Uc & cps

[caedmyn]

This is one of my concerns about UC'ing, that if for some reason we had to transport and someone found out we'd UC'd or tried to, that they would call CPS. Is this something I should be concerned about?

[MsBlack]

Mmmm, yes. Prepared for, in any event. Which means first of all, being mentally prepared for the possibility, so it doesn't come as a complete surprise that knocks you off balance and makes your reaction/response and emotional state too shakey. Knowing it can happen can help you think it through, get your rationality, dignity and self-respect ready to be challenged possibly...if that makes sense. Self-presentation is everything, in a really important way! When self-presentation comes in the forms of reasonable and calm assertiveness, confidence w/a degree of humility, this really helps...not to forget that if you do transfer, you can be prepared to make informed choices--to request certain things and refuse certain things, but not to 'go in fighting', if that makes sense.

Some families either get prenatal care somewhere, so they have a record of care showing their 'responsible approach', or if they UP, they keep a record of that--b/p, urine testing, weight gain, fundal height, whatever labs or other things you kept track of. Again--this shows that you were making a conscious choice in the safest way you knew how in accordance with 'current socially accepted standards of pn care'...as opposed to being drug addicts or child abusers just UCing to stay off legal/medical radar, that is! Because often w/UC transfer, there can be that assumption with the accompanying suspicion/disrespect from caregivers.

Should you UC and decide to transfer care, and should you then be faced with social services in some form, you don't lose all your rights and there is no need to be freaked out. If it happens, and there is some sort of investigation, it's not necessarily the end of the world--healthy, reasonable families who've obviously done their homework--and who after all, DID make the trip to the hospital when it became apparent that med help was called for--may be investigated but most likely will end up with no 'permanent record' w/CPS. Be prepared for the possibility, but don't worry about it.

[UCmamaToMany]

If it is a worry for you then make sure you KNOW your rights. KNOW the fact that you do not have to let CPS into your home without a warrant. NEVER agre to give them your baby under ANY circumstances, even if they say it's to "just get them checked out".

It is not illegal anywhere to birth at home unassisted, so you did nothing wrong. Send them away and then take baby to a pediatrician for an evaluation and get that evaluation in writting. Make copies and hand them out to said people who come to your door.

http://www.fightcpspackets.info/Pare...TheSystem.html
http://fightcps.com/
http://familyrightsassociation.com/
http://familyrightsassociation.com/e...hts/index.html

[TabithaB]

Thanks for the info. I am not u/c'ing but I am HBing in Illinois with a lay midwife so this information is very helpful and reassuring since I can't tell them about my midwife in case of transfer.

Sorry if I am sort of crashing.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I actually planned to tell them I had a midwife and refuse to disclose the name. I figured I'd get better treatment that way than if I told them I UC'd.

[MsBlack]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

I actually planned to tell them I had a midwife and refuse to disclose the name. I figured I'd get better treatment that way than if I told them I UC'd.

YES--this is a possible tactic that may save you lots of trouble!

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

I actually planned to tell them I had a midwife and refuse to disclose the name. I figured I'd get better treatment that way than if I told them I UC'd.

I actually will be using a midwife for at least some prenatals, so I don't think it'd be lying to say that I'm using one.

[an_aurora]

It might vary from hospital to hospital, but at the one I work at, we have never reported anyone to CPS for attempting to UC.

[roadfamily6now]

I had a UC here in Alaska. We did transfer after the birth because quite frankly it was an unplanned and unexpected UC and we were all a bit shell shocked. However the baby and I were both perfectly fine.

Except the baby was big (10 pounds) and it was a UC so the ped. thought baby needed extra supervision and kept him in the NICU for 3 days!!! This was a surrogate pregnancy and not my baby and Of course the parents were probably scared to death since it was their first baby and they had no idea what to do..... Anyway long story short. Baby was held in the NICU for "observation" for 3 days. I was given no care while I was there for 8 hours waiting for my OB to arrive to discharge me. In the end all turned out swell but I can tell you I certainly learned my lesson!

If you and baby are fine, refuse a transfer in the event 911 is called. You can have the EMTs' check you and baby out at your home. You do NOT have to go in to the hospital.

But as far a CPS was concerned, no one cared or called.