Babies get switched at birth!
By Ellie
@ellie26 (4139)
Malaysia
May 6, 2007 9:23pm CST
We often hear that babies get switched at the hospital and raised by their non biological parents. How devastating it is for the parents to know that the baby that they love and care so much is in fact not their flesh and blood. Why is this happenning? Who is to blame? If you are one of the baby, how would you feel? Will you blame your parents for the mixed up? Will you want to look for your biological parents? Is it worth sueing the hospital if found to be their fault? Do you know anyone that has a story like this?
Do you think you will get angry if your biological parents is well off while your non biological parents is not? Will you want to go back to your real parents?
This discussion is opened to everyone. Who knows we might help to clear the air for those affected by this terrible incident.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
7 May 07
I have heard about this kind of thing before, but never come across anyone who's experienced that.
Back in the UK when I had my kids, the maternity and post delivery wards were run like military fortresses. the babies are tagged with 2 tags right after delivery. One one ankle was the name tag, and on the other was another name tag, that had an electronic alarm device attached to it.
Nobody could get onto the ward without pressing the buzzer and stating who they were there to visit, and there are no nurseries for the babies. All babies are kept with their mothers at all times. (as well as the security issue, I feel this is good for the initial bonding process too.)
Its sad that things like this do still happen from time to time. It's something that you would have thought could be prevented nowadays.
If this had happened to me, I wouldn't be angry at my parents. It's not their fault. They brought me up and as far as they're concerned, I'm still their child same as they're still my parents.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
7 May 07
I would say in the past this may have happened sometimes. today however in hospitals, the baby is usualy with the mother at all times. I don't think it happens nearly that often anymore. I think if this had happened to me, it wouldnt matter. My mom is my mom. she raised me and is the one who shaped who I am. I don't know if I would seek out my biological mother or not. That answer will take a lot more soul searching.
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@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
7 May 07
yes often you did hear about it but its hard to happen now. there are so many protocalls now. when i had my daughter 5 months ago i seen all the things the hospital does to keep the child from getting switched or kidnapped. they had arm bands on me and my husband to match our daughters my mom couldnt even go see her in the nursary because she didnt have the arm band. they even had a little tracker thing on my daughter and if it went over a certain line that whole floor would lock up. its no ones fault really if a child does get switched really they all look a like. and i dont think that it matters who you biological parents are you parents are the people who raised you and loved you threw your life.
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@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
7 May 07
Why would anyone be upset or blame the parents? It wouldn't be the parents fault, it would be the hospital's fault.
With that said, if this happened to me and I later found out, I wouldn't want to go be with my biological parents. I wouldn't love them. I love the parents and family who raised me all my life. I don't even think I would look for the biologial parents. I might, but it wouldn't be for any kind of relationship. Maybe more out of curiousity.
1 person likes this
@samson1967 (7413)
• India
7 May 07
Oh ya, there are chances in the Government Hospitals, with lots of paitents, for this erraneous interchange of babies to occur. Normally in the private nursing homes and reputed hospitals, they allow the guardian and husband of the delivering lady, to wait out side the labour room. Hence Private Nursing Homes are good place to ensure the security of the Neonatal.
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@taurean83 (505)
• United States
7 May 07
Yeah i feel so sorry and sad about parents and babies both.But is this happen mostly or rarely cause I am having a baby pretty soon..So I am kind a little scared.I mean how does it actually happen?It is worth to sue that hospital because If it happen to you means You are living strange life.You donot even know the baby You love so much is not even your own.You didnt gave birth to him.If i would be a baby and came to know ever in my life that my parents are not them iw ould love to meet my biological parents to see how much I look alike them.But i do not think if they get switched once they will ever come to know that those are not their kids unless any special test is done.Or its medically proven.They should place kind of tag or something to differentiate babies and identify accordingly with their parents.I mean its a special feeling to have your own baby and if you are living such disguide life for such special relation its worthless.
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
7 May 07
Most babies get tag soon after they are born. But in small cases, probably due to so many patients who deliver at one time, a delay in tagging could happen thus it will cause in babies getting switched. But these stories about babies getting switched are from ealier days where there was no enough nurses and doctors. I am sorry if I have caused you feeling scared. I am sure with the security system every hospital have now, every baby born will definately go to their rightful parents. Cheers.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
7 May 07
I don't know how the hospital nurses could make a terrible mistake in this case, could it be done intentionally or carelessness. Eventhough all babies look alike at birth but they are being tag in the wrist with the mother's name as soon as they are delivered. An indian baby with a chinese parents and chinese baby with an indian parents sounds puzzling but it did happen here in my country. The poor indian baby having a chinese name is suing the hospital for the negligence resulting in her not having proper education. Her bilogical parent is wealthy while her so called parent is the opposite. She met her bilogical siblings who are all well educated. The only consolation for her is she has two sets of parents now. It is only proper that you stay with the parent who has brought you up from birth and be happy to welcome your lost and found bilogical parent.
1 person likes this
@jmespinosa82 (498)
• United States
7 May 07
I know and it is so horrible. I mean you carry this baby and you love this baby more than words can describe and when the baby is born you love them no matter what. Then come to find out years later that one that you thought you carried for 9 months and gave birth to really isn't your baby. It has to be hard on those families.
@charlestchan (1415)
• Malaysia
7 May 07
erm.. i never heard of such stories.. but i do know such stories do exist.. and usually. .hospital will isolate such cases to avoid the image of the hospital being tarnished by medias.. i won't blame my parents for mixed up.. come on.. what's love? of course we want to be with our biological parents right..but if our non biological parents can treat us well.. and didn't ask for anything in return.. why not just be good to them? i won't even want to find my real parents if this happen.. i think anyone can love me.. and i can love anyone too.. so it doesn't really matter whether there are blood ties or not..
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