Any Midwives/HCPs on at this time of night.

[sillysow]

There is a point to this question (for me) - sorry if it seems random.

Why is it that pregnant ladies are asked about previous abuse / child protection register?

Is it related to the way that the lady is cared for, or concern for the child once born?

Many Thanks in advance, any information would be greatly appreciated.

It's normally for when the baby is born. Social services are able to put a care order inplace for the baby which is implemented as soon as the baby is born, they will be involved during the pregnancy as, in some cases, a baby can be removed after birth so all the legal measures have to be put in place before this.

Both really. If someone has had a child removed, or had a child on the register, then we need to know to liase with their SW to get plans in place for the birth and afterwards. Also we might want to send a mum on parenting courses, or screen her urine for toxicology etc etc.

Ok thanks for your answers - very helpful.

It's not guaranteed a future child will be removed that depends on the current circumstances.

I have to admit the way the question is asked, it seems general. So I guess if its been a considerable number of years since, then it would be irrelevent anyway?

Just to clarify, I am referring to the mum to be having been abused in childhood and having in the past been on the child pretection register herself.

Ah I assumed SS involvement with family not personally

Nooooooo, so in which case is there any point to the question what so ever in this particular scenario?

If the mum herself has been abused in childhood then it could throw up all sorts of things for her in pregnancy/childbirth. If she's been sexually abused in the past then she may struggle with internal examinations so its a good idea for HCPs to be aware.

She may need more support from her HV once the child is born as there could be bonding issues, etc if she's had a traumatic childhood.

Sometimes becoming a mother can bring things to the surface that have been buried a long time and she may find transition to parenthood a bit harder. So I think its very relevent.

stripeyknickersspottysock you are absolutely right.

Its a very difficult situation I think.

So just to clarify if a mother to be responded yes with the questions above i.e yes I was abused in childhood and yes I have been on the CPR - what would be likely to follow from this? I'm assuming no need for any involvement from social workers etc.

Or would it just be noted with no further action?

This is one of those hypothetical questions that is actually quite relevent

We would ask the name of her SW, or if she couldn't remember then we would ring her local area SWs and inform them she was pregnant. They would usually just go, "right, thanks" and no further action taken. However, let's say she was abused by her father, and her father will be an active grandparent to the unborn, then they may take it further (stipulate supervised contact between her father and new baby, etc). So it depends on the situation entirely, but we would always inform SW.

So if a mum to be were honest in this situation - she would not gain anymore support herself hardertokidnap?

I understand in some cases there would need to be concern for the baby (eg a teenager who is still in reg contact with the abuser), but would like to think that there would be some support for the mum to be - bearing in mind it may be hard enough telling a stranger "actually yes" in response to those questions.

What I am sumising from this thread now - other than the indication of support from stripeyknickersspottysock is that you may as well put up, shut up and get on with it?

It depends on the mental state of the mum-to-be, I think. If there were signs of the MTB needing support, the midwife/HV would give it.

A slightly different example, but a family member was victim of DV, and had a Missed Miscarriage during that relationship. 7 years on she had a baby, and was given lots of support post-natally.

Erm, not sure where you are getting that from... I can't comment on what sort of support an individual woman would get because that would vary. I assumed you were asking generally, what might happen when a woman discloses she has been on CPR? And I am telling you, generally, what would happen. I have taken the time out to answer your question ands don't really appreciate your narkiness, tbh.

I don't think a woman should put up and shut up, no. Non-disclosure can actually look pretty shit for them if later on things raise their heads and it ends up coming out anyway. SW will almost certainly be actively involved then. And we can only point her to specific avenues of support if we know she might need them.

HarderToKidnap sorry if I appeared narky, I guess I was just disappointed at the general direction the responses were going in.
I do appreciate the time that you have taken to respond - please dont doubt that.