Child protection?

[susanmt]

Have just been talking to my community midwife, who is also quite a good friend (that's rural areas for you!) and I found out something which I think is both disturbing and upsetting. Turns out that when I was in hospital with dd2 I was referred to child protection at the social work dept as I have a history of severe pnd and because I was using a controlled drug in pregnancy (pethedine, for renal colic).
I am mad! Not only did they not tell me, it turns out they were compiling reports on my childcare while I was in hospital. Like I refused to bath Rachel the day after she was born - having watched aidwife slather her in baby bath and powder the previous evening I had topped and tailed in the morning and had no desire to bath her again - she wasn't dirty! They raised concerns as I had put a 'wet' nappy back on her after a check - it had only been on for half an hour and wasn't dirty! Also I was far too keen to leave hospital and not worried enough about the effect of my painkillers on Rachel.
AAAAAAAAAArrrrgh! Now I am expecting the HV and I dont have a clue what she has been told but she is new and doesn't know me so I am terrified she will have me down as a weirdo before she even comes!
The CMW is going to find out if I have grounds for complaint ( a bit awkward as she has told me things she was asked not to re the reports etc). I think I do - how DARE they question my parenting because I have had pnd - that is discrimination, and I only took pethedine when I had to - when I was doubled up in agony on the floor puking my guts out with the pain. Its not like I'm a drug addict - I'm not taking any now!!!!
Am I hormonally overreacting at 2 weeks postpartum? And am I right in thinking they should have informed me if there was a child protection concern?

Off to feed babe and bliss out on natural endorphins!!

I can see why you are annoyed.

If you had been really ill,I think this was in the interest of the child.

No you are not over-reacting. But this is very common in any sort of unusual circumstances. You are lucky (dh a GP and all that) as it will almost certainly result in nothing. It's frightening how perfectly sensible behaviour (eg checking a nappy then not changing it) is seen as something sinister when they have the eye on you.

I'm never sure how to approach these things. Pre-warned is pre-aremd and all that. When I found out that someone had been saying certain untrue things about me behind my back- and that the school had got to hear about it, I didn't say anything (it would have put the person who told me in a very awkward position) but I was very careful about what I said to the school and how I behaved. I'm fairly certain they now know what they were told isn't true (although I may have hammed it up a bit).

I'd play the game for a while (just what you need right now I'm sure) but keep a careful eye. If it gets heavy come down on them like a tonne of bricks.

Good luck. And nice to see you back btw- and congratulations of course!

You are entitled to see your soc svs file (everything, even hand written notes) and they will photocopy it for you for about £10 or you can go there and look yourself. It may just upset you though. If you decide to take things further I think a copy of the file will be essential.

Don't want to be conratversial.....but isn't it good that they were investigating...they should (have?) concluded that in your case everything in OK.....but they may have also investigated other children's situations and made other decisions IYSWIM

PS my mum was investigated in the 70's about my Dbro who ended up in A&E 4 times in 3 months (accident prone brat!!) they told her that she had been investigated but that they realised everything was fine (she was outraged but after a couple of hours realised that by checking every anomoly, other children might be helped)