Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Can you refuse to have your baby admitted to special care? Can they force you?

74 replies

IlanaK · 28/07/2008 20:33

Quick story: my baby was born last monday. Within a few hours, he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care as he was having breathing problems. He has been on special care since then until we finally convinced them to discharge us today. The breathing issues resolved a couple of days ago, but he was kept there due to needing iv antibiotics. While there, his bilirubin levels were checked as he was a little jaundiced. He ended up needing phototherapy on and off. His levels finally came down low enough today to take him home, but a final blood test result shows they are rising a little again. We are due to return for another blood test tomorow afternoon.

I DO NOT want him readmitted. I said to the doctor on the phone today that I would come in for the blood test and if she felt he needed further phototherapy I would stay for the 6 hours there with him then take him home. I would return if a further blood test was needed. She would not committ to agreeing this. Can I refuse to have him readmitted? Can they force me or am I within my rights to decide this as a parent?

Any help really appreciated.

OP posts:

mother3 · 29/07/2008 10:10

i HAVE JUST REaD THIS THREAD.My own son was born prematurly and was in Scuba ward.For 6 weeks He was totaly blue when he was born cord around his neck.,it was touch and go when he came home he caught menigitus and rushed back to hospital>THey saved his life Again.He was in the best possible place both times.If he was at home he would have not been here today.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 29/07/2008 10:10

SHE IS NOT REFUSING CARE.

Please read her posts again.

nailpolish · 29/07/2008 10:12

YES I KNOW SHES NOT REFUSING CARE

she is refusing AFTER care and MONITORING

its just as important

tiggerlovestobounce · 29/07/2008 10:14

No, she isnt refusing all care, but picking and choosing which bits of the care offered you will accept may not be ideal.
Hopefully all goes well at the hospital, and the baby doesnt need admission. IME if you are keen to look after your child at home the medical professionals will try to suuport that as much as possible.

Kassius · 29/07/2008 10:14

it was not pure venom, imo.
and the mother is not refusing care, you're right, but she is seemingly going to refuse care that is not given on grounds dictated by her.
its hard to know whats its all about really as she is quite adamant that she wont be telling us her resons, fair enough but people will then make assumptions.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 29/07/2008 10:16

No she isn't, she is asking if there are alternatives - which there usually are, but aren't offered without asking/pushing for it.

Kewcumber · 29/07/2008 10:17

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt - I'm not sure I understand but thats because the OP has chosen not to share why she doesn't want him readmitted which might change the responses she got markedly. Her choice but then we can only respond to the information she has given us.

In fact all that has happend so far is that the doctor has refused to say they won't re-admit until he/she has seen the baby and blood results which sounds perfctly normal to me.

QuintessentialShadows · 29/07/2008 10:17

Quite possibly her reluctance to follow the doctors recommendations will already be on file. I am sure this does not worry her as only she (and the medical team) knows her reasons to refuse admission. And as long as the OP has kept these to herself, we cannot possibly speculate. Only wish her and her baby the best.

Personally, if my baby had been born with breathing difficulties, I would have been scared to have him home with me. But that is of course in hindsight, having had more than one mad rush to A&E with a baby with breathing problems who needed machines that I do not have at home. When mine was admitted, we were always rooming in, and I had a much more reassuring time that I would have had at home. To be honest, for a few days I tried to go to my gp to have him on the nebulizer morning and afternoon, but in the end admission was the only option.

Good Luck!

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 29/07/2008 10:24

I think I need to step away.

I'm speaking from experience of hospital dogma and how frustrating and upsetting it is.

lazaroulovesleggings · 29/07/2008 10:26

It's horrible being in hospital, and can be very traumatic and stressful not being able to take your baby home straight away.

I hope everything goes ok for you today Ilana, I imagine you are exhausted

ScottishMummy · 29/07/2008 10:27

could another person mediate with you, attend a mtg. you need to quickly build a relationship of trust with the team.you dont need to necessarily agree all the time.
but you all have your baby interest at heart

deep breath.

what a stressful time for up
and your baby.
what about scbu alarms you?
are you frightened.
feeling the loss of control

can you get them to discuss the care pathway and options with you.agree review and plan

sbcu beds are allocated on clinical need, assessment and moinitoting that needs down on scbu because the staff resources, labs, ecquipment are all on site.the aim being as brief stay as possible and only necessary interventions

they cannot compel you, but they can seek protection of a vulnerable child order.but this is stressful and genuinely why go through that?

hifi · 29/07/2008 10:30

surely all the stress over this isnt helping you or your baby, unless there is a really good reason, cant think of any myself except mrsa, just taek him in.

CJMommy · 29/07/2008 10:49

Hello. Have been reading this thread with interest.

IlanaK, only you and the medical team know your reasons for not wanting to stay overnight and if an alternative can be found then great. However, if they really feel that your baby needs monitoring overnight, please listen to them, Babies and children can deteriorate very, very rapidly, much faster than adults so if faced with a decision, you need to weigh up your reasons for not wanting to stop against the time it would take to get him to the NICU should he become unwell at home, and, what damage a delay in treatment would cause to your child.

Setting up home phototherapy, takes much organisation and resources and although resources should not be a factor, they invariably always are, wherever you go in the NHS.

If you find it difficult to get your views across, check to see if the hospital has a Patient Liaison Service (PALS) as someone may be able to act as an advocate for you.

Good luck today and I hope all goes well.

WorzselMummage · 29/07/2008 12:15

As a mother i'd do exactly what the paediatric specialists told me i needed to do to ensure my child was safe.

NotQuiteCockney · 29/07/2008 12:29

Ah, see, DS1 was born with breathing difficulties, but we were sure about the cause of them, and felt the medics were being overly cautious (he was in SCBU for 30 hours. Which I regret, deeply, as he only needed a tiny bit of O2 really. And those 30 hours really damaged our bonding and his breastfeeding). And felt that the ongoing damage to my health of being in the hospital wasn't worth it.

Everyone has to make their own judgements, based on their own situation/hospital/whatever. Obviously some children definately need to be in SCBU!

QuintessentialShadows · 29/07/2008 18:06

Has the OP been back this afternoon?

How are you IlanaK? How is your baby doing?

QuintessentialShadows · 29/07/2008 18:06

Has the OP been back this afternoon?

How are you IlanaK? How is your baby doing?

islandofsodor · 29/07/2008 18:42

Hi Ilana, I didn't know you were pg again?

How did it go, I'm fairly certain that as an experienced mum, childcare professional and breastfeeding expert your judgment as to what care is appropriate for your own child is pretty sound.

Hope things are resolved to your satisfaction.

escondida · 29/07/2008 18:58

Congrats Ilana on ur new baby -- you dont recognise me but I think you still have a book of mine.

LADIES, Ilana is an long-time and very sane MNetter and attentive mother, she doesnt deserve the flack she's catching on here.

Hope it works out, MoveItMoveIt's advice sounds very good to me.

edam · 29/07/2008 18:58

hello Ilana, hope baby is doing fine now.

It's entirely reasonable for a parent to say "I'm not sure this is the best thing for us to do" and negotiate with the professionals. Nothing wrong with asking for an explanation and to double check whether what is recommended is absolutely necessary or the best option. Everyone I know who has professional experience of healthcare would do the same. Standard protocols and procedures are there for a reason but don't take account of individual circumstances.

Doesn't mean you should blithely ignore medical advice but equally everyone is entitled to question that advice and make sure it really is the best thing for their specific situation.

AvenaLife · 29/07/2008 19:06

I fully understand why you don't want this, however, they wouldn't say this if it wasn't necessary. They can treat jaundice on a peadiatric ward so you may not necessarily have to go back to the SCUBU. The hospital can take you to court over this though if your child needs treatment. SCUBU bed's cost the NHS an absolute fortune so they wouldn't re admit if they didn't have another choice.

I should tell you that babies can die of jaundice if it is not treated. My cousin's baby's jaundice was not treated, she saw the HV every week and the hv only wrote the baby was jaundiced. He died at 8 weeks.

BeachBunni · 29/07/2008 19:19

Hi Ilana having had a baby in SCBU I know how upsetting and hearbreaking it can be. I understand you don't want to give your reasons but if it's something do with the hospital can you discuss your concerns with a consultant/ transfer hospitals? If it's personal do they have the facilities for you to room in? Wishing you all the best anyway and congratulations x

Original poster

IlanaK · 29/07/2008 20:47

Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone. The blood test was fine and he needs no further treatment. This is of course what we hoped for, but I had asked my original question just to know my legal position in case they wanted to readmit him.

Escondida - you have me intrigued as I have no idea who you are and certainly did not think I had a book of anyone's!

OP posts:

elkiedee · 29/07/2008 21:15

Glad to hear baby's well.

My son was taken back into hospital at a week old with feeding problems. Medically he was fine after 3/4 days but it was Saturday before we finally got allowed out on "home leave" but had to return on Monday, and see the consultant on Thursday. Fortunately he'd done so well the first 2 days home and then the next few days that it was all ok and we didn't have to stay another night.

I took far longer to recover emotionally from feeling like a total failure as a mother though...

So I can sympathise, but think it would have been a mistake to refuse to have him admitted to SCBU.

Flip

1 2 3