help a local baby was taken away for having a uc! - Page 6

[mamaverdi]

This is so repulsive I don't even know what to say. They should have gotten a better lawyer.

What kind of meds are they "making" her take?

I would seriously leave town. Now. Middle of the night, abandon my stuff, and leave.

I'm glad they have their baby. But they haven't gotten rid of CPS.

There are lawyers that sue lawyers if they decide they need one. Their lawyer is making a huge mistake with their lives.

mv

[Zamber]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

I would seriously leave town. Now. Middle of the night, abandon my stuff, and leave.

I'm glad they have their baby. But they haven't gotten rid of CPS.

Unless they plan on leaving the country, that won't work. Chances are if they left the state they could be charged with kidnapping (it all depends on what they agreed to). They already signed the paper, the damage is already done.:

[Tuckersmom]

switzerland is such a nice country...... :

[2much2luv]

Mexico. We would move to Mexico. I can't imagine.

[Hathor]

I know of a lawyer...

If anyone here is in contact with the family and if they are interested in pursuing the case farther, or protecting themselves...

The mother could contact Kenneth A Friedman, esq.
http://www.lawyers.com/lawbf/firmprofile.jsp

He is the widower of Liz Baldwin, esq. a former La Leche League Leader and pro-breastfeeding advocate...he's carrying on the family business.

He may be able to recommend what she should do next.

[Hathor]

Also,

Isn't it time for the non-screechy, anti-authoritarian, educational, mama supportive, up yours, letter campaign to start?

[Tuckersmom]

i am going to call the family today to see how they are doing, i will definitely pass that on, thanks heather!

[Tuckersmom]

YES! I was thinking, local newspaper, hospital that called cps, local tv

[Tuckersmom]

laura, did I miss the interview this am?

[Zamber]

Originally Posted by Tuckersmom

laura, did I miss the interview this am?

I just listened to Laura - she was awesome!

And not to de-rail the thread, but hi Hathor!

Anyways, does the mother have internet access?

[Tuckersmom]

she does

[Zamber]

Originally Posted by Tuckersmom

she does

Is she a member of these boards? I would really like to hear the whole story (especially why she can't breastfeed). I know they want to just be quiet and be glad they have their baby back. However, forcing her not to breastfeed is truely (I feel) a crime. I know in a previous post you stated it is high priority that she breastfeed, so it is even more important that more is done. If they don't act now they very well could (I hope not) lose their baby again, because what is being done during in home visits is an investigation. They will be checking to see if she is bottle feeding properly, look for empty and full cans of formula - they will even judge if they are holding the baby properly (and they can find fault in the smallest of things). You name it, they will look at it. I also know she may feel embarrassed to come here, but she needs to know we are all here for her and want to help.

[AutumnMama]

Originally Posted by Hathor

Are you kidding me?!! She can't breastfeed! (so glad she got the baby back) oh man! I just want to freak on these cps people!

My feelings exactly.
This is just terrible, horrible...I can't believe I live less than two hours away from all this.
I wish there was something I could do; that poor Mama (and family)!!

[majazama]

Originally Posted by Hathor

Isn't it time for the non-screechy, anti-authoritarian, educational, mama supportive, up yours, letter campaign to start?

I am on the war path. This is too close to home for me to *not* do anything. I live just over the border in kootenay country. I can't imagine what that poor family is going through.

We can't just sit back and twidle our thumbs and say "glad it wasn't me"... imagine if/when you had just given birth to your child (in the purest way we know), and 7 people came to your door and took your baby away.

[majazama]

Originally Posted by Zamber

Is she a member of these boards? I would really like to hear the whole story (especially why she can't breastfeed).

yes, me too.

I really want to write a letter to the editor of the local paper there, but I need some real facts to back up what I'm going to say.

I was thinking about it last night. what should I say? I'm just so furious, but don't want to sound like a nutcase.

[rainbowmoon]

Originally Posted by Hathor

Isn't it time for the non-screechy, anti-authoritarian, educational, mama supportive, up yours, letter campaign to start?

:

I can't beleive this seems to being kept secret in a way. why no news articles? it makes me wonder if there is more to the story possibly? or just a case of CPS being aggresive? or os ot the laywer trying to keep it hush hush? I am sure the family is afraid to do anything at this point.

[Hathor]

what to say.

IMHO it's best to boil it down to simplicity and re-frame the argument.

The mother had CPS seize her baby because she gave birth at home. simple. (something that was completely normal until the last century) Don't mention unassisted, because it's not true...the mother was there to support herself as was the father.

It is not illegal to give birth at home.

Now to get their baby back they had to sign an agreement that states that they will not breastfeed.

It is not illegal to breastfeed, it is a human right and protected under law...

CPS has also, in taking a breastfeeding baby from its mother, changed its diet to formula against the wishes of the family. I think a case against the state for future medical bills would be necessary (in a perfect world)...

also, in any letter it should be highlighted that CPS will lie to gain entry into the home, will lie about their reasons for seizing children, and they scare the parents into compliance, holding their children hostage (but that's where I start getting screechy)

those are my thoughts...I'm working on my letter too.

[lillake]

I'm still wondering what medication they have her on and why. It just reeks of BS to me, CPS not the family. I've known too many families have to fight tooth and nail for their basic rights when truely horrible parents don't get more than a glance.

I would love for more info on all of this, I think that as long as it stays private it is only giving CPS more freedom to do as they choose.

[brown eyed girls]

As a lactation specialist, I helped a mom once. She showed up at the hospital in labor. Standard of Care at our hospital is that a mom who shows up in labor with no prenatal records and no OB already assigned to her care, is given a drug test. This mother was no exception, and her drug test came back positive for Marijuana, meaning she'd had some exposure to MJ within the previous 28 days. CPS was called immediately and took custody of the baby upon birth. In order for the mother to regain custody of her baby, she had to promise not to breastfeed until she had a clean drug test-- and they assumed she had MJ that day because they specifically stated 28 days must pass before the first drug test.

What we did: We got mother on a pump and taught her patterned feeding with the bottle with the best n*pple available for her body's shape. THEN, we helped her talk to a family rights lawyer, who argued to the judge for the mother that the milk should be tested and demanded testing of the milk every 3 days, and that as soon as a milk test was clean she should be released from her "hold"....

What happened: the mother skipped town with the baby, never returned the rental pump (it was found at a resale shop), and showed up at a WIC office 4 months later, pregnant again and giving as her address a local weekly hotel.

That was a sad case, because the lawyer had WON. He won ... the judge ruled that CPS could not ban her breastfeeding for a month and that their requirements were over the boundaries of the law, and that the alternative of milk testing every 3 days was valid and good.

In the case of "legal" drugs, I'd think that having a copy of Hale's before the judge would be sufficient.

The lawyer needs to be fighting for the best interests of the baby and family, and breastfeeding is baby's right. Mother-baby separation should be limited to a baby at immediate risk of harm, and from what I've read of this case there was NEVER any proof of risk of immediate harm.

I agree with Hathor, that we need to focus on HOMEbirth and not UC. Neither is illegal, and CPS has completely overstepped its boundaries.

Lactation specialists like myself see hundreds of cases of thrush. None of them have warranted CPS investigation. That's just stupid.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by littleteapot

That's a good link.

However, it only applies to the USA. How much of this also applies to Canadians? I'm from Canada and I know very little about CAS although I've heard of two Canadian UCers contacting CAS and telling them all about her UC to make them aware in case her paranoid in-laws did anything... they said that UC only ever concerns them when it's a heroin addict giving birth in a dumpster somewhere, but pretty much anyone else they don't care about. They're required to do an investigation but so long as you're not obviously on drugs or anything, they just close the case.

In that case, your best bet will be to go to a clinic and get a drug test done. Explain that while you do not and have not used drugs you were informed by the CAS that they investigate homebirths and one of their concerns was if the mother was on drugs, so just in case you'd like a document stating that you are not on drugs.