I signed out AMA with #4 and CPS was called. I had a natural birth, healthy baby, and at the 24 hr mark said I wanted to go. Nurse said 48 hrs, due to group b strep +. I responded that I had had a - GBS and preventitive antibiotics anyhow. Baby showed no signs of infection. Nurse said I could sign ama myself, but they would keep my baby. I was starting to get angry(postpartum, mam lion, and my mother was in the end stages of her fight with cancer)and told them I was signing both myself and the baby out ama. A social worker brought me the ama form and told me I would be charged with medical neglect and that insurance would not pay for me.I looked her right in the eye(she was avoiding eye contact, like she knew she shouldn't be doing this, but the on call pedi was the one who turned me in)and said that if there was a single medical reason to stay I would, otherwise I was going home to my family with my healthy son. I left the hospital...we drove straight home and CPS was waiting in the driveway.*sidenote* we lived across state lines from the hospital I delivered at. New caseworker got out, I invited her in(so glad I had straightened up before leaving for the hospital!). She said I was accused of bringing a critically ill infant home!!! I talked to her for 2 hours, she had to see proof that we had money in the bank(we did), wanted to see bottles(I breastfeed), wanted to see a crib(I co-sleep). She wanted to know if my other 3 children(who were 4,3,2 at the time) could dial 911!!! I had to take Logan to a local pedi the next day to be looked over, he got an all clear and a few weeks later we got the official report that all charges with dropped, with a handwritten note of apology from my caseworker(who was very nice, just trying to do her job, but still...as if postpartum isn't bad enough). That was my last hospital birth, I found a fantastic midwife and had the next 3 at home. I also found my courage to stand up to authority where my kids are concerned(was not raised to stand up like that). I do not fear CPS anymore, but for the year following that I really had anxiety everytime my doorbell rang. I hate to say this, Logan was my first hypnobirth and although labour and delivery was amazing I despise the memory because of the stress. I felt physically great after the birth, Logan was perfectly healthy, my dr had signed my birthplan that I could leave at 24 hrs, but hospital policy said 48(and no, I was not aware of it at the time). I had 3 other little ones at home I missed dearly, my mother had Very limited time to meet my new son and was in no condition to come see me in a hospital, and WE WERE HEALTHY! I still feel betrayed by the system in some ways, but thank goodness I turned to homebirth afterwards...that is my silver lining.
I am sorry if this seemed rambling.
I am sorry if this seemed rambling.
(my eldest has bipolar and adhd and they get calls about him quite often, ugh)
