Will mental issues give Social Services a reason to take my child?

JelloBearr · September 2015

I have been very stressed since finding out about my pregnancy - Currently 16 weeks.

I went to my OB doctor to speak about my stress levels and my disturbed thoughts and she ordered that I go to the ER immediately. I went to another mental clinic instead and was screened for depression, anxiety and PTSD. I am no threat to myself or my child but will others see that as well or will I be monitored throughout my whole pregnancy to only possibly have the threat of having my child taken once I give birth to them?

I was honest with them and told them that I have thought about self harm but not for the purpose of acting upon those thoughts. It was more of a comfort thought than a "I want/need" to do this kind of thought. I honestly can't explain it but I know deep down, I WOULD NEVER do something like that to myself or my little bun.

Ceridwen77 · September 2015

It was good that you were honest about your thoughts. You can't self-diagnose though and state that deep down you'd never do anything. You're dealing with something serious and it's great that you took a step to get help. Let the professionals do whatever is needed to get you into a better position. They don't want to ever separate parents and children unless there is a serious risk. Continue to seek help and get counseling and you should be in a great place by time baby arrives.

jenbstevens · September 2015

I'm glad you went to get help and I think that would be seen as responsible by anyone who did find out. That being said, if they found you are not a danger to yourself or your baby then I doubt it will be an issue. Lots of women go through depression during their pregnancies and especially postpartum depression, and no one takes their babies away unless they are in danger of hurting them. Get the help you need so that you can be the best mom you can be!

dogsombrero · September 2015

Typically children aren't taken from parents who recognize and receive help with mental illnesses. If you are working with a team of support professionals you are showing good judgement. You are putting your health and child's health first. If you stop attending therapy or taking meds and acting irrationally/irresponsibly CPS may get involved but at this time it sounds like you are doing everything in your power to get things well-controlled. Kudos to you!

ChiccoBeanz · September 2015

I honestly don't have anything really helpful for this post. But I'd like to say that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope it all works out for you and your little one and that you get the help you need.

2-Step · September 2015

I think the fact that you are seeking help is awesome and means you are on the right track. The most important thing you can do is focus on making yourself as well as possible. Find some health care providers you can trust to help you along the way and give you honest advice about how this might affect your baby. You should be very proud of yourself for dealing with your issues in a responsible way and taking care of yourself and your baby. I think that shows you are already going to be a good mom. Do you have family you can lean on for support? I think it would be a good idea to have a plan in place in case you experience anything post partum and need help while you recover. Having a plan for someone to help with the baby that you can trust will go a long way toward avoiding social services ever having to intervene at all should you need to take a break and get yourself better at any point.

cerafina205 · September 2015

NO!!!. Not unless you are a threat to your child. Don't worry. Lots of pregnant women have depression and anxiety. What you did was smart. Now you can get the help you need and manage any post partum dspression. Good job!

wisemomma24 · September 2015

I suffer from PTSD, and severe anxiety. I have 2 sweet boys and another sweet boy on the way. I'm doing great with everything considering a lot of stuff... But I also have a great support system as well. And a wonderful mother and a wonderful husband to help me along when things come up. So nope CPS can't come take the baby

TacoSarah · September 2015

Removing a child is the last resort. They will look to the family first for support if it became that serious.

I have bipolar and my ex is a twatwaffle and after an argument decided to report me to social services, saying I was unstable and threatening to hurt myself and the baby etc, all of which was not true. They investigated me, which was a harrowing affair, but because like you, I had been so open and honest about my illness from the very start of my pregnancy and was doing everything I needed to be doing to keep well and take care of myself, they said they had zero concerns and closed the file.

The Social Services team were actually really supportive. I was so upset and they put me in touch with a domestic abuse lawyer so that I could get advice about how to deal with my ex making false allegations against me as a way to try and control me. And they really praised me in being so upfront and open about the bipolar.

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