Can I check into hospital with a baby?

[Aloneandfedup]

Hi.
I’m suspected to have borderline personality disorder, currently awaiting therapy but it’s a 3 month wait. I’ve been having a really hard time of late, the past couple days have been really hard. I have a one year but also think I could benefit from being in hospital right now. Not sure what my options are and scared to call for fear of sounding stupid.

please don't be afraid to call and ask about your options with a baby. they will be able to advise you x

Sorry to hear you are struggling. Do you have friends or family who can come and sit with you at the moment and help with your baby. You should call your crisis team or your g.p. you can also call 111 for advise. No one will think you are being stupid. Are you and your baby safe. If you dont feel safe you call for an ambulance. Everyone is here to help you and your baby.

We’re safe but I feel like I nwe’d help

I told my family and frIends I need time to myself yesterday

There are mother and baby units. If you are london / south east based the bethlem is one of them. Speak to your GP or a health professional who can point you in the right direction

As far as I know, mother and baby units don't take babies over 12 months. That's the situation when DD2 was born, admittedly 10 years ago. Do you have a CPN?

Mother and Baby Units (MBU) are generally for women presenting in the first 12 months post-partum e.g. with postnatal psychosis, severe PND etc.

You could ask for a referral to a perinatal mental health team to assess - they have received big increases in funding across the UK and in some areas now see women until baby is 2.

Obviously I don't know your personal history/circumstances but in my part of the country (Oxfordshire) they try very hard to avoid admitting people with personality disorder to hospitals because research has shown this doesn't help in the long run and for some people can increase risk. On the other hand there must be some community support available while you're waiting for therapy - have you looked in to local Mind groups etc? Are you under a CMHT?

It doesn't matter if you told them you needed space yesterday, call a friend - tell them
You need help!

If you were my friend, I'd be gutted if you were feeling like this & didn't call me!

🌷

Sorry, no idea about hospitals etc, but maybe a friend can help you find one to take you & your baby. Though as someone else said, I think they prefer not to admit now.

My understanding is that it is very, very unusual for someone with a personality disorder to be taken into a psychiatric facility as there is not a lot of evidence that it can help. Not to mention, with Covid, a hospital may not be the best place for many people at the moment.

What things do you think the hospital would do that would be helpful to you? Maybe others can come up with suggestions for similar support outside of hospital.

@Kassandra1

My understanding is that it is very, very unusual for someone with a personality disorder to be taken into a psychiatric facility as there is not a lot of evidence that it can help. Not to mention, with Covid, a hospital may not be the best place for many people at the moment.

What things do you think the hospital would do that would be helpful to you? Maybe others can come up with suggestions for similar support outside of hospital.

It can certainly help if they are suicidal and need to be stabilised.

@CodenameVillanelle I agree, hence the very very unusual comment and not "never".

American Society of Psychiatry guidelines:

Repeated hospitalization for suicidal threats and attempts can also be counter-productive, since it interferes with out-patient treatment, and makes it impossible for patients to remain in the workplace. It can also lead to a kind of “regression”, with an increase of symptoms based on the behavioral reinforcement of suicidal behavior. It is not recommended to admit patients for Personality Disorders beyond an overnight hold in a crisis.

That is to say, if you are in danger OP, you should contact your mental health professional or present at A&E in an emergency.