Ummm...but I'm OK...

[purplebiro]

I went for an antenatal this afternoon - an appointment that neither me or my midwife knew what it was for - I got there and was ushered in to see the consultant who told me that the protocols around mental health had now been changed and that because I am on antidepressants (a very low dosage of antidepressants specifically chosen because hey are considered extremely low risk for pregnancy) and despite the fact that he had previously and quite happily discharged me from mental health team care and the fact that I am in fact incredibly happy and stable and have been throughout this entire pregnancy (I'm 24 weeks) I am now classed as extremely high risk for PND and will need to stay in hospital for four days after birth.

This is now written in big bold letters over the front of my notes and I was told that even if I told them I was feeling fine and my practising counselling psychotherapist mother with a specialism in parenting and attachment issues (the irony, lol, etc) backed me up no one would be willing to take on the liability for discharging me.

So that's it - I think it's probably healthiest all round that I just accept it's going to be this way and embrace the idea of having four days bedrest to recover from the birth and learn the basics (this is my first baby) with midwives and nurses on hand to help and I do realise that those protocols will help women who are much less stable and supported than me and that's very important but WOW it's pretty terrifying how easy it is to get put in that category and how hard it would be to get out.

No question, just needed to have a mini rant!

It was the post natal stay in hospital that CAUSED my PND/PTSD last time. So much so that I'm going for HBAC this time. I'm flabbergasted you're being told this.

I am not surprised another. I was put on monitoring for PND because I was so upset by the second day in hospital. I was elated to escape, I think my HCP's were a little confused about why I was being monitored when they met me.

Just back from my scan and consultant appointment today. I queried this, and they looked dumbfounded! My one-to-one midwife pointed out that an extended hospital stay would be the worst thing for me, and they agreed. Basically I will be discharged as soon as possible and monitored at home by my midwife. And this is for someone who has had a seriously rough ride with MH during pregnancy. So glad that it's not a blanket policy and I hope you get what's right for you!

How frustrating for you purple - no real advice other than to say I had a similar (though less escalated) MH issue with my maternity notes.

Mentioned at booking in I had had issues with anxiety and depression in the past, and had counselling at my universities and a 'course' of online CBT in 2009, but no current concerns. Nothing more was asked or said about mental health.

Later on in the appointment the midwife said she would be booking me in to see a consultant. To be fair I should have asked why, but by that point she had taken my bloods and I hadn't had lunch, so I wasn't totally on the ball!

two months later consultant appointment comes up, I pop in and she goes to be "First thing, how are you feeling?" I say fine. She does rest of standard check-ups and says to me "Well, you're completely fine, I have no issue discharging you from consultant care"

I leave, picking up a maternity notes and then see, in black and white on the very first page 'Maternal Concerns: Mental Health Issues'

I don't know what I was more livid at - the stark and unrepresentative way my conversation with the midwife had been recorded, the massive waste of NHS resources by referring me to a consultant for a ten-minute non-event of an appointment, or the fact that if I actually had any amount of depression/anxiety issues, the course of action taken would have done precisely nothing to support me.

It's a joke, a far as I'm concerned - ticking boxes to cover their back, while the actual level of care and active support remains laughably low.

I think you have every reason to challenge this purple, but I can also see why taking it on the chin might be the path of least resistance right now... Good luck with everything in anycase