A Secret Safe Place for Newborns
 

I was just reading an article in the latest issue of Redbook magazine (when I anticipate a slow day, I bring a magazine to read). It is about a journalist in Mobile, AL who helped devised a program called "A Secret Safe Place for Newborns". All area hospitals provide a "drop site" for unwanted babies and there is no criminal prosecution. Since this program was set up in November 1998, Mobile has saved five babies and no infant- abandonment deaths.

I know there is a state legislator here in South Carolina who wants to create a bill allowing mothers to legally leave their unwanted babies at hospitals up to a certain age. Critics of the bill say this would lead to an increase in child abandonment cases. However, those in favor of such a bill say it would reduce the number of abandonment deaths.

I stated earlier that my sister and brother-in-law suffered five miscarriages before finally adopting a new born baby boy 18 months ago. Every time my sister heard of a baby being found dead somewhere, it made her so angry. I saw the heartache they felt because they wanted a child so much, and someone could just leave their baby in a dumpster to die.

Does anyone else think this is a good idea and it is a trend that should continue in other cities as well?


[This message has been edited by AKAtude (edited June 15, 2000).]

YO-SKEE to you MS. AKATUDE! We have a program like this that was just implemented in the state of Florida. I think it's a good idea. As a father myself, I see this as good solution. The fact of the matter is thousands of babies are abandoned each year. Many of these babies belong to teenage mothers. This is a good way for them to give their babies up in a safe and secure way. But I have a question. Wasn't that what adoption was for?

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KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.
SPR 97
XI LAMBDA

Nupe4life, thanks for responding. It's nice to have a male perspective. You are right; that is what adoption is for. A lot of times teenagers abandon their babies and no one was even aware that they were pregnant to begin with. I suppose they get scared and panic.

Then again, sometimes its college students who do the same thing. Does anyone remember the college couple from New Jersey who abandoned their baby in the dumpster that made headlines? She was from an affluent family and was afraid to let anyone know she pregnant. I know the boyfriend was recently released from prison and she will be released soon, too.

I think it is a good idea. I saw a program about that on some news show...Dateline, 20/20...I too live in Florida and every other month it seemed like a baby was getting abandoned in a trash bin or being found dead. I think a safe place to leave a child sure beats reading about that child being found in a dumpster! Some other programs need to be developed to encourage abstinence or birth control and perhaps things could change.

I think that the program is a wonderful idea.
I wish more cities would adopt it. There are so many people out there that could provide loving homes for those children. After all, they did not ask to be brought here, so they definitely don't deserve to be abandoned.

i think its a great idea. the babies are soo precious so this way biological mothers will have other options then just leaving them in trash bins.

I agree. I think it is a wonderful idea. The state of California is working on implementing the issue now for ballot in November. I agree that the mothers that care enough about their baby to give them a chance should not be punished. Those that allow their children to perish in trash cans etc., I have no sympathy for..

You know what, think about it like this...If someone carries a child for 9 months and is so ashamed and so nonchalant about a LIVING MIRACLE that they have made...if they don't care enough about that child to go through the proper channels to put the child up for adoption, What kind of life will that child have with that mother anyway???

At least this way, the babies who are abandoned are safe, and they can get medical attention if need be.

As for encouraging abandonments, it's like I said earlier if they do it, then they didn't want the child from the begining. Now I know that there are some extenuating circumstances: financial lack, other children to take care of; but if the mother really loved the child they would make sure that whatever they did, the child would end up in a safe environment...so this excludes those moms who would potentially dump their newborns...

Just my 2 cents...

Like AKAtude said, there are so many infertile couples out there who would consider these children a gift from God!

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'Cause I'm a woman,
Phenomenally
Phenomenal Woman
That's me

Maya Angelou

Interesting topic! I agree, making this option (a safe place)easier is a good one.. isn't that more what used to happen years ago (people would leave them at churches, etc.)? It seems like every time a baby is found abandoned (very sad anyway) you hear how they are trying to track down the mother... sometimes they prosecute (I think), and I wondered if that wasn't why some birthparents who couldn't handle the baby left it somewhere it might never be found, rather than being tracked down...

I think that it is a good, although sad, solution. It's awful that we even live in a society where in a sense we have to say, "ok, rather than murder your infant, just drop her off here."

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>>>"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised... Proverbs 31:29-30