In general, if a mother is somewhat mentally incapacitated while pregnant and for a while after giving birth?

Question

(which is a reason some say that they should not be making parenting/adoption decisions for at least several months after bonding with the child) but they make a decision anyway, should that decision be binding or withheld in the court systems?

What about when a new mother throws her newborn child in a trash heap? Should all be forgiven and her child be given back to her because of the timing of the action?

Answer 1

I don't think there is an assumption that women are automatically mentally incapacitated while pregnant or after giving birth.  Is that the assumption of this question?

Answer 2

I have the up most respect for parents who give up a child for adoption.

That said the biggest problem with the system is that others look down there nose at someone who had had the guts and heart to do what must be a wrenching that will never pass.

Society needs to take care of each other not condemn and judge others when a child's life is in the balance.

Simply we need to stop being so selfish and arrogant when others are in need so as not to push someone to the sin of pride which then led to the sin of murder.

Every legal way for that mother or father to surrender there rights should be made available without prosecution if no harm to the baby has been done.

That said who would not feel rage to someone who harms a child.

That person is responsible for his or her actions legally, but an act of kindness can make all the difference to begin with.

Answer 3

The child would be put into foster care, if there is physical abuse then the court will decide if the mother will ever be able to care for the child in the way that it needs caring. If the mother can't care for the child it deserves a home where it can be loved unconditionallyand cared for just the same.

The mother who threw her newborn into the trash heap should not receive her child back. The child should remain in foster care with supervised visits until the child can defend it self or at least scream for someone to help him.

If the child dies due to her actions, the mother will be tried in court. She can plead insanity, and she will be put into medical help. Whether that help involves an asylum or just counseling.

Answer 4

I don't think they should be able to get the kid back at all  

Answer 5

If I go crazy and kill someone should I get forgiven? Nope, same thing!

Answer 6

That's for the courts to decide.

Answer 7

Not forgiven.But if she feels that she has corrected herself, then its ok and the child should be given to her.

Answer 8

There is a difference between a woman placing her child for adoption within hours of giving birth and committing a criminal act by throwing her child in the garbage.  

Criminal acts should be treated as criminal acts especially when there are other people involved.  

Answer 9

what if an amom abuses a baby after adopting him/her because she is "mentally incapacitated?"

first off, it is offensive that you lack the understanding of post-partum depression to the degree that you believe all pregnant women are "mentally ill" and will harm their child.

if that were the case, the infant mortality rate would be through the roof.  

you are speaking about a very small minority of women here...and are attempting to link a few stories of infanticide with the rationale that nmoms should not have any time to rethink their decision.  h**l, why not just use the cutting of the umbilical cord as a symbolic gesture that the adoption is sealed??? that way we won't have to worry about all these "mentally incapacitated" post-partum woman killing their babies?

this is the biggest crock of conjecture and propaganda to rationale a profit-making agenda since the iraq war.

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so, when was your last relinquishment or post-partum experience?

oh..haven't been pregnant heh?  yet you are so sure you know what pregnant women feel. amazing.

ps. criminal acts should be punished.

Answer 10

Post partum depression is a very real thing that is more common as some women do not even realize they have it...depression can cause the average 'normal' person to make unwise decisions, including putting her own child at risk.  They need help.

I do think that in the best interest of the child that mother who puts their child at risk should definitely be seeking professional treatment or kept an eye on until she's back to her 'normal' mental state & able to make a clear choice in caring for her child.  If then she continues to abuse or neglect the child then the child should be removed for their own safety, although the abuse doesn't always stop there.

Personally, that wasn't the case with me as I knew immediately that I was in love with my child.  Other people who are affected by PPD may actually take up to a year if not longer to get through that stage & even then it may not register until 6 months afterwards.  So when people comment that mothers shouldn't make that decision for at least a couple months I completely agree.  Now does that put the AP's on edge because they're waiting for their newborn, yes, but ultimately I think this would be in the best interest of the child if more mothers gave themselves that time to really decide.  Again, there are some that go ahead & sign the papers while they are groggy (or maybe clear headed)...as we're not all the same.

Answer 11

Your question involves apples & oranges. Trying to explain pregnancy & childbirth to women who haven't experienced it is like trying to explain menstration & PMS to a man.

The first involves ANY woman who has given birth.  Depressed or not.

Post birth, you are FLOODED with major hormones, and utterly exhausted.  Like having PMS x 1000, plus having an operation, not eating or sleeping for 24 hours, and running a marathon.  After 9 months of a host of hideous side effects.  

Does that sound like a good time to make a life altering decision?

The latter situation, the baby dumper, is a mentally ill woman, or one running from incest and abuse.  She is not capable of mothering.  Maybe after some major mental intervention...

Answer 12

women are not generaly mentaly incapacitated whilst pregnant or for a while after birth, if that was the case all the stores would be full of wailing screaming women. (o.k o.k some are)

but if someone was, and threw the child in the trash, then i think a long term dicision should be made with the combined efforts os the mental heath team and drs. it might be possible for a happy outcome if the so called mentaly ill mum had the level of mental care that she would obviously need.

so yes i think it could in some cases be possible.

as for the adoption one, im not sure but i thought that there was a usual fostering time before adoption of newborns due to the conditions you describe.

Answer 13

These are not the same thing and should not be put to comparison.

Adoption is often irreversible and a mom makes such a decision after long hard thought.  By law she should be given enough time to decide her best course of action.

Throwing a child away in a trash heap is a fear driven response to a situation.  She did not want the child to begin usually.  No, they should not be forgiven, right is right and wrong is wrong.  Anyone thinking a baby is garbage has way more than post partum issues to contend with.  

Answer 14

I would question a mother's ability to make rational decisions for the child if she dumped him/her in a trash heap right after the baby was born.

Answer 15

I don't think any mother who throws her child in the trash should get her child back no matter how mentally incapacitated she may have been.

When a choice for adoption has been made I personally feel that once you make the choice to give up your child you should not be able to just say "okay I'll take him/her back now" and then rip them away from the only family they've ever known. But if it was only supposed to be temporary then I think there nees to be some sort of a transitinal period for the child's sake

Answer 16

where do you get this info?  I carried my second child during my degree and came out with the top first in my year.  

I think you are confusing post natal depression with 'mentally incapacitated' and btw you should try not to generalise.  

Answer 17

1)    i don't know. maybe this should be determined on a case by case basis.

2)    no - i think that the mother has ended her connection to the child, and it should be adopted by more caring people.