Safe Place for Newborns Provides an Alternative to Unsafe Abandonments
Pregnant? Afraid? Hiding your pregnancy? Don't Panic ... There’s a Safe Place for your baby.
The founding purpose and continuing mission of Safe Place for Newborns is to save the lives of newborns in danger of abandonment, and to help preserve the health and future of their mothers.
On April 3, 2001, Wisconsin became one of 14 states to adopt the Safehaven law. This law states that a parent may confidentially leave his/her unharmed newborn with any EMT, firefighter, police officer or health care provider in the state within three days of birth without fear of prosecution. This law is in place to help ensure that newborns who were not wanted or expected would not be harmed in any way.
As a health care system in Wisconsin, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s hospitals, including Elmbrook Memorial, participate in the Safe Place for Newborns program. The program allows for any baby up to 3 days old to be left with a hospital employee – no questions asked. The employee (clearly identified by a visible name badge) should be told that the baby is being left with Safe Place for Newborns. The new law requires that the baby be left with an employee - not in a public or private location within the hospital setting.
It is preferred that women choose to deliver safely in a hospital in order to provide appropriate care and avoid negative outcomes. Therefore, an infant born within the hospital may be given up under Safe Place for Newborns prior to or after discharge from a medical facility as long as it is within the 72 hour timeframe.
If you have delivered your baby at home or have left the hospital quickly after delivery, you should be aware of symptoms you may encounter that will require immediate medical attention. If you or your baby are having any medical problems, call 911 immediately!
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