A Trois-Rivières, Quebec woman has been charged with failing to provide the necessities of life after she allegedly abandoned her newborn outside in freezing temperatures.
Authorities say the 38-year-old woman, who has not been identified, gave birth on the street on January 1 before abandoning the infant. Thankfully, a passerby spotted the child, and authorities say the baby was exposed to the cold for only a few minutes. The child is reportedly being held for observation at a nearby hospital.
Jérémy Lachance, the director of operations for the local ambulance service, said emergency personnel responded quickly to help the infant.
“We had to act quick because after a birth, we have to keep the baby warm,” he told the CBC. “Coming out of the belly is already a shock for him so in conditions like those, we have to be able to keep him warm.”
The woman was reportedly well-known to local organizations that help homeless people, with one telling CTV News that the woman hadn’t known she was pregnant.
“To abandon a baby, you first have to be aware of your pregnancy and maternity and decided you don’t want it. She did not know she was pregnant, so I can only imagine how surprised — and that word is way too mild — and shocked she must have been to finally have a baby come out of her body,” said Karine Dahan, the executive director of Centre Le Havre.
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In a statement, the local health authority, Integrated University Health and Social Services Center of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, explained that options other than infant abandonment are available, noting, “if a parent does not feel able to care for their child, they can go to any health facility to get help.”
“Ultimately, parents can decide to have their child adopted if they do not feel able to provide the necessary care,” the statement read. “In these circumstances, care is provided by the director of youth protection to ensure the child’s safety.”
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