Thanks very much to everyone who replied to me the other day, I really appreciated the support.
I’ve seen the perinatal psychiatrist again and the plan has changed. She spoke to the MBU and they asked her more about my history. She then read my notes more thoroughly and realised I’ve never been admitted before. Although that wasn’t for lack of trying to be admitted on my part - after my second child was born I was begging them to admit me a few months in, but they sent the Crisis/Intensive Home Treatment Team instead. So the MBU don’t think I need a planned admission with this baby. It will be there if needed if I become really unwell again, but the consultant leading the MBU and my perinatal psychiatrist think I would be better coming home after this baby is born, and being supported at home. I thought I would be disappointed by this change of plan, as I really wanted to have the planned admission a few weeks ago. However, now that the mania is subsiding again I think it feels right to try being at home with the baby when it is born. I just need to make sure I’ve got lots of support in place, and that it won’t be me having to organise all the supoort at the time, which is how it has felt in the past.
Thanks again for all the support and advice.