Baby Safe Haven Law Might Have Saved Mesa Newborn's Life

**Whisper** · August 10th, 2010, 12:31 PM

MESA, Ariz. -- A Mesa baby just might owe his life to Arizona's Safe Haven law.

A woman left the 2-day-old baby at the fire station at Power Road and Southern Avenue early Monday morning, and the Mesa Fire Department said she absolutely did the right thing. The fire station is a Newborn Safe Haven facility.

According to the state's Safe Haven law, a mother who does not want or feels she cannot care for her newborn baby can leave child at a Safe Haven location. As long as the baby is not hurt and younger than 3 days old, no questions will be asked and no charges filed.

Safe Haven locations include hospitals, staffed ambulances and fire stations, adoption agencies and some churches. Safe Haven facilities are clearly marked with signs.

The Safe Haven law, which was passed in 2001, is designed to prevent child abandonment by providing parents with a safe and legal option. The law states that a person who leaves an unharmed newborn with a Safe Haven provider within 72 hours of the baby's birth is not guilty of child abuse.

"I was pleased that the lady who dropped the baby off had the baby's best interests in mind," said one firefighter who was there when the baby was surrendered. "She wanted to give the baby a good home. It made me feel good that she did the right thing and saw the baby was brought to a proper location."

The baby was taken to Banner Desert Samaritan Hospital per procedure and reportedly is in good condition.

The child will be turned over to Child Protective Services and will be put up for adoption.

According to unofficial numbers from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's office, at least 23 babies were born alive, abandoned and left for dead between 2000 and the middle of 2006.
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http://www.azfamily.com/outbound-fee...100346234.html

**Valasca** · August 10th, 2010, 12:32 PM

YAY! GOOD news for a change.

**carolinablue** · August 10th, 2010, 12:57 PM

That's a wonderful law, as far as it goes. The time constraint is too short. A new, unprepared mom could try her best, and then find after a week or two that she just can't hack it. Whether financial, emotional or psychological reasons are in play are not important; give these moms a little more time. It will absolutely save lives.

**VXIII** · August 10th, 2010, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by carolinablue

That's a wonderful law, as far as it goes. The time constraint is too short. A new, unprepared mom could try her best, and then find after a week or two that she just can't hack it. Whether financial, emotional or psychological reasons are in play are not important; give these moms a little more time. It will absolutely save lives.

Yes they need more time than 3 days... probobly save tons of babies...

**Silvahalo** · August 10th, 2010, 05:00 PM

Awesome to read this! perfect example on utilizing the safe haven law successfully.

The only problem I have with some states like Arizona is the 3 day cut off. Personally I'd like to see all states cover 30 days, maybe even 3 months, the entire newborn stage. Just my thinking as some new mom's don't always abandon right after birth as we've seen.

I hope baby is placed in a loving home!

**cubby** · August 10th, 2010, 05:34 PM

I am saying the same as others...3 days is not enough...what if the mama had help at first and didn't realize how hard it was going to be or if the baby was born in a hospital and they were not released from hospital until after the 3 day period and she discovered afterwards when she had no help at all that she couldn't cope with baby. I really feel it ought to be at least a month, maybe more, but not really much more. At least long enough for the mama to be able to make a good, informed decision.

I remember the first week seeing the world of new mama-hood thru rose colored glasses and only then realizing that this baby is not gonna stop crying at night, pooping his pants, and drinking milk that I gotta mix out of bottles I gotta sterilize, anytime soon. I wasn't a teenager but I was young and a little better prepared than some but still I wasn't thinking straight. I got thru it with very little help from my mother, but if I had been totally alone, I might not have, and this option would have been a godsend.

**Silvahalo** · August 10th, 2010, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by cubby

I am saying the same as others...3 days is not enough...what if the mama had help at first and didn't realize how hard it was going to be or if the baby was born in a hospital and they were not released from hospital until after the 3 day period and she discovered afterwards when she had no help at all that she couldn't cope with baby. I really feel it ought to be at least a month, maybe more, but not really much more. At least long enough for the mama to be able to make a good, informed decision.

I remember the first week seeing the world of new mama-hood thru rose colored glasses and only then realizing that this baby is not gonna stop crying at night, pooping his pants, and drinking milk that I gotta mix out of bottles I gotta sterilize, anytime soon. I wasn't a teenager but I was young and a little better prepared than some but still I wasn't thinking straight. I got thru it with very little help from my mother, but if I had been totally alone, I might not have, and this option would have been a godsend.

yes, so agree. and I was very much NOT a young teenage mom or youngish mom either. But, how can i put it, at the beginning it felt much like a never ending baby sitting job. of course I was exhausted beyond the normal exhaustion 'cause of illness, so a bit out of my mind tired. anyhow, i got very anxious at some point....can't do this...can't do this! it got better of course as I REALLY did want my baby and all that comes with motherhood.

**Whisper** · August 10th, 2010, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by silvahalo68

yes, so agree. and I was very much NOT a young teenage mom or youngish mom either. But, how can i put it, at the beginning it felt much like a never ending baby sitting job. of course I was exhausted beyond the normal exhaustion 'cause of illness, so a bit out of my mind tired. anyhow, i got very anxious at some point....can't do this...can't do this! it got better of course as I REALLY did want my baby and all that comes with motherhood.

Well I was the teen mom and I started crying when she was 6 weeks old asking when her parents were coming to pick her up!!
They need more then 3 days most States from what I have seen have up to a yr(some not all)

**totallytoddler** · August 10th, 2010, 09:31 PM

So they can drop the baby off "no questions asked"??? How do they know the baby isnt 4 days old...if they don't ask? Do you have to give them the birth certificate too? I'm just being a smart ass, as I am SURE they have to ask questions.

And 3 days isnt enough I agree....some women spend 3 days in the hospital after birth...sooooooooo...thats not fair. It can take quite a while to realize you might not be able to care for this child the way you thought you would in the beginning. Right?

I am so happy this baby is ok though...I mean compared to what alot of these girls do...just throw them away.

**cubby** · August 10th, 2010, 09:41 PM

I was 20 yrs and 9months old (I probaly concieved on my birthday-LOL) and had very little help, I knew I would not be running to mother for help, wasn't going to happen.

Stories like this are the main reason I think teenagers need a real big dose of reality where babies are concerned ever how that can be done, classes, some real life day care work, whatever it takes even if it saves just one baby it would be worth it.

**Pene784** · August 10th, 2010, 11:48 PM

I am so glad the media is reporting on this story and making the mom sound a bit like hero. I hope it will inspire other overwhelmed moms or moms that just don't want the responsibility to follow in her foot steps. (How can they tell if the baby is 1 day, 3 days or one week old anyway?)

**cubby** · August 10th, 2010, 11:57 PM

That is a good question Pene, and I have been thinking about it and about the only thing I can come up with that you can tell just by looking at the baby would be the condition of the umbilical cord scar or belly button or whatever the technical term for it is. The older the baby the dryer the cord would be. But really up to about a week it really pretty much looks the same to me anyway. I'm quite possibly wrong but it's the only thing I could think of. Cause really other than that a baby doesn't really change a whole lot in the first 2-3 weeks except for maybe weight and if you've never seen the baby before whos to know then.

The later it gets the more I ramble, SORRY! LOL Cubby

**Silvahalo** · August 11th, 2010, 12:03 AM

My doula friend told me when I worked with her, combo of the cord color/dry, meconium amount/color, and doctors also check the eyes for various things, they are very telling. I think they probably give a bit of a leeway, my thinking up to five days....not sure but just looking at a babe tho, that would be hard to tell for sure.

**Tundratot** · August 11th, 2010, 02:57 AM

Heck, yeah, I was still in the hospital three days after my first child was born. I think I left the hospital on day 3 with my second. 3 days . . . you haven't even gotten to colic yet.

**Aena** · August 11th, 2010, 04:23 AM

I was a teen mom too, I had a lot of help from my mom though so I was very lucky in that regard. I couldn't take care of my daughter for the first 6 weeks, I couldn't even take care of myself or walk for that matter for the first 6 weeks, if my mom wouldn't have been there who knows what would have happened. That is one of the reasons I am going to go stay with my daughter after she has the baby, even though she has grown up with kids around her she has always been able to say, mom take the baby, well there won't be mom take the baby anymore for her so I am going to help her get used to that.

I also agree the time limit should be changed, 3 days? That makes no sense whatsoever.

**sleepingwithghosts** · August 11th, 2010, 03:45 PM

Im wondering why they have a cut off age at all? I think there should be a place you can drop off a child at any age.. it would probably save a lot of children if someone thought to themselves "I dont have to smother my 2 yr old, I can just take her to the safe house now that Ive decided Id rather party than be a mom" But, they should never be allowed to get them back.

**Whisper** · August 11th, 2010, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by sleepingwithghosts

Im wondering why they have a cut off age at all? I think there should be a place you can drop off a child at any age.. it would probably save a lot of children if someone thought to themselves "I dont have to smother my 2 yr old, I can just take her to the safe house now that Ive decided Id rather party than be a mom" But, they should never be allowed to get them back.

Last year I think it was a man drove almost 1000 miles dropped all 9 kids off at a firehall/church /library someplace they called a safe haven
Thats why they have a cut off lol

**Silvahalo** · August 11th, 2010, 05:07 PM

There was a debate on here just on that topic at what age to cut off the drop-off. There was a case in which a father I believe turned in his 3 kids i believe, far older than infants, said he couldn't care for them.

Anyhow, good question lots of thought into that one, but 3 days is a joke. I was in the hospital for 5 days first child, so sick first couple weeks. A law that is serious in helping mothers in this predicament, a life changing decision, it has to be taken more seriously by law makers so that woman to take it seriously.

**Obsolete** · August 11th, 2010, 06:59 PM

After 3 days the child can still be dropped off and the mother wouldn't get it trouble, it's just that at that point they need to ask questions to make sure the person giving the child up is the actual parent and not someone that abducted the child.

Im wondering why they have a cut off age at all? I think there should be a place you can drop off a child at any age.. it would probably save a lot of children if someone thought to themselves "I dont have to smother my 2 yr old, I can just take her to the safe house now that Ive decided Id rather party than be a mom" But, they should never be allowed to get them back.

There are places that you can go to give up your rights as a parent but you have to go through a system to do it, a "safe house" should be intended for newborns only. I think it's a bit ridiculous to think it would be ok for someone to drop off an older child at a safe house and expect no questions to be asked. What if that child had been kidnapped and the abductors got scared and decided to drop the kid off, if no questions are asked that child would never have a chance to be reunited with it's family.

**Silvahalo** · August 11th, 2010, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Obsolete

After 3 days the child can still be dropped off and the mother wouldn't get it trouble, it's just that at that point they need to ask questions to make sure the person giving the child up is the actual parent and not someone that abducted the child.

There are places that you can go to give up your rights as a parent but you have to go through a system to do it, a "safe house" should be intended for newborns only. I think it's a bit ridiculous to think it would be ok for someone to drop off an older child at a safe house and expect no questions to be asked. What if that child had been kidnapped and the abductors got scared and decided to drop the kid off, if no questions are asked that child would never have a chance to be reunited with it's family.

Yeah but that's the problem I have. Less likely a woman who wants to leave her baby would do it with out total anonymity. As the law stand we don't have enough woman taking advantage of it so expanding the 3 to 30 would make a diff. IF the information is getting out there. I also don't think enough is done in educating the public on such matters.

I do agree its a diff. matter entirely with older children, questions need to be asked.

**Tundratot** · August 12th, 2010, 04:32 AM

Nebraska didn't have an age limit for a while. Turned out people were coming from all over the country to drop of older children.

I guess the real issue is that the laws were initially designed to save babies from being killed or dumped outright after birth by women who had somehow not been discovered to be pregnant, or who had convinced themselves that no one knew. Three days more than covers that need.

The decision to give up a child for adoption or state care can be made at any time, I guess. But I also have to wonder what would stop someone from kidnapping a newborn and then giving it to a safe haven. Imagine a young man who didn't want to be a father (or boyfriend of a new mother) doing that.

**Aena** · August 12th, 2010, 10:42 AM

I agree Tundra, there has to be a cut off, but 3 days seems very low. If someone kidnapped a baby and dropped them off at a Safe Haven place it would be even easier to find them I would think.