Refusing injection and social services

[Bakedpotatos]

I've been told I have a very slight b12 deficiency and I'm 36 weeks pregnant. I had a blood test in mid November and no one told me this until a few days ago when my doctor called. They were also confused as to why I hadn't been told anything as my consultant was meant to have informed me of my test results.

I have a major trauma when it comes to injections (due to traumatic forceful injections during an abortion years ago) and the thought of it makes me sick. But blood tests I can absolutely deal with fine, so it must be a sensory thing, I just don't know.. It just makes me physically ill thinking about it. I know it's pathetic how I can easily push a baby out multiple times with no fear at all but injections are on another level. I have never had any injection in my life apart from the ones that were forced against my will unnecessary which ended up being investigated. I told my doctor about this and they said if I refuse the b12 injection they'd have to report me to the "appropriate authorities" which I assume is social services. They're planning on doing 3 this week, and I'm not prepared for it at all. I just feel my doctor has been really insensitive towards my feelings and fears of it. I understand how dangerous it is if I don't have them but where exactly do I stand in terms of bodily rights? Am I actually allowed to say no and would they report me to social services for this? And I've read it's done intermuscular, would I be able to request for it to be done so it's just inside the skin or does it have to be in the muscle? Sorry for the awful long rant, recently had my anxiety meds stopped and I have ASD so I don't like being kept in the unknown 😔

Sorry to hear this OP. Doctors can get on a power trip when you’re pregnant. They threatened to report me for refusing a blood transfusion for myself after birth. I was actually just really traumatised from the birth and wasn’t thinking straight when I refused it. It had no bearing on how I would look after my child. It was only my DH being very calm and asking them on what grounds they would be reporting me that calmed the situation.
I think ask a midwife what the implications are for the bday if you refuse. The state of the NHS the baby will be here before any one has got round to sorting it out. Good luck with your birth and new child 💐

I honestly don’t think children’s social care would have any involvement. Pre-birth legally you can refuse treatment if you wish, unless you were found to lack capacity (which is unlikely you would).

once the baby is born the issue will have passed as presumably they could give the baby B12 if it was needed. So nothing to risk assess anymore.

I think it’s scare tactics. Can you ask someone else, eg midwife, for more info on impact/risks associated with not having the injection at this stage.

I wondered if it's to boost the baby's stores naturally before birth?

Baby could be a bit low if mum is (I've been told in the past though also thought the body gives everything to the baby.)

I agree highly unlikely ss will be interested

As long as you have been informed of the risks and benefits of the injections and have the capacity to make decisions you are perfectly entitled to decline them. Threatening to report you to the ‘authorities’ is completely unacceptable and I would be complaining about the doctor’s behaviour.

I'm a child protection social worker. Children's Services will do NOTHING.

Wow, that's brilliant. UK is amazing, a social worker proudly announces that they will do nothing, about the medical intervention that may/may not have effect on a child, without knowing any details. Fantastic.

I don't know anything about whether you should or shouldn't but they are just bully tactics which you should ignore. Stress is terrible for the baby so if it's that bad for you and not going to be a huge issue just ignore them and relax.

The baby is unborn and the issue is about the parent consenting to their own medical treatment.
What would you suppose social care would do?

She's 36/40! A birth defect isn't going to magically be fixed before delivery.

OP I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my entire career. Social care would laugh in the gp's face. It wouldn't even warrant a phone call. You have body autonomy and the right to make informed decisions.

Threatening you with social care is hardly informed consent.

What would you suppose social care would do?

At least show interest and show support for the parent so they can make a informed decision, instead of blatantly saying they do nothing?

B12 definitely can be given subcutaneously I inject myself that way as I was shown by a doctor. I've had it done intramuscular by a doctor as well and subcut is definitely a lot easier.

Also I would make sure you get the injections because B12 deficiency can be awful and cause irreversible damage to nerves etc. Join the 'vitamin B12 wake up' group on Facebook there's loads of information and helpful people on there.

What about those of us who can not have injection? OP has said as much.

Do you think it would be easier for you to do the injections yourself?
You'd be in control then.

How would social care help with informed consent for a medical procedure for the the mother? Health care has the knowledge and information about that.

In theory social care “showing support” sounds lovely and I wish there was opportunity for this role. However in reality social care do not have capacity to be involved in families simply for “showing support”. They’d only be involved in the referral showed some legitimate area of concern for the baby.

It's a choice between damaged nerve system so you can't live a normal life, or be afraid of needles and take the consequences. It's up to the person, I think.

I have pernicious anaemia/ B12 deficiency. The clue is in the name- if left untreated it is eventually fatal.
if you don’t have enough B12 you will potentially struggle to move oxygen around the body which puts you at greater risk in labour- and your baby.
I can absolutely understand why the doctor has indicated a safeguarding concern- you are knowingly putting your baby at risk.
I appreciate that you find injections traumatic but believe me- the trauma of something going wrong which is preventable is much worse.

If you have a severe needle phobia, it is not a simple choice at all.

@XenoBitch well for a lot of people who have B12 deficiency there is no option other than getting the injections. B12 deficiency can be fatal if not treated.

@grapehyacinthisactuallyblue you really need to do some reading around trauma awareness and it's impacts. It's a lot more than just a needle phobia that the OP has suffered from.

I have B12 injections, just to warn you they sting like f@@k as it's being injected but you'll feel so much better a day or two after having them. They're far more effective than tablets if you're deficient and they work much quicker.

No judgement here, but they really do help me, I know when I'm due it just by how I feel.

The OP is 36 weeks pregnant. Birth defects that can be a result of B12 deficiency occur at a much earlier stage of feral development. At 36 weeks, the greatest risk is placental abruption, which of course is devastating, but rare.

Health care has the knowledge and information about that.
@Whowhatwherewhenwhynow Yes, that's why the doctor recommended the procedure, right? But mother refused, so someone need to make sure she knows what is at stakes.
I know the UK system is so stretched, so I can see there is no way that SS can help in the case like this. I was being sarcastic. And depressed. OP maybe totally fine. Maybe the doctors are having power trips. Who knows. But it's sad, if any children suffer because the SS is so proud that they will never get involved.

And if you have a needle phobia, then even being faced with a fatal deficiency does not matter.