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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Will they take my baby away because I have bipolar?

14 replies

user1488501480 · 03/03/2017 00:53

I have an illness which is a mixture of bipolar and schizophrenia. I have had this illness for around ten years and have been in the mental health system for just as long. I claim ESA and PIP because I struggle with my illness still, and it stops me from working. I am absolutely petrified that this is going to make social services take my child away, if I am pregnant. At the moment I am unsure, but if I am pregnant I want to keep the baby. However if Social services are just going to take it away as soon as it's born I don't know if I want to put myself through that kind of heartache. The stress is making me very upset. Could anyone give me some advice? It would be very greatly appreciated.

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AmyB1986 · 03/03/2017 08:58

No they won't take your baby away from you, my friend has bipolar and a 4 month old.

She was very unstable before her pregnancy but had received so much support from her mental health team through out and now the baby is here also.

They take children from their parents as a last resort.

Are you stable and on the correct meds to help your bp?

AmyB1986 · 03/03/2017 09:03

Social services didn't get involved with my friend either.

She had to undergo a lot of assessments though, it was stressful for her. They assessed her support needs, whether she had other support outside of the mental health team, her housing and her meds.

She has almost exactly the same as you. Bipolar, borderline personality disorder and they were unsure of her whether she had schizophrenia. She's still undergoing test and things for that but is on the medication for it.

No1maso · 03/03/2017 09:45

I have Borderline Personality Disorder. Social services have never been involved with me and my daughter for it and I'm 31 weeks pregnant with my second. As long as you're interacting with services and ask for help if you need it then their happy.

MumBeth · 03/03/2017 10:51

I suffer with psychosis and I've had no interaction with social services at all. As long as you're on the right medication and have a good support system I can't see why your GP or midwife would refer you to social services. Also bare in mind, even if you are referred to social services they also seek to keep the child with the biological parents and so are there to offer you help not to just take your baby away. Good luck x

Original poster

user1488501480 · 03/03/2017 14:27

Thank you for your replies. I feel more at ease now, I was wondering if it mattered that I was on ESA and PIP? Would that automatically make ss involved?

OP posts:

blue2014 · 03/03/2017 15:30

No, they won't get involved because of benefits either. Best wishes xx

MumBeth · 03/03/2017 15:30

I'm not sure on that but as far as I know it's usually doctors or police etc that would refer you to social services.

But for further reassurance, my auntie was in a mental health institution for a month whilst she had 2 children (2 and 3 at the time). Her children stayed with family and when she was released she was allowed to look after them straight away. She just had social services pop round every now and then but they were there to help her as well as to make sure the kids were safe.

You will be referred to a mental health midwife or specialist consultant once you know you are pregnant and see your GP. They'll know how to answer your concerns for sure and put you at ease ☺ x

greeeen · 03/03/2017 15:46

May not be the same now but I grew up with a medicated bipolar mother who went through some pretty bad lows, suicidal, took herself off meds, tried to put me in the foster system even at one point and they always worked with her so I could stay at home. I was never taken away. She only had bipolar not schizophrenia of any kind so I can't comment on how they would deal with that.

ScrapThatThen · 03/03/2017 16:04

Some areas have mother and baby units now as well if you need a hospital admission with a young baby, so you don't have to be apart.

boolifooli · 03/03/2017 16:15

My friend has bipolar and is one of the warmest and most understanding mums I know. I met her when my dcs were little and I learnt so much from watching her parent. She has had access to various support but that's what it was, support. It's a horrid myth that you can't parent well with bipolar. As long as you are taking care of yourself you can certainly be a wonderful parent.

AndNowItsSeven · 03/03/2017 16:20

Social services would not know you are claiming ESA or Pip. If they were every TO be involved you would need to tell them at that point but neither are a reason to remove a baby.

AndNowItsSeven · 03/03/2017 16:20

Sorry for accidental capitals.

boolifooli · 03/03/2017 16:33

This fear of SS is so harmful. SS are there to help families. Removing children is a small part of their job that has to be done where they assess that individual children are at risk. I know a family where a child with SN was removed because the parent was unable to give the superior parenting down to their own mild SN. They now have a further child without SN who is thriving and SS continue to play a supportive role. This is just to allay fears of SS as arbitrary child snatchers. It's just completely not the case.

I do wonder where this panic stems from. And worry about how it prevents people from asking for help.

No1maso · 03/03/2017 17:33

I also claim ESA and PIP. I've just been to a Mental Health appointment, am going to see a phychiatrist soon as well and no mention of social services at all. Even if social services DID come up they really are there to help families and parents, they want to help keep them together, not tear them apart.

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