Sometimes women worry that if social services want to check on them, it means that people think they can’t look after their baby. This isn’t usually the case.
Social services will never take a baby into care just because the parent has a mental health problem. Social services will only take a baby into care if they believe you, or your partner if you have one, cannot look after them safely (because of your mental health problem or for any other reason).
A Social Services assessment will:
- check what support you have from family, friends and professionals
- make sure there is safe plan for your baby if you are too unwell to care for them.
If you don't have any extra help from family members while you are unwell and during recovery, social services may be able to help. They can also find a temporary carer for your baby if you need to go into hospital and there is no place available in a mother and baby unit.
Having a baby is a stressful time for any new parent, but if you also have a mental health problem you may need extra support. You can use The Wellbeing Plan to work out your support plan for pregnancy and after the birth with your midwife.
