I'm not sure of all the ins and outs but wouldn't be surprised if she had promised the child away. She got pregnant young to somebody she barely knew or wasn't long with. More to the story as she has said herself but still, child with her for 9 years, appears well loved, well treated and cared for. I've no trust in the system myself. I have known social workers to brush on poor parental behaviour and say it's "different parenting styles" which including nipping a child <10 years old as a punishment.