Baby found in abandoned dryer in SW Houston

[Catherine Vincent]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6317373.html

BABY FOUND IN ABANDONED DRYER IN SW HOUSTON
Newborn, with umbilical cord freshly cut, was discovered behind an apartment complex, police say
By DALE LEZON Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
March 18, 2009, 7:13AM

A Houston police investigator surveys the scene where a newborn was found in a trash bag placed inside an abandoned dryer behind The Registry Apartment Homes on Winsome Tuesday afternoon.

Child welfare authorities are expected to ask a judge today for custody of a newborn girl who was found Tuesday in a clothes dryer behind a southwest Houston apartment complex.

"Thank God, she’s healthy," said Gwen Carter, a Child Protective Services spokeswoman. "She’s doing OK."

The baby, found with her umbilical cord attached, was taken to Texas Children's Hospital, Houston police said. Hospital staff nicknamed the 6-pound, 12-ounce girl Mia, Carter said.

She had no apparent injuries, Carter said, adding that doctors will complete tests to make sure she is unharmed.

Carter said the child will be placed in foster care while the agency and law enforcement investigate and try to find her parents or other family members.

Authorities said a caller told police that the infant was found about 3 p.m. behind The Registry Apartment Homes in the 6100 block of Winsome.

Houston Police Department spokesman Kese Smith said witnesses outside the complex reported hearing a faint cry of a baby coming from a dryer next to large trash containers.

[WolverineDG]

1. What is so damn difficult about taking the baby to the hospital or fire station?

Dammit! :grr:

Glad to hear the baby is doing well. Here's to a long happy life for her.

dg

[sonias]

2. A lot of people still don't know about that option

Don't you think some PSAs on the radio, TV and even distributed in utility bills etc would be in order. Church bulletins too.

The mother of this baby when found is going to be charged with a crime. Perhaps if she knew all of her options she would have picked the best one. Maybe she's a minor who doesn't know about the law. Schools certainly don't give kids accurate information on sex/ed. I'm sure young women in high school aren't being told about the Baby Moses Law either.

I'm not opposed to the state setting up a 911 type of phone line for these situations. That way medical personnel are involved right away. But you would hear all kinds of flack from people claiming this would allow more people to abandon their children.

San Marcos City web site
"Baby Moses Law" Information

The "Baby Moses Law" allows a parent of a baby younger than 60 days old to turn over the baby to a designated emergency infant care provider. The law protects parents from criminal prosecution when they deliver an unharmed child to a designated emergency infant care provider.
- Take your baby to any hospital, fire rescue station or EMS (Emergency Medical Services) station in the state of Texas.
- Please remember that it is VERY important to give your baby to a person working at one of these facilities. That is the best way to care for your baby.

Sonia

[Vogon_Glory]

3. I'd Have Hoped That Somebody Might Have Heard About the Baby Moses laws

Chalk me up as another old mossback who'd have thought that desparate mothers unable to care for their newborns might have heard about the Baby Moses laws.

I can see Sonia's point--that many mothers might not have heard of such legislation or how to go about doing the hand-off.

But I also wonder why in Flaming Gehenna the Baby Moses law isn't better-publicized. Can't both sides in the trenches on the abortion wars stop (howbeit briefly) and get the news out about the Baby Moses laws to women who can use it?