Report? And to whom?

[slu_rn]

This is going to be a somewhat long post, but I need advice. I'm also not sure where to post this, so feel free to move it wherever. :wink2:

I'm a senior nursing student set to graduate in May, and I have a friend who had a baby the last week of September. The doctors weren't exactly sure when she did get pregnant because she doesn't track her periods. Anyway, the baby was 5 lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long and had to be sectioned because of variable decels during labor. She was drinking 1 large glass of red wine per day during her 3rd trimester because "her ob told her that it was ok". She was not worried about it because she said her mom did drugs as well as drank during her pregnancy with my friend and she was ok. She told me about a month before her due date that she couldn't wait to have the child because she wanted to be able to "drink normally again". At her dr appointment in Dec the baby was only up to 9 lbs. She has been drinking + breastfeeding. I work the Nursery Follow Up service at a children's hospital sometimes and the little girl looks like a failure to thrive child to me. (not an expert in any way) I am really worried about the baby because of the amount of alcohol her parents could be ingesting. I know for the father it is nothing to drink a 5th of Jack and 3 mountain dew. (He's a type II diabetic) He was very motivated to create a better life for his daughter. He wants to go back to school (neither of them have a degree, on medicaid because they're way below the poverty level etc), and it seems like his wife is dragging him back down. I don't know what to do.

Illinois DCFS isn't exactly the best program in the world and I really don't want to drag them into it 1. because I don't think that they will do anything to help and 2. I'd rather that they realize what is going on and work to make things better for themselves. She is 27 and he is 28. So I'm really stuck and really worried.

I'm sorry this post has been kinda all of the place, but any advice/suggestions would be much appreciated. I've thought about trying to find out who her peditrician is and talk to them, she also sees the same OB/GYN that I do, but I'm not sure how long she would follow her post c-section.

[mtnmom]

I would absolutely report it...not only are you a mandated reporter as an RN but you have a moral responsibility to your friend's little girl, and to your friend.

I dont know if you yourself are a parent, but sometimes the greatest act of love you can perform is to stop someone from hurting themselves. This has been called "toughlove".

To get some intervention into this family might not only save the life of this little baby but of all 3 of them.

Yes, I agree that the child is in danger, from neglect and from who knows what else.

I will keep you all in my prayers.

[slu_rn]

I really appreciate the response. I think I'm going to sit down and talk to her about it. I get the feeling that she liked being pregnant because it was "cute" to have people pay attention to her, but now she isn't really interested in the responsibilities her daughter now brings.

[rn/writer, RN]

I don't want to drag DCFS in if my concerns are unfounded. I guess just leave it up to the physicians office to note any changes in the baby's health?

I'm not sure if you, as a student, are mandated to report. However, I DO want to take issue with the phrase, " . . . if my concerns are unfounded."

If you have serious concerns, by all means, report them. It is the DCFS's job--not yours--to decide if the concerns have merit. All you can do is raise questions. It is the DCFS that has the responsibility and the tools to come up with the answers.

As far as the DCFS is concerned, taking action doesn't necessarily mean removing the kids from the home. Simply being investigated may be enough to put some parents on notice that they are being watched. Others may be required to attend classes, get treatment for whatever addiction they're dealing with (or not dealing with, as the case may be), and have on-going supervision.

But none of these evaluations or interventions can begin unless someone is willing to shine a spotlight on this family. The younger and more vulnerable the child is, the greater the urgency.