Baby Abandonment

One major issue that has occured in the United States in the past and is still occurioccurredy is baby abandonment, a/k/a "baby dumping." It may apply any time a child is left without appropriate supervision for extended periods of time. Hearing babies becoming abandoned is heartbreaking. There could be many reasons to the causes of this action. One, the baby was not planned. Therefore, the parents may not have been ready either mentally or financially, and decide to leave the baby. Two, many people are against abortion, which lead to many unwanted babies being born. Three, the woman may have fear of rejection from a boyfriend, friend, or family member if they keep the baby. Some psychiatrists believe that young mothers can become overwhelmed by the presence of something that they were in denial of for nine months, as well as the father not being supportive. The best way to end is by giving women more education about sex and it's outcomes, and to provide planning for those who need it. It has been estimated that there are over 50 babies abandoned daily across the United States, which adds up to over 20,000 babies a year.. many of which do not survive.
One way to solve this issue is by encouraging women who decide to not keep their babies to follow the Safe Haven Act (depending on each state). For example, The Safe Haven Act of Massachusetts of 2004 allows a parent to legally surrender newborn infants 7 days old or younger with no signs of neglect to a designated hospital, police station, or fire station without facing prosecution. The parent will be encouraged to provide information to help in planning the future care of the baby, but is not required. Once the newborn is medically screened, it will be placed in a Department of Social Services foster or adoptive home. The Safe Haven Act of Massachusetts partnered with a few other associations, creating a multimedia campaign informing state residents about the new law. Their toll-free hotline recieves an averaging 50 calls per month.
Another way to solve this issue is following Project Cuddle, founded by Debbe Magnusen and her husband David. The goal of this non-profit organization is to save as many babies' lives as possible, with a strong commitment to help any pregnant girl or woman. They do not charge any money to the girls or their families. It also offers a 24-hour crisis hotline. To date, they have rescured 564 babies from being abandoned. They give women a chance to choose an adoptive family for their baby, making sure they have made a decision they are comforable with allowing them to move on with their lives. About 60% of women call Project Cuddle for assistance in raising their babies.They strongly believe that no baby deserves to die before it has had a chance to live.
Although today there are many ways to solve this issue, many babies who are saved and do grow up into adulthood often continue to wonder about their origins. These "foundlings" may or may not ever find out who their birth parents are, or why they were abandoned. Their past remains a complete mystery, along with a missing part of their identity. This often causes grief to some whose parents' never decide to step up. The best way to solve this issue is by preventing unwanted babies in the first place. One way is by showing women or girls how difficult it is to care for a child, being offered through a "Real Skillz Parenting Course." The woman or teen is given a programmed baby that will cry periodically for various reasons, in which they have to solve in order to make the doll stop crying. Another way is by working with parents to educate their children about sex and all of its consequences. Finally, a third option is abstinence education. Abstaining from sex is the most effective way of preventing not only unwanted births, but also any other diseases that a person may receive from having sex.
In conclusion, baby abandonment is a huge reoccurring issue in the United States. The foremost reason in preventing this issue from happening is to save the lives of babies. Every baby deserves a chance to live. The first and second way help to solve the problem that women face when they do not know what to do with their unwanted baby. However, the third way ends up becoming the best way because it prevents unwanted babies to be born at all. Educating women in pregnancy helps them to make better and wiser decisions, lowering the rate of infant deaths and abandonments each year.