This week, Social Serves in Fife, Scotland, arranged for the complete
removal of a four day old, breastfed baby, from the mother, from the
maternity unit, in Ireland.

The mother has mild learning difficulties.  It has been in the
newspapers, as lot, as the social workers prevented the mother marrying
the father.  She's 17, and they used her status as someone young, with
mild learning difficulties, to obtain a court order to prevent the
wedding.  They then told the mother the child would be removed at
birth.  They went to Ireland, but carried on with proper medical
support.  The midwives in the room when the social workers arrived, who
were there supporting the breastfeeding, fled in tears.

As usual, no provision has been made to protect the baby's rights to the
breast.

These cases are really important.  One day, social services WILL
listen.  Once they've listened in one of our countries, others can use
this to put pressure on their own.  I've written a letter to the head of
social work, and the Scottish Minister for health.

The letter contains their contact details.
http://one-of-those-women.blogspot.com/2010/01/dear-fife-social-services.html

If any of you, particularly those outside the UK, could also complain,
it would help.  It may not help this baby - but we will help others in
the future.  If you do complain, please cc me your complaint, if it's at
all easy for you to do.

Many thanks.

Morgan Gallagher

www.nursingmattrs.org.uk

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