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 😔

Maybe think a bit about what you post! A phobia is irrational and for some people can be so fear-inducing that all efforts to talk the suffer round will fail.

@supersonicginandtonic
Yeah, I should know better for sure. Having a child with multiple illness and gone though numerous tests and surgeries over the years, I should really learn about trauma awareness. Thanks.

@XenoBitch yes and I hope for those people there is some way of getting help for their phobia to eventually be able to get proper treatment because B12 deficiency sucks.

What are you on about?

yes the dr recommended it. Therefore the mother has the information on which to make her decision. Still not seeing what social care can add?

social care don’t not get involved because they’re “too proud”. What does that even mean? They wouldn’t get involved because the issue is one of mother consenting to her own medical treatment.

I can't advise on refusing the injection, sorry, but I'm very short of B12. I have injections sometimes. I find tablets don't work particularly well for me, but the oral spray version that gets absorbed into your system under your tongue works as well for me as an injection. Possibly worth a try? You can get them in Sainsburys, lots of chemists, or on amazon

Can you recommend a brand/dose?
I have been told I need injections.. and that wont be happening.

What are you on about?

I was just responding to someone proudly announced that the ss isn't interested. I just found that rather sad. That is all.

You can decline any treatment and you cannot be referred to social services based on declining antenatal care.
Check out the birth rights website.
That being said, it might be worth looking into some therapy re injections- your local well-being service may offer a needle phobia pathway.

I have been told I need injections.. and that wont be happening.

My fil refused it. And one day found out the consequences the hard way. He clashed his car. Now he is having injection regularly.

Also consider whether having more children after this one is a sensible idea. Autism is genetic so it’s likely some or all of your children will also be autistic. Raising neurodiverse children is challenging, and it will be harder for you and them if you can’t give them the individual support and attention they need.

Disabled women don't need to hear other people's unsolicited opinions on their reproductive choices at every possible opportunity. I understand what you're saying, and that you probably don't mean to sound like a rabid eugenicist, but this "advice" wasn't asked for, or relevant in any way to the OP's question.

*crashed. Can't really figure out the difference, being foreigner.

I have been told I need B12 treatment, yet I have no symptoms at all. No pins n needles or exhaustion that comes with B12 deficiency. I feel fine.

Trust me, it's not a power trip. It's fear of litigation. If you refuse treatment that you need, and then come to some harm, you can turn around and say the doctor didn't try hard enough to persuade you. And you'd probably win in court. As a doctor I take no pleasure in trying to persuade patients to have treatment they don't won't. I'm just covering my back.

That's the thing. My fil had no symptoms too, so he refused the treatment. I really think you need to seek help, maybe alternatives to injection if there are any. The damage is irreversible once it's done.

That was responce to XenoBitch ·

I had an injection fear - and am B12 deficient.

The injection is sharp ( its got vinegar as a preservative in it) .. it is not nice - but it is quick - and frankly for me life changing. I grit my teeth look the over way and ignore it (4 years on - and it has been life changing).

B12 - is often underdiagnosed - and even low levels go without treatment - to warrant injections you must be LOW.

B12 deficiency can cause so many long term issues if not treated - you can die from it.

You need to overcome your fear and take the drugs.

There is nothing wrong with being autistic. Advocating for people to avoid having children who are likely to be autistic is not OK.

It's not bonkers at all a poster. Lack of B12 can cause severe and irreversible neurological damage to a child causing lifelong disability.

I had my b12 jabs in my pregnancy this summer honestly they made me feel better I was so drained and tired. They are the least painful jabs I’ve ever had, I really didn’t even feel it.

in matters of the mind to cope with this I’d be saying how much better it is that I have it then my dc needing to have it.

im a suck it up and crack on sort of person, in pregnancy I was advocating my baby. I was “less” of the focus in that regard and helped me to just do stuff I didn’t want. (I had gd and injected /tested bloods) then had anti clotting meds pp(they are a bitch)

I would call your midwife or health visitor for advice on this. That's pretty awful for a doctor to say that to you!

GP can prescribe high dose tablets. I had them when the jabs weren't available at GP surgery during lockdowns.

I just had b12 injections too and just wanted to reassure you I was in and out of the GP's in two minutes most days, if you did want to give it a try. I also didn't find them overly painful or impactful on my arm fuction or anything. They did make me feel SO much better though, I was getting heart palpitations all the time before I had them. Failing the injections, there are oral tablets you can take but they just aren't so efficient or fast acting.

Social services would laugh and ignore the referral in the absence of any other concerns. You have the right to refuse any medical treatment offered to you during pregnancy. Your baby has no rights until it is born so you are doing nothing wrong (not that b12 would make any difference to them at 36 weeks). So unless they are inferring that declining injections is somehow indicative of a wider inability to parent, you have nothing to worry about.

(I would also make a complain about this FWIW. This is coercion at best and blackmail at worst)

I presume you’re not in the UK as there’s no legal basis to report you and medical staff are very aware of free choice. Perhaps ask about oral supplements if you want to decline the injections?