"Support for unplanned first pregnancy and continuity of health care"

This is a vicarious situation that my younger adult daughter currently finds herself in. I am so shocked by all that has happened to her and of course the difficulties in accessing affordable appropriate accurate and sensitive support so far. My daughter has invariably had some socio-emotional challenges since late primary school, symptomology regarded as Anxiety and depression, and some issues around acne and menstruation regulating, primarily medicated using antidepressant, and contraceptive pill.

She has been living independently and working in Perth for around 5 years, and primarily via GP continued with the antidepressants; additionally on some sleep medications and antibiotics for the acne. She has had overdue period before and GP seemed to think she has PCOS and not much has been explained around that. I coattended a consultation in July when she was again late and the GP sternly advising her that her hormones are too low for it to be a pregnancy and possibility down the track fertility issues; and again in September for a script renewal for antibiotics and antidepressants.

A couple of months later, she and a friend did a home pregnancy test again and it was positive a subsequent appt with the GP which again I coattended simply confirmed that she was pregnant, no checking in with her around how this change of news impacted after the previous consultation. I try not to intervene mostly but was stunned and not understanding how. She was told to get off her antidepressants and sleep medication right away; referred to get a scan to determine how pregnant she was not realising that we were both in for a huge shock, both financially and emotionally. Already at the 12 week mark and a pretty developed foetus staring back at us, and with a limited window of time, this visibility was very affronting. Trying to get our head around this and housing insecurity, coming cold turkey off her medications for her mental health, as well as distress of dealing with an aggressive intimidation and harassment "father" of the baby over a few weeks to the point he is now cut off. Given then the window to decide what to do was also met with decisions to give up a relationship, give up working as she has no housing she had to relocate back home.

Visiting a new GP down here to get a referral for a 20 week scan, she was scolded for not having an obstetrician or having regular blood tests, all of which is complete news to us. She was advised to secure an obstetrician by the end of the day, when there is a wait to see obstetricians in this town. Going on suggesting to her she is a high risk patient, yet there would be a wait on her 20 week scan in our town of 3 weeks. My daughter then suggested driving back up to Perth to at least get the scan sorted; to be told she should not even be driving at all. Honestly, as all of this is news to us and so frightening she got home and was spotting from the stress.

Trying to navigate what supports she needs has been a nightmare. I now read up on PCOS and find unplanned pregnancies is seemingly a thing due to false negatives. I feel so let down and want better for her for the second half of her pregnancy. I am so shocked this is her experience as she struggles to come to terms with it all a first time mum. It is sad when she has strived to be independent, and broken by the experience so far continuity of support and care for her, is far from person centred. I have a feeling of such shame that this is what is happening here. How times have changed is no excuse for some of the lack of information, and how she has been treated I feel is a disgrace.