CPS / CAS / CFS Apprehension and Involvement
“The next day, 2 Midwives from the practice came and recommended we take the baby to the hospital for an examination. We asked why? They could not give a reason. Later that evening, 2 CAS workers and 2 police officers came to the house and apprehended the baby. We tried to explain that the midwives were mad because we had not called them for the birth.”
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Submitted by Jen
Jen's Story - Brampton Civic Hospital, Brampton, Ontario
“They placed the epidural and that's all I remember. I don't remember my baby's first cry. I don't remember her being born floppy and unresponsive. I woke up in recovery screaming for my baby. I was ignored. I was shushed. I was told I could see her in a few minutes which then became 6 hours. It was closer to 9 hours before I convinced them I was going to the NICU whether they were going to help me or not.
That was when I was told I wasn't allowed to breastfeed her because the doctor said no. I didn't get to give her her first meal. I didn't get to give her her first bath. I spent my first 24 hours postpartum fighting hospital policy, which led to them calling CAS on me. Then I fought them too.”
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Submitted by Chelsey
Chelsey's Story - Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa
“I was in a lot of pain in my ribs and the NICU was quite a walk for me. When I walked straight, my ribs would hurt so bad I couldn’t breathe. I’d asked a nurse if she could help me get to the NICU by wheeling me in a chair. She said “I’ve got better things to be doing than helping you get to the NICU. Get there yourself”. I had to walk there, back and forth to feed him and then go back to pump. I did this constantly barely able to breathe.”
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Read MoreA's Story - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
"My first child, I was 18 years old. I told the doctors I felt I needed to push. My body just took over. A nurse held her hand over my mouth and pinched my nose so I would stop. I was also told by a nurse that if I cried while in the maternity ward, they would label me as unfit and would risk intervention by CAS as I was young."
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Read MoreLysa's Story - Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa
"they informed CAS that I was positive for crack/cocaine when in reality, I was not. I was crying telling them this was was a mistake. CAS informed me hospitals don't make these kinds of mistakes and they took my child away for 3 days."
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Read MoreHanna's Story - Dr. Saraf, Sarnia
"I wasn't a fat girl, but not skinny either. I was curvy and in better shape than most women that weighed less. During every appointment she would tell me I was fat, that I need to lose weight. At one appointment she even told me 'Nobody will want to be with a fat girl that has a child'. I was, and am still, with the father of my child."
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Submitted by Anna