What happens to baby if mom is hospitalized for postpartum depression/psychosis?

[STJinNoVa]

If a mom volntarily entered a hospital because she thoght she had severe ppd, and she had no one to care for her child while hospitalized, what would the hospital do with hte baby?

I know a single mom in this situation - I can't take her baby because I have a highly needy baby of my own who I can hardly deal with some days - and am wondering if it is a disservice to suggest she seek voluntary hospitalization for a few days, if she would end up having her baby taken into foster care and have a hard time getting him back. Or is there a solution I'm not aware of?

I don't think she's at risk of hurting the baby, but I think she's had thoughts of spanking him, or screaming at him.

Thoughts?

[AlpineMama]

How old is the baby, for one thing?

[STJinNoVa]

Almost four months. Same age as mine, so I can sympathize with how incredibly difficult it is to be in the house with a little baby. I just don't know how to help.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I would encourage her to go to the Dr. and get medication if she is in that bad shape. I had severe ppd to the point of wanting to die but the thought of going in hospital never crossed my mind. For one thing I was bfing and there was no way that I was risking that. For another you can get help without going in hospital.

I have heard of mom's loosing custody of their child over ppd to me that would be a death sentence.

[yarngoddess]

I have always wondered what would happen in this kind of a situation. I too would hope this new mom would contact her docotor and ask, beg, pleed, DEMAND help for her and her baby. There has to be something they can do to help her BEFORE she is admitted to the hospital. I have heard of situations where (this is a very small town mind you) they allowed mom to bring baby with her to the hospital (they provided a crib in the room). You could also call your L&D and ask if they have a PPD warm line, and the ladies that run that often have more suggestions and resources for YOUR AREA than any one else.

[theretohere]

Children are placed in foster care if their parent is hospitalized and there is no other care giver. I don't know if PPD would change that.

[Eben'sMama]

If your area has a Crisis Nursery, she could take the baby there for at least a few days. Crisis Nurseries provide respite for parents in crisis, generally without involoving CPS.

[gwerydd]

some psychiatric units and hospitals have post partum wards where babies can room in with their mothers. there apparently is one at Mt Sanai hospital in toronto that my dr. wanted to get me into when i was hospitalised for PPD but unfortunatly it was full at the time. my dh brought my dd to me everyday. it is really important that the mum and baby have contact while she is in hospital. regular units may allow a baby to room in with mama, perhaps you could call the local hospital and see what the protocal is for mums with PPD. PPD mums didn't seem to be that common on the regular when i was in the hospital last year, the nurses were so excited to have a baby on the floor. i got lots of special attention, nurses would bring me juice and cookies while i pumped to keep up my strength. for me it was really hard to admit i needed to go to the hospital but i am so glad that i did.

[gwerydd]

btw, do you know if she has had intrusive thoughts, or feels that she is at risk for hurting herself or her child? having thoughts of spanking or screaming at your baby are not causes for concern in and of themselves, if she feels she might actually act on them and harm her child or they are just way too distressing for her, then i would be more concerned. lots of mother feel aggrivated at times but don't hurt their children. (there are times when dd is crabby that i would love to throw her out the window but i never would).

[MommytoTwo]

No suggestions, just positive thoughts for this mama. I was definitely suicidal and probably could have benefited from hospitalization but I refused to admit how bad it was - I was so afraid they would take away all my kids.

[DBZ]

There are things that aren't as full time as hospitilization. There is day treatment or partial hospitilization. There are visiting nurses and social workers. A good social worker would know these other options. You might try calling 211 if you don't know any social workers or therapists.

[forthebest]

I would hope that someone cared enough to try and help the mom find some sort of solution that did not mean the removal of her baby permanently. My friend ended up in the psyke hosp just after she had her first child, she had taken an overdose of tabs. This girl was 17 and had stayed at mine on and off before that when she fell out with her mom who was being a bit controlling and not really helping her dd. I ended up having my mate, her baby and her guy stay with us till they moved back to his town. She soo didn't want her mom having her baby with her. It was a hassle cos there were problems but my mate was in the hosp and they were giving her so many drugs she was barely aware of what was going on, she had the baby with her but they, her mom, the docs, the social were all getting hot and bothered and trying to , I dunno, but the social were at my door cos of it and one day I said to them, stop hassling my mate, you are making it worse, things are ok here, she is learning to deal. Really the mom is gonna need support till she is through the worst and baby being fostered out could present difficulty, who knows if she would get baby back? OP there is no point presenting yourself with putting the mom up unless you really knew you had the energy for it, my dd's father back then made a lot of stink about me having my mate to stay, made it harder. My mate is still with her guy(12 years) and they have 2 dc now. As this moms on her own she's really gonna need some support.

[The Harpy]

I wonder if dad could take the baby?

[Heavenly_jewel]

I had been hospitalized for three weeks and then had my baby taken away by social services. It took me 3 months but i got him back and now i thank god that i have him everyday