Abandoning a newborn baby

I agree that it is a sad state when people feel the need to abandon their baby/child. It is definitely a much better situation when precautions are taken to prevent a pregnancy in the first place. I used to struggle with the fact that there are many couples who desperately want a child, but cannot have one of their own and yet there are unwanted pregnancies terminated everyday and babies abandoned. I realized though that life is given by God and I have to trust that He knows what He is doing. I guess I just feel it is much better to allow a birth mother to leave her child at a hospital or other safe place where the child has the opportunity to be cared for by a loving family that can provide for it, than to take away that opportunity by aborting it or killing it after it is born. In the US these children are available for adoption at some point after being abandoned, allowing them the things they would not have otherwise enjoyed. As I said before, it would be better if precautions were taken by every person who did not want or could not care for a child, but reality is, the world is not that way and there always has been and always will be unwanted pregnancies alongside couples who cannot conceive. I much prefer to think about things I can change than to get frustrated over things I cannot.

For sure but what a sad world we live in and as the previous person said - why on earth don't people take precautions if they know they don't want children? It makes me really sad for all those people who cannot have babies (my sister, for one) who would have cherished a child had they been blessed and yet we hear of others who discard babies (and children) as if they meant nothing at all.

Your response makes a great deal of sense. I do get frustrated at things I cannot change and wish I had a louder voice. But who would listen?

well, it's relatively simple,if u don't want kids don't be irresponsible and have them, then there won't be any controversial laws.

Maybe that's what we should do in our Country? Allow mums to leave their babies somewhere safe until they can decide what they really want to do. I don't know. The 'abandoment' part is the thing that kinda gets me when there are channels that can be taken that would be kinder on everyone concerned, mother, baby and any potential adoptive parents. There's certainly no cut and dried answer to this issue. So many factors to be considered, some I would never dream of, I expect. It's probably why this causes such controversy when it happens.

That sounds like an ideal solution. Maybe polititians and other law makers should be required to read discussions on sites like this as part of their daily duties? Then we might find that social problems like this are addressed in a fairer and more compassionate way than now.

Yeah, I guess you are right. Maybe she hopes that she can improve her circumstances to claim her little girl back. There were so many times when I wished I could have turned back the clock and kept my son. My life worked out much better than it looked like it would when I gave him up but I have to reassure myself that I did the best thing at the time. It's one of the most heartbreaking subjects, isn't it?

Thanks jbelle, I agree with you as I hate the thought of abortion (I am Catholic). It's just that I believe (and I am no expert) that if a mother does not surrender their child officially, then the child is in 'limbo'. Also, as the authorities pointed out - what about the poor mother? She may need counselling? When I gave my son up, I had excellent counselling and support and I felt reassured that my baby would have a better life than I could provide at the time.