Mothe of fully BF 8 week old sectioned - what are the legal rights of her and her baby to stay together?

[AnarchyInAManger]

DP has just had frantic phone call from his friend to say his gf has been sectioned. She has had mental health problems in the past and has had PND since having their first baby 6 weeks ago.

At the moment the baby is with the father and she is in some kind of secure hospital ward but I'm not sure exactly where.

They are apparently looking for a mother and baby unit for them to go into but haven't found anywhere yet. They have some ebm at home but only enough for the next day or so.

Where can the family get advice and help? What are the legal rights of mother and baby to stay together? I assume the hospital have to provide a breastpump etc if they will not allow the baby in?

They have to allow her to feed the baby afaik. Call one of the BF helplines ASAP.

contact one or all of the bf charities until he gets joy on their helpline. first thing is to make sure she is given a pump asap and assisted in expressing.

Can the dad and baby not go in to her and the baby be fed then?

there are a few people on mn with contacts with the bf organisations. if you give out your general location, one of them may pick up on it.

She must be quite unwell to have been sectioned but it's a good thing that she's getting the help and care that she needs to get better. Of course they'll allow the baby in she needs to spend time with it to develop her relationship. Depending on the drugs she's taking the baby may not be able to have her breast milk though and she may need to take it for some time if she's as ill as she sounds. If she wants to she can express to keep her supply up. The hospital can supply a breast pump but if it's problematic then NCT are very good at loaning them out in special situations.

ok well his friend needs to call the unit she is in.
presumably he can provide the breastpump she has been using? or they may have one there for this kind of thing (ok, prob not, but you never know)

then he needs to know how often she can see the baby etc etc while they are waiting for a place at mum and baby unit.

I am sure they will appreciate that it isn't going to help her being separated from her baby, and hopefully will want to help

whereabouts is she??

You could also speak to MIND and I hope she gets her place in a M & B unit very soon.

Yes the dad can take the baby in, but its not ideal - she can't get much privacy and also I don't suppose he'll be allowed in at night.

He is on the case with the BF helplines already - just texted him four different numbers.

Its just happened this afternoon so its still all up in the air and he is worried it will just be left til Monday before she is moved to a mother and baby unit.

Could a m/w pop in to see her regarding the bf issue? She is only just over the four week limit of their responsibility, so they might be persuaded.

It would be an HV re bf at this point they usually wouldn't be around until Monday. NCT will loan an electic pump if necessary FOC if family on low income.

Is she suffering from puerperal psychosis?

You could try arguing that it would contravene section 8 of the Human Rights Act to seperate her from her BF child. It covers the right to family life.

MW won't go in no matter what- tried it once with a client where HV was off, first child had been removed and Mum needed input- against MW rules apparently.

If they are looking for a mother and baby unit we can safely assume she is safe to be with the baby. So really it's that she needs- go high. MP? Trust management?

Bugger its a Friday eve .

I hope you get some help

That should read article 8
examples of how it has been argued here

Your poor friend - it must be so hard for him.

If his gf has been sectioned then her mental state must be quite serious. Also, if she's been sectioned then it will be because she is a danger either to herself or to others, and this could include her baby.

If the hospital are trying to find a place in a mother and baby unit then it seems they are at least trying to keep mum and baby together.

But please don't consider this to be a violation of your friend's rights to be with her baby. At the moment the most important thing is that she be helped wrt her mental illness. And the other important thing is that the baby remain safe. psychiatric units are not pleasant places, and when considering whether to take a baby into one of them the safety of that baby needs to be considered.

If your friend is able to expreess then this option should of course be made available to her, but it is likely she will be on drugs which will make this impossible.

Where is she?

In England or Wales these people might help:

MHAC

In Scotland the mental welfare commission would be able to advise
MWC

Has your friends husband talked to the nurses on the unit. This is not that unusual and there will be processes in place for dealing with it. The staff are there to support the husband too.

Has the baby ever had formula?

That matters- some just will not take any! Haven't managed to get ds4 (8 months) to yet...

If not then that needs to be looked at as a priority: keep fighting the good fight but get some alternatives in place on a JIC basis.

why does she need to "go high"
we have no idea what is going on reallyt dso we?

the boyfriend needs to ring the unit and find out exactly where they stand with it before complaining to the trust etc.

they may sayt yes, come in all day tomorrow, or, we can find ytou somewhere to sleep.
they haven't, as I undertstand it, said that they have to be separated? but obviusly when she was first taken in it would have been difficult as she would have been being assessed and settled in etc.

they need tyo find out all the facts first before doing anything else

Surely if he has posted here he has spoken to the ward etc- kinda think that would be obvious really.

Thanks everyone.

We have just had another phone call to say they are going to move her to another unit tonight (!) where she can have the baby with her [phew]

It is 50 miles from home and her dp doesn't drive but he is going to stay with friends locally for the next few days so he can see them every day. Massive relief as he was really worried everyone would go home for the weekend and deal with it on monday.

Now off to give him details of BfN so they can check all the drugs she is prescribed.

there you go, obviously not.

am glad they are going to be together agian. good outcome

Excellent news.

Gives you something to do!

Yes I think he just completely panicked. She went for a GP appt and didn't come back - next thing he knew he had a phone call saying she had been detained as they were so concerned and she had refused treatment. The baby was at home with him as she had only meant to be an hour.

So so glad it has been sorted out so fast.