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Don't Take my Baby

(8 Posts)
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Greenfinch Thu 23-Jul-15 15:58:49

I wonder if anyone else saw this excellent drama on BBC3 on Monday.
It was based on a true story about the birth of a baby girl to disabled parents and their struggle to keep her.The mother had a muscle-wasting disease and the father was going blind and there was a chance that the child had inherited both these conditions.

The acting was brilliant and the part of the mother was taken by Ruth Madeley who herself has spina bifida. The tension built up as the parents found it extremely difficult to cope and the odds were stacked against them as apparently many babies born to disabled parents are removed from their care. The play presented the difficulties for the social workers who had to decide the fate of the child and it was not clear until the end which way it would go or whether the child had inherited the diseases. The sadness was overwhelming at times especially as the young couple did not seem to get much support from their extended family.
I would thoroughly recommend this thought-provoking drama and the sensitivity of the social workers was admirable.

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Coolgran65 Thu 23-Jul-15 16:03:49

It was a superb drama. Very thought provoking. And I agree that the extended family were very thin on the ground. I can't imagine this lack of family support happening within our own family circle. Though we have not been tested !!

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Tegan Thu 23-Jul-15 16:12:23

I'm a bit of a coward when it comes to watching something that I think will upset me too much, but I'll check it out Greenfinch.

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Luckygirl Thu 23-Jul-15 18:22:13

I think this must be based on historical cases - things have changed now. I know a couple who are both totally blind and have brought up 3 children. There was never any question that the children might be removed.

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Tegan Thu 23-Jul-15 18:48:22

It said in the review that '3,000 children in the UK are removed from disabled parents each year' and it was inspired by real stories. Just about to watch it.

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Greenfinch Thu 23-Jul-15 19:38:20

The added problem in this case was that the mother had a life expectancy of only 2 years.

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Deedaa Thu 23-Jul-15 22:26:28

Many years ago their was a TV programme based on a book by a woman who had a Downes baby and eventually had to abandon him because she could get no support. All she wanted was a few hours help a week with him but, once she had taken hm home, she was left alone to cope. When she couldn't cope she had to give him up because there was no alternative on offer. I wonder if things are much different now?

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Elrel Sat 29-Aug-15 11:42:54

I found the the drama very moving especially as both sides' points of view were clearly shown.

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