. If you’ve told the truth there’s nothing to worry about. It’s when parents start being evasive that agencies start to think there’s something untoward going on. The consultant will be asked whether what you’ve said is plausible. Ss don’t just remove children. They have a process to go through. There’ll only be an issue for you if the consultant decides your child has a non accidental injury. You’ve done the right thing taking the baby to a and e. Just be open with them and cooperate. My son had so many accidents and trips to a and e that my hv used to ring me and say “what have you done to him now”. Please don’t be too hard on yourself x

I took my son to a&e for a burn as was referred to Ss. So they do it sometimes

Wow weren’t expecting that - x Posted. Tbf when they called ss on me ss actually came to the hospital it was crazy I was treated with a lot of suspicion

DD rolled off the bed when she was a few months old. I was a mess, but she was fine, got an emergency appt at the GP, but as I had rung 101 there was a referral for follow up. I had a phone call from a lovely lady, I explained what had happened, she was v sympathetic and said she had no concerns and wouldn’t be following up further. I’m a teacher and I understand why these things are in place. These things happen, try not to feel too guilty and just be truthful with everyone as you have been.

@YouDoYou18 when my DD was a baby she fell of her changing unit even though I was right next to her! They said they had to inform HV but never heard from them xx

So sorry I posted before I saw your update.

Please try not to worry. You have done nothing wrong as per your OP.

Take care.

I wish there had been this much care when I was a child. It is for the best.

Youdoyou18 I'm sorry you're going through this, I've read the other posts and I did worry that you were getting false reassurance of the likely procedure - for a baby that young, it'd be unlikely a medic would be happy to take your word and assume there's no other injuries and send you home.

The reason police and social services get involved is so it's a multi agency decision and nothing is missed. Its very difficult to tell if there are further injuries in a baby so young, and unfortunately 'they wriggled/moved and fell' is a common explanation which isn't always true.

I say this as a child protection social worker btw. BUT I know this sounds harsh - in my experience it's easier than you think to tell when people are lying or being genuine. If there's no other injuries, and you're obviously a caring parent, and there's a reasonably plausible explanation, (I say reasonable because it's quite possible a CP paediatrician wouldnt be able to say with any certainty how the injury happened, is it could have been a fall but could have been something else) and there's no other major warning signs, they'll know. They can't let you care for any child until they've got their conclusion just in case, because however unlikely the possibility they cant take that chance.

Please just try and remember that this will pass, in the meantime just do what you can to do as asked.

I've been in this scenario where I've been part of this with parents where I've felt it has been a genuine accident (though I always have to keep a professional scepticism/curiousity) and it's gut wrenching. But it has to be done. Please make sure you've got support through it.

I know this is hard OP, but this is normal procedure for a suspected non-accidental injury in a 'non-mobile' baby. Co-operate with everything, the process will run its course in time, but be prepared for a period of supervised access once the scans and x-rays are done, which is sometimes done with a family member providing the supervision, so possibly your mum if SS agree. I'm so sorry this is happening.

We had gone away for the first time with newborn ds to our touring caravan, at night, we put his carrycot on the side dinette table, we woke in the middle of the night to ds crying, the table had come unclipped & the carrycot was stood on it's end on the floor, ds was crumpled up in the bottom end. Luckily he wasn't injured & after a bottle, folding the table away & putting the carrycot on the seats, he went back to sleep. Another time I had put him in his high chair, turned round for something & there was a thud & a cry, he had wriggled out before I could strap him in. What I am saying is, accidents can happen no matter how careful you are. Don't worry about SS, it will only be a box ticking exercise if they ring at all, you did the right thing going to hospital & your baby is ok.

Honestly try not to stress, its normal procedure for a baby so small

Oh no. Just seen your update. What a scary time for you but remember they're doing the best for your children. Even if it feels like they're against you they're just following protocol.

I hope your DD gets the all clear and it's not long before you all get to go home.

When my DS was 2 months my DN tripped on a mat with a toy in his hand. DS was on the play mat and the toy DN was carrying fell out of his hands onto DS head 😩. Took him to A&E and thankfully everything was fine and they have him a check over (checked his whole body for bruises etc) and let us go home. The next day had a call from HV to check in as they get alerted when babies/children go to hospital.

We had 4 broken bones within 6 months I got a few raised eyebrows from the a and e receptionists. All hockey and netball related

One of mine has been in A&E at least half a dozen times before the age of 5 and we've never had a call or visit.

I hope your little on is ok OP. That's the priority.

I don't think people not reading the thread and telling them that they've been in hospital lots and never had SS involvement is really going to help the OP!

The big difference is mobile and non mobile. ANY injury in a non mobile child has to be taken very seriously. That's not a judgement on the OP.
When children are starting to walk/hold & throw toys/climb etc there is an expectation of bruises in certain areas (forehead, shins etc). Before they get to that stage though, injuries like this are unusual and they have to be properly investigated. And of course, for a child that young, the consequences of a medic giving a parent the benefit of the doubt and getting it wrong are huge.

In my experience most people have more confidence in paediatricians than social workers - if it helps, in these situations the social workers and police will be very strongly led by the paediatricians report + view.

Honestly, they have been very decent to me and my daughter with an abusive DH. Don't worry I'm sure they can see that you're a good Mum and this was a one-off

I know someone who fell down stairs holding baby and broke her leg (not baby) but baby banged head. They had police etc involved. They could soon see was complete accident. Similarly know someone who’s baby pulled iron onto face! 😱😱😱 they had Everyone involved and was also fine, do not panic. They will are all is fine.