A YOUNG mum-to-be has vowed not to terminate her pregnancy and to fight to keep the child social services want to take from her.
Fran Lyon said the threat of losing her unborn child had caused her to contemplate an abortion at an early stage in her pregnancy, but she is now fully committed to fighting to keep the baby.
The 22-year-old faces having her baby taken from her at birth as social services say she is likely to suffer from Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy, a condition in which a mother will make up an illness in her child or harm it in order to get attention.
Next week is the hearing of an appeal by Miss Lyon, of St Hilda’s Road, Hexham, against the recommendation that her child, whom she will name Molly, be taken into care at birth.
She said: “It is a pretty upsetting time, but you just have to get on and cope. You get all the normal pregnancy feelings and you want to be doing all the normal things, like shopping for Molly and decorating a nursery, but you don’t know whether you should.
“Every little decision becomes impossible and sometimes it just gets to you. There are days when I just feel really sad. You know that you are not going to get these days back and that gets to you.”
Miss Lyon suffered a traumatic childhood in which she began self-harming and was admitted to psychiatric care.
She suffered a personality disorder, for which she was successfully treated, but social services officials still say she is likely to suffer from Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy.
Wednesday’s appeal is internal, held in front of the safeguarding children board.
Miss Lyon, who will be represented by a solicitor, said: “It is an appeal for me to say to the county council that I don’t agree with their decision.
“I am hoping that it can be done reasonably and amicably and out of court. But the plan if it doesn’t work out from my point of view is to go to a judicial review. I believe that the decision as it stands is wrong and unlawful.”
She says the anxiety caused by the threat of losing Molly has increased as her bond with her unborn child has intensified. She said: “She has started kicking and she likes it when I sing to her. Her favourite book is The Hungry Caterpillar, at least I think it is because she kicks a lot when I read her that.
“There is a very strong bond and you feel incredibly protective. It sounds ridiculous, but I was reading the report that said they wanted to take her away again and instinctively I wrapped my arms around my stomach to protect her.”
