Hour old newborn abandoned

[SerendipityJane]

Hour old newborn abandoned in this weather. I have no words, only tears.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68025769

It is almost certain that she thought she was doing the best thing for her baby. We have no idea why.

Totally agree that support and help are what is needed. The most likely is that it is the mother who has abandoned her newborn by the sounds of it, where it would be found, but it is just as possible the mother is a trafficked women or any other subjugated woman with no choice in the matter. Thoughts and concern for both of them.

This isn’t a million miles away from where we live. I’m so shocked.

And it’s the third baby in the same London borough in as many years?!

I’m hoping the baby was placed in an obvious place, being found past 9pm, it must have been incredibly cold. I hope the mum is ok, she had to have been petrified.

I wanted to say brava to the woman who found the baby and kept it warm while activating the support systems. It sounds like she did a great job. The net wasn’t there for Bronson Battersby but it was here and I thank her.

We don't know who left the baby there. It may not even have been the mother, so let's not blame her.

Glad baby is safe and hope the mother is alright. Not really the point but it's a bit mean to call the little baby Elsa isn't it? I guess she'll get a new name when adopted but to write the fact that she was abandoned and almost froze to death into her name, which right now is the only thing that little girl has, feels a bit off. (Maybe I'm being harsh and the association was unconscious or accidental!)

Awful comment.

I'm relieved the baby was found within the hour it was so very cold last night much longer and the baby could have froze to death.

Why are you minimising the plight of the baby? That's a pretty traumatic entrance to the world. They may be adopted but this will take time, potentially setting them up for a lifetime of attachment issues.

The woman needs help too of course, but don't play down what this child has gone through and will still have to endure.

Don't be ridiculous. You know nothing about that Mothers circumstances.

Jesus fucking Christ.

The sheer lack of compassion for this woman or girl who just had a baby is astonishing.

Nobody in a good situation abandons a baby ffs. There is a litany of trauma and tragedy, not criminal activity.

Well thank god she was found .

I covered the case of an abandoned baby aged about six weeks in shopping centre toilets in my job as a local newspaper reporter. The mother was traced some months later.
When I joined the police press office a year or two later I asked what had happened and my manager said the baby was the product of an affair and the mum's partner/husband made her abandon her. The baby appeared to be used to children and that turned out to be spot on - there were older half siblings.
I'm not sure if DM ever got her back or how she was traced. Maybe she dumped the bloke and came forward.
I think if I ever was in a situation where I had to abandon a baby, I would stay hidden in the area long enough to ensure it was found.

And if the mother is a child herself? A victim, like my own mother was, of sexual abuse? My mum was abused not just by her 'father' but by his mates too from the age of around 3 until she left home to marry my dad at the age of 19. If a child has been the one who has abandoned her baby in this way do you really think she should be charged with a crime?

They may very well Google how to abandon a baby before giving birth and would therefore learn about the boxs’ existence. And could take the baby to their nearest one straight after birth. Most people don’t go along pregnant and happy then randomly abandon their baby an hour after birth - usually they’re already planning to get rid of the baby to hide the pregnant and birth.

of course rare cases of psychosis might cause a woman to do this but unlikely so soon after birth if they’ve had the proper prenatal care.

trouble is money can be spent on making services available to enable a woman to feel safe having a baby but no one can control personal circumstances- very young teens panicking and giving birth alone, abusive parents/family, abusive partners, mental health, drug addiction, homelessness. Lots of people just can’t cope with the idea of police/social services being involved in their life for one reason or another

from the safe haven website they appear to have a hotline to help women as well as helping baby.

https://www.shbb.org/#:~:text=Safe%20Haven%20Baby%20Boxes%20has,Safe%20Haven%20Baby%20Box%20locations.

This.

It very easy to assume the mother left the by there - it may not be the case

I feel much sadder for the (no doubt traumatised) mother than the baby who is safe and will remember nothing.

I disagree.

I would say it’s very likely that she was acting out of sheer fear and desperation (rather than cruelty) but it’s an absolute miracle the baby was found alive after being abandoned in sub zero temperatures and at night. I don’t think anyone could be that much out of their right mind that they think that’s the best thing.

I used to live in the area many many years ago and about 2 mins from where the baby was found is a fire station and there is a open all hours church on the opposite side of the road for what ever that is worth on the subject.

I avoided clicking on this story when I saw it on the bbc as I couldn’t deal with another dead child story but I’m glad to see the baby in this story was alive and hopefully is doing ok in hospital.

These stories are so sad but this already has a better outcome than some abandoned baby stories.

Someone having a different opinion doesn't make them a cunt.

None of us know the circumstances. She is likely going to be vulnerable and desperate, but equally, there have been cases where the women werent and had different reasons for abandoning or killing a newborn.

Everyone should have an open mind to the situation and be pleased that the baby girl lived and is safe. Someone feeling angry for the baby being put in sweeps danger is a valid feeling. Honestly, there's no need to browbeat posters into feeling as you do.

I stand by what I said

It is tragedy all round. Please don't dismiss the effects on the baby.

Separation for an infant from her mother is a huge traumatic wound. Not remembering doesn't mean it goes away. I am extremely sad for the mother AND the baby.

There are no winners here, they have both been let down by wider family and society.