Dropbox babies

[SerendipityJane]

Today I learned ...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63387906

The ending of the constitutional right to abortion played a significant role in the outcome of the US midterm elections. One argument used as the Supreme Court considered overturning Roe v Wade in the summer was that an alternative to termination could be found in safe haven laws.

These exist in every state, allowing troubled mothers to anonymously abandon babies at designated sites shortly after giving birth, without prosecution.

...

Of course in an age of DNA databases, "anonymity" is very much an illusion. I can just see mothers (or their familial matches) being pursued under a future regime.

And of course safe havens are not an alternative for abortion. Nobody should be forced to have a baby and then put them in a drop box. Only a supporter of the dystopian Supreme Court could think that way.

And of course safe havens are not an alternative for abortion.

Exactly. It's inhumane to force someone to continue an unwanted pregnancy 'just because' they can give the baby up afterwards.

And that article didn't cover in depth the myriad outcomes. One happily adopted child - what about others who may have happy adoptions bit still issues with the manner of their adoption? One mother who reclaimed her child - how upsetting for the adoptive parents, and what if she hadn't been able to?

God how tragically sad, being forced to carry an unwanted baby to term then the horror of labour, knowing you can’t support the child so leaving it in a box and hoping the state can provide it with parents. And then having to go straight back to work to pay the hospital bill. How the fuck is that a solution? And what are you supposed to say to people who knew you were pregnant? Oh I had a stillbirth with no funeral? In this day and age?

God this is awful. I just can't imagine how scary it is to have an unwanted pregnancy in some parts of the US right now, especially if you're poor.

I also read this week that some states are banning the use of drugs that may "induce miscarriage" in women of child-bearing age, even when they're being used for totally unrelated conditions (such as migraine, epilepsy, high blood pressure). The fear is that they will either use them themselves to induce an abortion or sell them on the black market. Utterly mad.

Safe haven babies are generally adopted faster so there's comfort in that I guess- there's a lady on tiktok who was one of the main drivers behind the safe haven baby boxes- her videos are very insightful

there’s absolutely no comfort in that for the mother who’s been forced to carry and birth an unwanted pregnancy

I found it quite disturbing how easy it seems to 'get' a baby as an adoptive parent in the US. Whilst it is good that there are safe places like hospitals to leave unwanted babies rather than dumping them somewhere in fear of prosecution for abandonment, It seems like some groups just want to encourage unwanted pregnancies to continue in order to provide more babies for the market...
Often without medical / financial / psychological support for tge birth mother

No there is no comfort in that.

I also read this week that some states are banning the use of drugs that may "induce miscarriage" in women of child-bearing age, even when they're being used for totally unrelated conditions (such as migraine, epilepsy, high blood pressure)

If insulin got you high, they'd ban it.