Mothers in crisis can make a positive choice
Monday February 09, 2009, Pensacola
Written by: Precious Arnold and Cheree Moore of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida
Printed in: Pensacola News Journal February 6, 2009
The tragedy of the abandoned infant found in Milton in December (Baby Milton) calls us as a community to reach out to women in crisis. It reminds us of how fragile life is and that these unfortunate events do happen right in our own neighborhoods. With a little education and a lot of love and support, we can save lives and give a child a future.
According to A Safe Haven for Newborns, a statewide infant rescue group based in South Florida, 125 newborns have been saved across Florida since the 2000 enactment of the Safe Haven law.
This law allows women to leave their newborn at any medically staffed facility (hospital, fire/EMS department) with no questions asked. In 2008, the law was amended to extend a women’s option from leaving a newborn up to 3 days old to leaving a newborn up to 7 days old. In leaving her newborn, a woman would be choosing an adoption plan while remaining anonymous.
With such a viable option, many wonder why a woman would abandon a child in an unsafe environment. However, we must first ask these questions:
How do we treat women facing unplanned pregnancy? Do we offer options? When we hear a woman say that she is not ready to parent her child, and is considering adoption, do we cast a judgmental glance her way or laden her with guilt? Do we encourage these women to evaluate all their options and make the best decision for themselves and the child?
Women considering adoption have been asked, “How can you give your child away?” Some have been told that they are careless and heartless. Thus, shame sets in.
Those facing unplanned pregnancy listen to the messages we send and feel hopeless and trapped. They believe that parenting is the only option that society will accept. So, in fear and desperation they run or hide or neglect or abandon or abuse — or even kill.
A woman facing a crisis pregnancy needs education to make the best plan for herself and her unborn child. As a community, we can support these women by referring them to one of the four pregnancy resource centers in our two counties. We can make others aware of the Safe Haven law and acknowledge that if a mother chooses to anonymously leave her child in a safe place, she is making a positive choice.
And finally, we can realize the negativity that is so often attached to the courageous act of adoption and work to change this stigma, remembering that adoption means life.
As a community, let us consider that our tiny acts of support offered to women in crisis just might save one tiny little life.