You just can't imagine how upset I have become reading many of the above posts regarding the Safe Place for Newborns legislation. Do you want to know who prompted the Safe Place for Newborns Law in Alabama? It was a reporter, Jodi Brooks, who was sickened by the number of reports she was having to cover regarding babies left to die or even murdered by their mothers.
The case that really hit her hard concerned a prominent family in Mobile in which the mother and the grandmother DROWNED a newborn baby boy in the TOILET in order to escape the neighbors gossip regarding the illegitimate birth. This family had means, education, and the resources to care for this child--but decided it would be better to commit murder rather than face the gossipmongers.
It was then that Ms. Brooks approached the DA in Mobile County regarding a way in which mothers in crisis could have a SAFE alternative choice for their child. For those of you who oppose this law--take the time to look at the provisions of the law.
- Newborns must be brought unharmed to an Emergency Room or other designated Safe Place Location (the time frame varies state by state--72 hours to 30 days from birth).
- The birth mother or father is offered medical attention--in fact there is no restriction saying the birth cannot occur within the hospital with medical personnel present.
- The birth mother and/or father is provided with information regarding the law and her/his rights. She is also encouraged to complete a medical history form to be returned at a later time.
- The birthmother is given 30 days in which to change her mind. If she (or another family member) decides that she wants the baby, she gets it back.
- At the end of the 30 days, advertisements must be made in a legal publication in case there are any birthfathers or relatives who would like to assert their rights to the child. The advertisements run for a specified time (again, it varies by state) in case the birth father is actively looking for the infant.
- Then and only then are the birthparents' legal rights terminated and the child is legally free for adoption.
- In the meantime, the child is SAFE. The child goes into the custody of DHR. The hospital provides medical attention, and DHR palces the child in an approved, licensed foster/adoptive placement.
Is this law a bandaid? You bet--if this was a perfect world--our teenagers wouldn't be having sex and having babies at fourteen. Women who face an unplanned pregnancy would have the support of the fathers. In fact, babies would only be born into two parent families in which they would be loved and cared for. But WAKE UP! This is not a perfect world. Babies are born into neglect and abuse. Couples wanting to conceive are unable to have a biological child.
The goal of Safe Place Laws is not to "promote legalized abandonment" but to reduce the travesty of babies being dumped in toilets or dumpsters and left to die. Safe Place laws have not reduced the number of infants placed for adoption through adoption agencies but they have reduced the number of newborn deaths. In fact if there is any downside to this law is the fact that so little has been done to publicize the law. Until it is adequately publicized, too many mothers will chose an unsafe alternative.
The birthparents that have chosen this option cannot be categorized--white and black, teenage girls to women in their 30's. In fact, there have been several occassions where the birthfather was the one to relinquish the child to the hospital. And until we know what the birthmother has had to endure--how can we judge? If she had the family or birthfather support she probably would have made a different decision.
As for denying the birthfathers or birth family's rights to the child--I say where were they the nine months the girl was pregnant? If they were being supportive and nurturing, the birth mother probably wouldn't even consider abandonment in the first place.
Why am I so emotional regarding this law? I am the adoptive mother of one of these newborns. My daughter is four years old and is ALIVE thanks to this law. She was not "dumped out with the trash"--but was placed somewhere her birthmother knew would be SAFE and cared for. She is a happy, healthy, energetic, intelligent, and confident little girl who is adored by her FAMILY! She has a mom and a dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who adore her.
If you are going to feel sorrow for a child--feel sorry for my nephew who spent the first FIVE months of his life in a Russian orphanage--where he was one of hundreds awaiting adoption. For the first five months of my daughters life she was being held, comforted, and loved every single minute. She has not known hunger, neglect, cold, or abuse. Feel sorry for the newborns whose mothers don't know about this law and decide to leave them in the toilet, the dumpster, or a shallow grave.
Would I like to know about her birthfamily--Of course--one day I hope to meet them and say THANK YOU! Thanks for giving her life. Thanks for keeping her safe! Thanks for allowing us the privilege of being her mommy and daddy.