How Do Social Workers Support Mothers Whose Babies Are Being Removed at Birth?

This literature review examines the support social workers provide to mothers whose babies are removed at birth. With a focus on those mothers who have experienced the care system themselves, this research aims to identify existing support structures and evaluate their effectiveness. The review highlights the significant increase in newborn removals and explores the sociological concept of zemiology to understand the broader social harms involved. It examines the prenatal, antenatal, postnatal, and post-court proceedings stages to identify gaps in support and suggest improvements. The findings indicate a need for more consistent and ethical support systems, addressing the trauma and adverse childhood experiences that many of these mothers have faced. The review concludes with recommendations for a trauma-informed approach and the necessity of mandatory support for these vulnerable mothers to break the cycle of repeated removals.