poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
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Meet the drug-addict mum who never knew she was pregnant
SHE was a 20-year-old homeless drug addict who gave birth to a baby she never knew that she was having.
Hannah, not her real name, had no pregnancy symptoms. She didn’t put on weight because of her ice addiction and was oblivious to any bodily changes, except the day she got stomach cramps so severe her then partner Dave had to call an ambulance.
“But it was too late. Kaylee arrived before the ambulance and Dave had to deliver her,” Hannah said. “I was in shock. I remember the paramedics telling me I should hold Kaylee, but I just didn’t think she was real.
“I was so scared, I had never even changed a nappy, never mind everything else that comes with being a parent.
“I didn’t really put on weight and I never felt sick or run down. This might have been because of the drugs I was taking.”
With support from the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) and the Red Cross, Hannah has been off drugs for nine months, is studying at TAFE and hoping to leave government housing soon to start a new life with her young daughter.
Her story is one of 22 in a government report released by family and community services minister Gabrielle Upton in parliament this week. The Shining A Light On Good Practice report details how departmental case workers had positive impacts on people’s lives, such as Hannah’s.
“A social worker from the hospital came to see me. She recommended the Red Cross Young Parent’s Program and said someone from FACS would also visit me in hospital,” Hannah said.
“As soon as I heard this I was so worried — I’d been using drugs before Kaylee was born and during the pregnancy.
“I didn’t know much about FACS, but as soon as Charlotte walked into the room I knew she was there to help us. Charlotte was so nice and supportive — I felt a bit more comfortable about them being involved.
“I was selfish before I had Kaylee but now I had to be responsible for my little girl — she needed her mum.”
Caseworker Charlotte, who did not want to be identified, said when Kaylee was just more than a month old, Hannah again tested positive for drugs.
“She was very fidgety when we met and almost jumping off her seat,” she said. “I had faith in Hannah and I knew she could change. I want Kaylee to be proud of her mum, for all the hard work that she did to keep Kaylee.
“She is a beautiful baby and I’m proud of the great job that Hannah has done so far.”
cont -
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...115415291?nk=b7c5c954e730b249c2ca5e56a669170b
SHE was a 20-year-old homeless drug addict who gave birth to a baby she never knew that she was having.
Hannah, not her real name, had no pregnancy symptoms. She didn’t put on weight because of her ice addiction and was oblivious to any bodily changes, except the day she got stomach cramps so severe her then partner Dave had to call an ambulance.
“But it was too late. Kaylee arrived before the ambulance and Dave had to deliver her,” Hannah said. “I was in shock. I remember the paramedics telling me I should hold Kaylee, but I just didn’t think she was real.
“I was so scared, I had never even changed a nappy, never mind everything else that comes with being a parent.
“I didn’t really put on weight and I never felt sick or run down. This might have been because of the drugs I was taking.”
With support from the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) and the Red Cross, Hannah has been off drugs for nine months, is studying at TAFE and hoping to leave government housing soon to start a new life with her young daughter.
Her story is one of 22 in a government report released by family and community services minister Gabrielle Upton in parliament this week. The Shining A Light On Good Practice report details how departmental case workers had positive impacts on people’s lives, such as Hannah’s.
“A social worker from the hospital came to see me. She recommended the Red Cross Young Parent’s Program and said someone from FACS would also visit me in hospital,” Hannah said.
“As soon as I heard this I was so worried — I’d been using drugs before Kaylee was born and during the pregnancy.
“I didn’t know much about FACS, but as soon as Charlotte walked into the room I knew she was there to help us. Charlotte was so nice and supportive — I felt a bit more comfortable about them being involved.
“I was selfish before I had Kaylee but now I had to be responsible for my little girl — she needed her mum.”
Caseworker Charlotte, who did not want to be identified, said when Kaylee was just more than a month old, Hannah again tested positive for drugs.
“She was very fidgety when we met and almost jumping off her seat,” she said. “I had faith in Hannah and I knew she could change. I want Kaylee to be proud of her mum, for all the hard work that she did to keep Kaylee.
“She is a beautiful baby and I’m proud of the great job that Hannah has done so far.”
cont -
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...115415291?nk=b7c5c954e730b249c2ca5e56a669170b
