Baby Found Abandoned in a Park, Thankfully the Baby Was Safe

The recent news item about the newborn infant who was abandoned in a park near Embry Mill Road in Stafford County, Virginia struck a familiar chord for me. Thankfully, the baby was found safe and unharmed.  My heart breaks when I hear of these types of situations.

First, I grieve for the mother who may have endured a difficult pregnancy with little to no assistance and support.  Sadly, illegal abandonment is sometimes chosen as a last resort for pregnant women in crisis.  Vulnerable women in these situations can face dire circumstances and often their pregnancy journey can be lonely and emotionally painful.

Secondly, this story deeply impacts me because decades ago, I was an abandoned infant found in a park. Illegal abandonment was the painful choice my mother elected to make after enduring difficult circumstances during her pregnancy that she chose not to share with her family. She kept her pregnancy secret and abandoned me as a newborn.

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Fortunately, I was also found unharmed, but the identity of my birth mother was never found.  Later extensive DNA research allowed me to learn the true origins of my birth.

The decision of what to do in a dire pregnancy or birth situation should not result in an unsafe option for the baby. We need greater public education of our state’s Safe Haven laws so women in crisis know they have a safe and confidential option for the relinquishment of their newborn. This protects both mother and child.

Virginia’s Safe Haven Law requires a parent to surrender an unharmed baby directly to staff at a designated Safe Haven location, such as a hospital or fire station that is staffed 24 hours a day, within 30 days of the child’s birth. Alternatively, a parent may use an infant relinquishment device, if one is available at a designated Safe Haven location.

Fortunately, this situation in Stafford ended positively, but far too often that is not the case. Safe birth experiences should be a right for all women and for each newborn in this country and especially for those in crisis. Unsafe illegal abandonment should not be their only option.

NSHA’s Safe Haven crisis hotline, 1-888-510-BABY (2229), provides 24/7, confidential, compassionate support to parents in crisis in Virginia and across the country, helping prevent unsafe infant abandonment by connecting families with safe, legal, and life-saving options including parenting support, adoption resources, and Safe Haven surrender information.

LifeNews Note: Mrs. Jennifer Greene is a member of the Safe Haven Alliance project and represents the 10th Virginia  Congressional District on the Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL) Board.