Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

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

Social services involvement

40 replies

Starburst1144 · 11/09/2017 10:30

Hi, was hoping I could get some advice without being judged. I'm going to start from the very beginning and go into detail so that someone can give me an informed reply.

I had my first child when I was 18. While I was pregnant my partner violently attacked me & my baby was put on child protection. I attended the freedom project and did everything they asked of me. Once he was 6 months old he was taken off and my case closed. He is now 7 and is doing brilliantly in school and is happy and healthy. We have so much family support and love around us.

3 years later I got a new partner. He had been in trouble with the police for various things but nothing while we were together. One evening he had a family bbq, got drunk and ended up fighting with his dad. The whole family were there including me and my son, although we were in the house with the door locked and they were in the garden. The police were called and because my son was there, they informed social services.

Because of my past relationship and now this new partner who seems to become violent when alcohol is involved, we were taken to conference again. We did everything they asked of us including only seeing each other without my child there for a while. He went to alcohol classes and anger management. The case finally was closed.

A year later I fell pregnant with his baby. Things were great, my health visitor who had supported us through all the conferences was extremely happy for us. (She never really seen why we were on child pretection, as there was no domestic violence towards me and my child was always kept safe) everything was brilliant for a year.

Our relationship broke down when I found out he had been unfaithful. I took my children and took myself to my aunties out of the way. This only angered my ex because he felt I was taking his son from him. He sent me various threatening messages and also threatened my family. I called the police and told them about the threats made. Social services came to visit me but no further action was taken.

Things calmed down and although we never got back into a relationship we were trying to be friends for the kids sakes and we still had family outings and he would come round for dinner some evenings. This was great for a year, until he felt that things were so good we could make a go of it again. I told him there was no way I would ever be in a relationship with him again, as the trust was gone. But I would like to stay friends. He completely lost it and he smashed up my property. The police were called and he was arrested. Social services came out to visit once again and advised me that if it was found out me and him were continuing a relationship (which we are not) my children would be taken to conference once again & this would not look good at all. How many times does a child have to be put on child protection before something is done? I completely understand. The case has been closed with the warning of what will happen if I ever was to get back with him.

Anyway my problem is... before social services made a visit. I went on a night out and ended up bumping into my ex, I'd had a drink and ended up going to a hotel with him. Stupid decision! I have now found out I am 3+ weeks pregnant and I am terrified. I can't help but think that if I tell SS, they won't believe that I am no longer in a relationship with him.

If a midwife was to tell ss that I am pregnant again, could they reopen the case, even though I am not with my ex and we both agree enough is enough?

Will my children all be taken from me?

Do I have to name the father?

Will I be investigated again or will they only become involved if there is another incident?

I know this is a tricky case and that's why I have tried to include everything. I'm in a right mess and although the thought of termination makes me sick, if I need to do it for the sake of the two children I already have and love, I will do. The guilt of me even saying that is horrendous and I'm sitting here in floods of tears. I've got myself in the worst situation & I really don't know what to do. Please any advise will be helpful, thanks.

OP posts:
HalfShellHero · 11/09/2017 10:35

In your situation i would persue an early termination although i appreciate its not an easy decision to make at all.

CosmicPineapple · 11/09/2017 10:36

If it was me I would terminate.
I am sorry I have no actual advice but would assume ss will become invilved again. They need to trust tgat you can protect your children and despite them telling you to stay away from each other you have not.
Be honest with them is all I can say.

Troubleshootingforever · 11/09/2017 10:37

Social services will be worried about your ex being around the children given there have been incidents of violence. It is always better if you are 100% honest and work with them.
How do you see it panning out when your ex finds out you are pregnant?

Troubleshootingforever · 11/09/2017 10:39

What's your own take on the impact of these incidents on your children? Social services need you to understand, have insight and act as a protective parent

Expemsiveuniform · 11/09/2017 10:39

I would terminate in your shoes.

MyDcAreMarvel · 11/09/2017 10:40

No don't have an abortion , you will have to live with the feeling of being forced into not having your baby.
There is no need to tell anyone who the father is. Tell the midwife if asked that it was the result of a very drunk night out.
Do not tell your ex about the pregnancy and move on with your life with all three of your children.

Expemsiveuniform · 11/09/2017 10:41

My that's really bad advice.

If the ex suspects it's his child he could go to court and seek a partnity test and the op will be proven a liar - to him, and also to social services.

Troubleshootingforever · 11/09/2017 10:44

He's going to know he's the father. And my guess is he's going to go ape shit

ElizabethShaw · 11/09/2017 10:44

You don't need to tell your ex you are pregnant and you don't need to name him on the birth certificate.

Social services will get involved again however your children won't automatically be removed if you can show you are able to keep them safe.

CosmicPineapple · 11/09/2017 10:45

My not being honest with SS can only lead to disaster. I dont think your advice is helpful or smart.

stitchglitched · 11/09/2017 10:45

I would terminate in your position, you need to prioritise your existing children who have already been through enough.

KirstyJC · 11/09/2017 10:46

Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. But in your shoes I would terminate. If you don't, he will find out and SS will also find out and then think you have been lying all this time. And you will likely lose all 3 of your kids.

However hard a termination would be, the way I see it is that you either end up with 2 kids or none at all.

MyDcAreMarvel · 11/09/2017 10:50

The op would not be the first woman too drunk to remember who the father is. A paternity test later would show he was the father, but the dates would show it was before social services visit.
The baby is more important, you don't have an abortion to cover up mistakes.

Starburst1144 · 11/09/2017 10:51

This is absolutely devastating but I think I'm going to have to terminate. I can't lose my boys, I just can't.

Can I get a termination without my GP finding out?

OP posts:
Expectingbsbunumber2 · 11/09/2017 10:52

What a horrible situation to be in. You have to be completely Honest with social services or it will all back fire. As for the pregnancy I don't know what advice to give,

MyDcAreMarvel · 11/09/2017 10:54

Op ss would be concerned that you met up after the visit. You didn't .
They will find out about the termination and you will be in the exact same situation except you will no longer be pregnant.
You say you can't lose you boys, what about this baby?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 11/09/2017 10:55

My not being honest with SS can only lead to disaster. I dont think your advice is helpful or smart.

^ this.

Lying to SS and midwives is some of the worse advice I have seen given on MN and that's saying something.

Troubleshootingforever · 11/09/2017 10:56

It's not about being caught out being with this man. Whether it's before the visit or not is regardless. SS will be concerned either way as it demonstrates that despite incidents of violence that you have been intimate and let him into your life again. You need to focus on your own safety plan whether you have a termination or not. You need to work out how you can keep yourself and the children safe. Not from Social Services. They are the least of your worries. Your children need to kept safe from this man. From being exposed to violence and unpredictability and being frightened in their own home. I would be very worried your place or worse is in for another smashing up session.

Moanyoldcow · 11/09/2017 10:59

In your position I would terminate. However that is a decision you have to make.

I think you need to really think about why you continue to make self-destructive choices when you have two children to look after and protect.

None of the abuse you have been a victim of if your fault in any way, but sleeping with someone who is a danger to your family and getting pregnant by them are both avoidable.

If he finds out you're pregnant he sounds like the type who'd demand a paternity test and then you'd been really stuck.

Do you WANT the baby? Can you afford to bring it up with no support? Do you have the mental strength to do it all again? How will it impact the children you have now?

It's worth saying that not everyone who has a termination regrets it and wishes the had the baby - many women recognise the situation they are in is not conducive to a healthy family life and therefore understand the termination was the best choice.

Make your decision based on what's best for you and your family.

Starburst1144 · 11/09/2017 11:00

I know that this is my baby too.. but my boys are here and loved dearly by so many people. The case is closed now, I can go to a family planning clinic and have a termination without my GP knowing. There will be no reason for SS to be contacted again. The moment they find out I am pregnant they will be all over us again. I can't risk it, this decision will haunt me forever and I've gone round and round in circles for days. This was a last resort to get opinions from people on the outside, hardest thing I've ever had to do but I just can't keep putting my kids in this position. Thank you for everyone's input

OP posts:
RebeccaWrongDaily · 11/09/2017 11:02

ignore the really bad advice here being given by someone who's clearly keen on life above all else.

If you go ahead with the pregnancy, you could end up losing all 3 of your children. HTH.

Moanyoldcow · 11/09/2017 11:02

Good luck starburst.

CosmicPineapple · 11/09/2017 11:03

Good luck Star whatever you decide Flowers

Starburst1144 · 11/09/2017 11:04

I haven't let this man in our family home, he has actually left us all alone. He has supervised contact with the kids at his parents house with his parents present. The only time I've seen him was that one night. And I know it was an absolutely stupid decision to make. I haven't seen or spoken to him since

OP posts:
NachoAddict · 11/09/2017 11:20

It must be such a horrible situation to be in but in your shoes I think I would have a termination too.

A new baby would give him an excuse to try and worm into your life again and as a new mother looking after two other children you would be very vulnerable to him offering to help, be a family etc.

he would have to be an idiot to not put 2 and 2 together and realise the baby is his.