[nutellaholic]

I found out last night that my little sister, for the entirety of her pregnancy (now 17 weeks) and even before, has been living off bread and canned food. She said she'd be lucky to have two small meals a day, mostly of toast for one meal and soup another.
But, not only is my sis pregnant she has a 1 year old. From what I pieced together her and her XDP were making sure their DS was eating properly but not themselves. (Sis has been borrowing money just to try and pay her bills)
She went to the doctors for one of her antenatal checkups a while back and found the courage to mention her situation to the doctor and asked him what she could do about it.
The doctor told her that she should go out and buy vitamins and start taking as many of those as she could.

Is it just me or is that really bad form on the docs part?
I would think that upon hearing of her situation the doc might give her referrals or even direct her to charity organizations.

I feel rather gutted that I've only just learned of this now. Dh and I don't make much but we would have been more than happy to help her out- or (because I know she'd refuse monetary aide) steer her in the direction of people who could help her.
All I can think is that I am so glad she is out of that horrible situation and here, safe, with me.

[morgansacre]

I agree the Doctor might have done better to get her immediate help, but seeing as her situation was not only endangering her health but that of her baby, I guess he thought he was doing the right thing.

I'm glad your sister isn't in that situation anymore

Lynn

[Carmen02]

glad ur sister has the help but sometimes doctors do need to be blunt... i know someone who starved themselves when she was pregnant (didnt want to get fat was her words) and refused to see it as a problem and doctors pussy footed around her which drove me mad

This post has been edited by Carmen02: 19/12/2011, 12:51 PM

[Guest_Spring Chickadee_*]

The doctor told her that she should go out and buy vitamins and start taking as many of those as she could.

if she can't afford to feed herself enough food how will she afford vitamins

Is the issue that she can't budget well enough or literally doesn't have any money?

If I were in your shoes I would be sending your sister prenatal vitamins, a coles/woolies voucher for whatever you can afford and a list of charities in her area that may be able to help.

ETA.... I missed this

All I can think is that I am so glad she is out of that horrible situation and here, safe, with me.

Thank goodness she is with you now.

This post has been edited by Spring Chickadee: 19/12/2011, 12:59 PM

[nutellaholic]

if she can't afford to feed herself enough food how will she afford vitamins

Is the issue that she can't budget well enough or literally doesn't have any money?

Re the vitamins, I thought that was really weird too.

I think budgeting played a role in the beginning and they didn't realize how bad their situation had gotten and when they did it was hard to set things a-right.

There's a lot of other factors involved though. Her xdp was very abusive towards her, had/has major control issues and segregated her from friends and family.

[noisyhouse]

Maybe the Dr misunderstood and thought that she wasn't eating much because of morning sickness of something. It is clearly illogical to take vitamins instead of eat a proper diet.

[*mylittleprince*]

It's great you are able to help you but is there a long term solution. If they are battling financially with 1 child, another one is just going to add extra costs. Does she work?

[Pooks*potters]

I'm glad that your sister is in a better situation now. I hope she gets connected to some support services. What an amazing Mum, making sure her child gets well fed before herself. It's very disappointing that the doctor didn't ask a few more questions and take the opportunity to steer her towards some support- what a missed opportunity. Sadly, many doctors have very few skills in that kind of thing although even a social work referral would have been a start, as someone like that would be better placed to connect her to available options. But, it's done now, and I hope things just keep looking up and up for her and her child and bundle on the way

[rosiebird]

Maybe the Dr misunderstood and thought that she wasn't eating much because of morning sickness of something. It is clearly illogical to take vitamins instead of eat a proper diet.

I think the vitamins were prescribed emergently to prevent serious complications - deficiencies in B vitamins and folate in particular pose an immediate risk to both mother and baby. Obviously she needs more help than just this but I wouldn't dismiss the importance of vitamins in this scenario.