I am so angry at the mental health system

[Robert Scott]

I would be so frustrated by now that I would go stay with a friend in another country and give birth there ... stay abit and maybe start a new life.  It's crazy what you are going through.

[Victor]

Wait, what? So he runs, abandoning you and the child and now he turns around and wants to fight you for custody after saying he didn't want anything to do with the child? After you've been through hell and back trying to keep your child, the child that you alone have been carrying without his support? And those idiotic social workers think this is alright just because you are trans? Pardon my language but what they're pulling here is complete and undeniably bull->-bleeped-<-!

........I just looked up UK anti-discrimination laws, I saw a comment about transsexuals being covered in those laws but sadly I cannot find many details about it and to what extent trans people are protected by those laws, sorry, I tried to see if I can find something to help you but I don't really know what to look for to get the specifics. However, if you have your sisters willing to take in the child, are they also willing to help you raise the child if they stay with you? Having family there who's willing and capable, as well as able to clear their 'requirements' for keeping the child there to help you can hold a good bit of sway in some cases, though that depends on the judge you get. But if they're trying to pull you being an alcoholic, they're just looking for any reason to take the child from you, possible they may even be making things up too, underhanded sons of. . .

[Jeatyn]

The father is apparently now ready to step up to the plate and be responsible and all that jazz.

I don't think he's thought this through, he lives in a dorm for starters. Pretty sure they won't allow a baby to move in with him.

[Nathan.]

It's so unfair that your options can be used againt you.  Even though it could go the other way the surveillance unit could also be a place where you can prove you're a good parent.

[Jeatyn]

I honestly don't trust them to do the assessments properly if I go in to this unit

sure in theory, it should prove that there's nothing wrong with me and that the social are idiots

but they have been completely ignoring all my evidence so far, what if they keep doing it?

[SnailPace]

But can they really argue that you are mentally unstable if they are with you 24/7?

I mean, how could they get that wrong?  Also, wouldn't it be different social workers there? Ones without a crazy prejudice against you?

But still, whatever you decide is best.

[Arch]

But can they really argue that you are mentally unstable if they are with you 24/7?

I mean, how could they get that wrong?  Also, wouldn't it be different social workers there? Ones without a crazy prejudice against you?

It's amazing how much a preconception can skew an evaluator. If Jeatyn's new observers are already under the impression that he is unstable, then they will tend to read him that way. He will probably have to work extra hard to dig himself out of it.

I once knew someone who (probably because I was so butch) was completely convinced that I was a lesbian. By the time I met her, I was not even pretending to be bisexual anymore, yet she saw everything I said and did as undeniably lesbian. Even my partner's name and the pronouns I used--just add an "a" to the end, and you have a girl's name, so my partner was obviously a girl...and of course I used male pronouns when I referred to my partner because I didn't want people to think I was a lesbian...and I always used the word "partner" to refer to my partner...DYKE!!!!

I've had people argue with me over whether I'm a vegetarian (I've never been one, but a coworker was shocked to see me eating meat one day at lunch, and I couldn't seem to convince him that I've always eaten meat and never even went through a vegetarian "phase"), whether I was brought up Catholic (my boy name has a Catholic flavor, so of course I must have been raised Catholic, regardless of what I kept telling the guy), and whether I was ever in the Navy (no, just a brat, but I couldn't persuade a classmate that I had never served).

Once people get an idea into their heads, it's hard to dislodge it.

[Jeatyn]

aye this is exactly what worries me. Say for example I end up feeling a little bit down and wanting a bit of a cry, am I immediately going to be labelled as having post natal depression? Normal things that anyone would do on a day to day basis could easily be twisted and looked upon as bad just because of the pre-conceived personality that's been thrust upon me. I'll be away from everyone and everything I know, I'm GOING to feel awkward and like a fish out of water. Will this come across as "proof" of my apparent severe social anxiety disorder?

[Janet_Girl]

If you have to do what they demand, maybe you can at least have internet access to be in contact with your family here.

This is so wrong.  I am so irritated at the baby snatchers and that is what they are called in the States.

[tekla]

But can they really argue that you are mentally unstable if they are with you 24/7?

I think that having to do that, in Jeatyn's condition and situation would make the most mentally stable person in the world unstable in no short order.  It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[Jeatyn]

Finally able to pop in and update!

She's arrived two days ago in fact. She's perfect and adorable.

I'm being held in the hospital and I'm in court tomorrow morning.

I'd write more and post some pictures under normal circumstances but yeah...I'll try and get on at some point to let you all know what happened in court.

[xAndrewx]

Congrats on being a dad to a healthy little girl man! I bet it's a great feeling Good luck in court tomorrow. I hope it all works out for you and your daughter  

[Lee]

Congratulations!  I'm glad to hear that it went well.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you in court.  Let us know how it goes.

[lilacwoman]

Congratulations on the baby.
get your lawyer to get a court order giving you custody for at least another week until the country is working again.
Only a cretin of a social worker woudl give custody to the baby's ex.  but we know there are a lot of such social workers.

[Janet_Girl]

Well welcome to our youngest member.  And of course there are a tone of aunts and uncles wanting pictures.  I pray she can stay with her 'daddy'.

[V M]

Congrats on the baby... Hoping for a good outcome in court for you

[Arch]

I'm happy for you, Jeatyn. It must be an incredible relief to have finally given birth. I hope you are recovering well.

Good luck in court. Don't let those bastards mess with your head.

[cynthialee]

Congrats!
Best of luck in your upcomeing battle!

[Victor]

Congrats on a healthy delivery, it's good to here the lil one's in good health and I truly do wish you the best in this upcoming court date, maybe them seeing you with your little girl will show how good of a parent you can truly be.

[Al James]

Congratulations and i really hope things start going your way with the courts