Will we loose baby?

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JBR
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2018 6:15 pm

Will we loose baby?

Post by JBR » Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:32 pm

Hi my granddaughter at 5 weeks old was taken into care after doctors found an unexplained top right healing Rib fracture. My daughter and babies dad have no idea when this was done. Social care are thinking abuse?? Court proceedings have started and next hearing is June. Awaiting bone specialist reports. Baby has been with foster parents now for 6 weeks. What's the chance of baby been returned to my daughter if it remains unexplained? We are going through a total nightmare here. It's like a bad dream. They said because baby wasn't over 4kg when born it couldn't have been done at birth. Her vitamin d levels were classed as low with a reading of 50 but not low enough for rickets. Any advice is appreciated at this horrible time. Thank you

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Suzie, FRG Adviser
Posts: 4207
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm

Re: Will we loose baby?

Post by Suzie, FRG Adviser » Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:37 pm

Dear JBR,

Welcome to the Parents Forum. As you are a grandparent, you may prefer posting on our friends and family carer’s forum here.

I am sorry to hear that your grand- daughter suffered an unexplained rib fracture. This must be very worrying and upsetting for you. I can see that you are also worried about whether she can return home to mum or stay within the family after the court proceedings have been completed.
The care (court) proceedings will be trying to ascertain how the rib fracture was caused. So all possible explanations including your grand- daughter suffering from ill health will be explored. I understand that you are waiting for further medical reports.
Is there any genetic conditions within the family that you know about? If so, let Mums legal team know. They should be ensuring children’s services are exploring all possible causes.

Children services are also considering whether abuse might be the cause. No doubt your daughter and dad would have been interviewed by the police and will put in statements into these proceedings. Was anyone else in contact with your granddaughter during the time when the fracture occurred? If so, have they been interviewed?
There is likely to be a fact finding hearing. The judge will hear evidence (from your daughter and her partner, for example). He will then decide, how the injury was caused and who may have caused it.
Are there any other issues that might be relevant? Was there any domestic abuse? If there was, have the parents undertaken the courses and support that is needed to address this?
In our advice sheet about care proceedings, linked below, there are tips for parents on how to get the best out of their solicitor.

I know it is difficult to think about this, but in the event that baby cannot return to mum or dad, is there anyone, such as yourself, who could take on the long care of baby? This can be anyone in the family or friends network in the uk or abroad. If so, they should get in touch with children services who will want to asses them. Here is our advice sheet about fostering assessments.


Mum should also ask whether a family group conference can take place to look for support for her, and to look for family who could care for baby long term, if baby cannot return to the parents.
There may also be a plan for adoption but this would be the last resort, if there was no one in the family or friends network.
Here is information about care proceedings

If you have any questions, please post back or call our advice line on 0808 801 0366.
Best wishes,

Suzie

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