My father went out drinking leaving my mum looking after my new born sister with what was thought to be a heat rash. My sister died that night in my mums arms. For a number of years afterwards I was often smacked for innocent things (just because I was there). My partner gave birth to a child. Six weeks after the event I was physically attacked, accused of being out drinking during the delivery (at the time I was teetotal), of sweethearting the midwife and was insistantly told the child wasn't ours, because I hadn't actually been at the delivery. Non of this was true as I sat and held her hand all throughout. The abuse both verbal and sometimes physical continued for a year. I was often wakened in the middle of the night to be asked the same questions over and over again. I always answered the these questions with compassion and understanding in the hope of a recovery. My partner was so convincing that she even had her mum writing letters to the consultant. Yes we are the best of friends and no the subject has never been brought up in 20 years. I shouldn't have joined this discussion.