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Original poster

Alcohol in blood when pregnant - social services

43 replies

recoveringyoungalco · 26/07/2022 14:38

I posted on here before about my regret about admitting my MH/ alcohol issues www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4548803-should-i-have-admitted-i-had-mh-alcoholism-issues

I had my baby a few days ago. When I was in hospital in labour MH midwife made contact with me for the 1st time. She said all of my referrals had me listed as low risk/ priority which I agree with. There are a lot of drug issues in the area, she told me they at any time have pregnant drug addicts in. Anyway we had a very good open/ honest discussion about my MH issues and my alcoholism. She said so everyone is on the same page would I do a blood + urine test. I agreed.

It came back that there was alcohol in my blood!!!!! A tiny trace amount, she said it was 2, to be over the limit it would be 90. But I DID NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. I know alcoholics lie so I appreciate that is hard for her to believe. When she came back with the results she said 'I guess you know what I need to talk to you' I told her no, because I really had no clue, I hadn't thought any further on the blood test because I had no reason to think it would be zero.

She said she was surprised by it too after our talk, but that the test doesn't lie. I was very very upset by it all. I got her to re do the blood test and it was clear but she said enough time had lapsed for it to be clear. I am a believer in science but something has to have gone wrong here it really has because I did not drink alcohol.

She said that she won't do anything this time but that she is taking a huge risk in trusting me if anything goes wrong. That she should report me to social services. She said she would catch up with me before I left the hospital but she didn't.

I really wish I had kept my mouth shut I am so worried they are going to take my baby away. I got no additional support and only got this at the end which I don't need or really feel I deserve

Will they take my baby away??. I did not drink alcohol but I know it doesn't look good science doesn't tend to lie, people on the other hand do. Is it possible the test was wrong? Contaminated? I forgot to ask what my urine showed.

OP posts:
SpotlessMind88 · 26/07/2022 14:50

I'm sorry you're going through this, i have no idea about social services etc but i know that there's alcohol present in things other than an alcoholic drink. It was found that orange, apple and grape juice contain substantial amounts of ethanol (up to 0.77 g/L).
your blood alcohol level was so low, i can't believe she actually had a problem with it.

PersonaNonGarter · 26/07/2022 14:55

Are you drinking now? At all?

Turmerictolly · 26/07/2022 15:00

If she was concerned she would have had to report it to Social Services immediately.

Original poster
recoveringyoungalco · 26/07/2022 15:02

@SpotlessMind88 I wrote down absolutely everything I had eat/ drank in the previous 24 hours. She said I was clutching at straws. I also wondered about all the alcohol gel still in hospitals.

OP posts:
Original poster
recoveringyoungalco · 26/07/2022 15:05

PersonaNonGarter · 26/07/2022 14:55

Are you drinking now? At all?

@PersonaNonGarter no I haven't drank since about 2 months before I got pregnant I don't plan to start again either. I have been mostly sober for the last 2 years I don't keep a 100% track it doesn't work for me

OP posts:
acuteanxiety · 26/07/2022 15:05

She sounds like she doesn't know what she is talking about

Could be from juice
Sanitiser

Why is she saying she is taking a risk
Sounds like scaremongering

Ukholidaysaregreat · 26/07/2022 15:11

She is just covering her own back. 2 could easily be sanitiser or chocolate liquors etc. Sounds like she has been no support through the pregnancy and now this. Any way you are doing the right thing by engaging and being open. Try to enjoy your new baby. 🌻

Aria999 · 26/07/2022 15:12

Also 'the test doesn't lie' - are there really any tests anywhere with zero false positives?

jewishmum · 26/07/2022 15:12

They told me my baby had meningitis, treated her for meningitis, then a week later came back and told me the test had been contaminated which gave a false reading.

girlmom21 · 26/07/2022 15:13

They won't take your baby away. They wouldn't have let you leave hospital if they were concerned.

Accept any help you're given and you'll be fine

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 26/07/2022 15:17

hmmmmm very suspicious, makes me wonder if she was trying to catch you out and scare you into not doing but given your MH issues this must have put anxiety levels through the roof. i would be asking to actually see the results on your record as i really dont believe it and would be questioning her practices. As for the should report to SS but trusting you all sounds like she is breaking one practice (ie test true and should report) or another (lying to a patient). Either way i wouldnt want her round me and would ask for this to be investigated.

Babdoc · 26/07/2022 15:19

Did they swab your skin with an alcowipe before taking the blood sample? Because that could easily have contaminated it.
Anyway, it’s water under the bridge now. Nobody is going to remove your baby unless there are serious concerns re neglect, or you being incapacitated with intoxication, so I would try to put it behind you and start enjoying your baby.
Congratulations by the way, on remaining sober - it isn’t easy, and you have shown great commitment.

RaisingH · 26/07/2022 15:28

Even if it came back with a much higher reading I very much doubt they would remove your baby on that basis alone.
I am raising my grandson who has a diagnosis of Feotal Alcohol Syndrome, he was initially allowed to remain with his mum despite the fact Children's Services knew she had been drinking during pregnancy.
My grandson was 5 months old before he was removed and the decision to remove had nothing to do with mum's drinking.

Vecna · 26/07/2022 15:41

Seems like the level was low and potentially contaminated. I've no idea how but wanted to say well done on getting sober. I know it's extremely difficult and many people cannot manage it. Wishing you and your baby the best.

Original poster
recoveringyoungalco · 26/07/2022 18:21

I was very chilled going in, I was not after that!!

Yes they did use a alcohol wipe on my arm. I'm glad to see people don't think my baby will be taken off me.

@RaisingH that's very hard, I am glad your GS has you x

OP posts:
Crazyhousewife · 26/07/2022 18:29

recoveringyoungalco · 26/07/2022 18:21

I was very chilled going in, I was not after that!!

Yes they did use a alcohol wipe on my arm. I'm glad to see people don't think my baby will be taken off me.

@RaisingH that's very hard, I am glad your GS has you x

Have you thought about putting in a complaint with the hospital and having them look into this. Yes she may not remove your child but you don’t know she won’t keep bringing this up and stressing you out even more. I would clear the air and show you have that clean record in case anything happens later on. She doesn’t sound very professional.

notanothertakeaway · 26/07/2022 19:10

Years ago, i read about someone who had a very unusual reaction to a baked potato, which resulted in a positive test for alcohol

The threshold for removing a child from family is very high (some would say too high)

Terrytoweltampon · 26/07/2022 19:19

I know people whose children have been born withdrawing due to drug use in pregnancy. Whose children remained in their care following their birth.

What did the test come back as? 2 micrograms? The drink drive limit is 80, which is a couple of drinks for most people. So 2 is absolutely bugger all.

Nc830 · 26/07/2022 19:19

What about mouthwash? Prescription drugs? Studies have shown alcohol wipes & hand sanitiser will give a false positive reading. But I can’t help but think the midwife / nurse person was lying

chilliesandspices · 26/07/2022 19:20

Agree with PP, the threshold for removing a baby is very very high. Even if they had concerns, they'd approach it by supporting you, not just taking the baby away. If you feel like you need support, don't be afraid to say it.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 26/07/2022 19:24

Did you use mouthwash on the day of your test OP? Some mouthwashes contain alcohol. I wonder if they might leave traces of alcohol in the bloodstream

Cinnabomb · 26/07/2022 19:25

this is an unpopular opinion, and im
not specifically saying it’s a good idea with your history, but one is allowed to drink alcohol whilst pregnant. It’s guidance to abstain, but not law. It’s a personal choice weighing up the risks, and many people have the odd glass. Midwives or social services have absolutely zero right to remove a child for purely the odd drink in pregnancy.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 26/07/2022 19:26

Nc830 · 26/07/2022 19:19

What about mouthwash? Prescription drugs? Studies have shown alcohol wipes & hand sanitiser will give a false positive reading. But I can’t help but think the midwife / nurse person was lying

You never know. They could have been on some weird power trip or get a buzz from making people worry. There’s good and bad in every profession.

Icannoteven · 26/07/2022 19:32

There could have been contamination or an admin error somewhere along the line. Either from alcohol wipes/disinfectant on you or the hands of the person who performed the blood draw, contamination at the lab, a mix up of samples or an error in recording the results. It also could have been one thing you had eaten.

dangermouseisace · 26/07/2022 19:46

Social services are most likely to be not interested. Well done for being honest and congratulations on your baby!