Didn't get in to the Perinatal Emotinal Help Program

[Jods14]

My GP told me this afternoon that I didn't get into the program and showed me the letter they wrote to him, saying that they spoke with the teams and they think I have enough support networks in place and that I didn't need their help. Which confused both of us. Considering my mental health case manager who is linked with the hospital's mental health unit actually was the one who suggested the referral in the first place because she thought the perinatal mental health unit would have more knowledge and expertise in that field than she could offer and she thought that after the birth I'd need their support too.
Also very confusing considering the bookings officer stuck a Perinatal Emotional Help Program sticker on the top of my appointment card when I went there last week.
I know both my GP and mental health case manager will support me all the way through and beyond, but I guess it's just a incredibly disappointing when your team mates go into bat for you and you get knocked back by people who know nothing about you.
Up until today I thought I had organized and put everything in place to reduce my stress and anxiety levels and just had to wait for it all to happen. I guess I was wrong.
Now I don't even want to go to my next appointment with the midwife on the 8th of Feb because I don't feel like they are looking after the whole of me. Just the Bubs part and physical part of me, not the rest.
Now I've gone back to shutting people out and just wanting it to be my GP, mental health case manager and my psychologist and me that's it. I know it cant be like that, because none of them can deliver my baby, but now that I've been rattled it's going to be difficult to get back on the right track and accept and allow the new people back into the picture.

I hope that makes sense I'm really tired, but just needed to get it off my chest before I head off to sit in the bottom of the shower for a good cry and then bed!

Thanks for reading.
Jods xxxxx

[frenchieM]

I'm so sorry Jods, that really sucks. Is there any chance you can request a review of the decision? Hugs xx

[Kahlia]

oh no! it sounds like you really looking forward to it, or at least feeling more confident in the extra support. I agree you should try again. Hope you are ok xx

[Miss_C]

honey believe me when I say the midwife WILL be looking after you - it will be ALL about you cos if you aint right bubs wont be either, checking on baby always seemed to be the last thing on the list. Most midwives are amazing and you can build a fantastic relationship with one. Maybe even if you can afford it a doula which is there for you 100%.

Just know also that we are all here for you and the July mummas especially.

[Miralen]

Oh Jods hun I'm so sorry to read this news I would suspect it is a case of funding dollars behind the reason you weren't admitted to the program. I agree with the others that you (well your GP and mental heath case manager) should be asking for a reivew and be to reconsidered for admission. Have you spoken with your mental health case manager about the decision yet? She may just have to make some more noise for you and keep at them, the squeaky wheel gets the oil so to speak.

I also agree with Miss_C that it's not all about baby with the Middies, I know it will be hard for you to open up to the Middie given the how rattled you feel with the decision the perinatal health help program. Hang in there hun, you have a good DIG and support here too.

Sorry wanted to write more but DS is saying no to that.

[Jods14]

I called my mental health case manager this morning because I woke up crying and really wasn't coping too well. Didn't help that my pay didn't go in the bank this morning either and woke up early to check to see if it had!
She got back to me this afternoon and we spoke. I was out, so I didn't have the letter with me to read to her, but told her the crux of what I could remember and said she'd probably get it in the post tomorrow. She said it would be OK and that we would manage, like we have done over the last 12 months. And it is probably better that way anyway. I think it would be too much to totally start again with someone else. It will be good to have some familiarity to fall back onto when I need it. And she can talk to the people in the perinatal team if she needs to anyway.
I told her I kind of got a bit funny, and don't want to go to my appointment with my midwife, and she asked me when it was. We didn't talk about it much, but I could almost hear her thinking it over. We've still go another three weeks to work on it.
Thank you for setting me straight about the midwife thing and it's not really something I'm going to have much of a choice with in the end anyway, someone is going to help deliver my baby, hey? And it might as well someone I've gotten to know and trust, than a complete stranger. Still feel funny about it though.
I'd love to have someone like a doula, but I don't think we could afford it. Was in Centrelink today trying to get my head around paid parental leave and found out that it isn't paid until Bubs is born and we have the proof from the hospital. So depending on when I have to take leave from work we may have about 4-6 weeks where there is just my pension coming in, but I'm trying not to think about that too much and hopefully I'll be able to use my annual leave up during that time. I'm hoping that the social worker from the hospital will contact me, if they haven't decided that I shouldn't need them either. But that was the midwife's recommendation, so I guess I will have to wait and see with that one. I'm really going to need someone to help me get my head around that side of things.
Thanks for all your support. Sometimes it's easier to sit and type, erase things and think about what you need to say.

Hugs.
Jods x