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NUMC offers Safe Place for NewbornsIn light of recent cases of newborns having been found in the Mississippi River that were highlighted in the news media, staff and physicians at New Ulm Medical Center want to make sure scared, young women in the midst of an unwanted pregnancy know there is another option. “This kind of tragedy should never have to happen,” said Julie Halvorson, RN, manager of the Emergency Department at New Ulm Medical Center. Since Minnesota adopted the Safe Place for Newborns legislation in 2000, any mother can drop their unharmed baby off at any hospital, including NUMC, up to three days after the baby’s birth. No questions will be asked and the mother will not be detained as long as the baby is not harmed. The mother can drop the baby off with any hospital employee – she doesn’t have to go to the Emergency Department. She should tell the employee she wants to leave her baby with Safe Place for Newborns. “The mother is provided with a medical history questionnaire she can complete if she chooses,” Halvorson explained. “The information on the form is strictly for the baby’s benefit in terms of knowing their family history of any potential health issues.” The form asks questions about whether the mother or father have any medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, or seizures. It also asks the mother’s and father’s age, race, religion, hair color and body build. The mother is not asked for her identity and no authorities will be contacted. According to the Safe Place for Newborns organization, 44 other states have enacted some type of legislation that makes it possible for a mother to leave her baby at a safe place rather than choosing a more tragic course of action. The three-day time frame was chosen because the first hours of a newborn’s life are the most vulnerable, therefore the most critical. “The concern is that if the mother has hidden her pregnancy, she may be hiding the baby somewhere and that somewhere may not be safe for the child,” Halvorson said. “It is important for the mother to take immediate action to get the baby to a safe place.” Since the Safe Place for Newborns law was enacted, there has not been an instance of a baby being left at New Ulm Medical Center, Halvorson said. It is important to note that a mother doesn’t have to wait until her baby is born to seek help. “Giving birth to a baby can be an emotional rollercoaster in the best of circumstances,” Halvorson said. “If a mother has been hiding her pregnancy and then she gives birth in secret, she may become panicked and that’s when an impulsive, disastrous action might be taken.” Expectant mothers can also call the toll-free Safe Place for Newborns crisis line any time: 1-877-440-2229. “Safe Place for Newborns is a very good law; but in some cases may come too late. More assistance and support needs to be offered to these mothers while they are pregnant in order to prevent the tragedies we hear about in the news” Halvorson said. To find out more about the Safe Place for Newborns program, visit their website at www.safeplacefornewborns.com. |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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