Doctors at the provincial hospital in Legnica believe that the newborn's health will continue to improve. The girl is now past the worst, and treatment for an infection is underway. It will last at least three weeks. A family court will decide how long the child remains in hospital.
On the day she was found, the girl weighed just under 2 kg and was not premature. Preliminary police findings indicate that the mother is not from Bolesławiec, although she had recently been living in the Zabobrze area. Police are now searching for the woman.
Specialist's comment
"Such an event is a tragedy for the child. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the mother—perhaps she was in postpartum shock? Mothers are always treated this way until eight weeks after giving birth. All women who, for various reasons, cannot care for their child after delivery should tell a doctor or midwife. After giving birth, such a woman is transferred to another ward, most often gynecology. She makes her initial declaration while still in hospital (which, in fact, must be confirmed after eight weeks). During those eight weeks, she has time to change her decision. She can take the child back at any time," explains Jadwiga Bobek of the Bolesławiec branch of Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dzieci.
"Many families are waiting to adopt, sometimes even for several years. A child may be placed with an adoptive family after just eight weeks. Until then, the child stays with a qualified foster family or at a Home for Young Children. And what happens to a child if the mother abandons it? The child waits—quite a long time—for the court proceedings to be completed (finding the mother and father, criminal proceedings, and so on). It may wait as long as two years," Jadwiga Bobek explains.
Information and help for pregnant women
Women who, for various reasons, cannot care for their child after giving birth can receive help at the District Family Support Centre on Zwycięstwa Street in Bolesławiec, or from Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dzieci at (0-75) 732 47 47. They can also use the Bolesławiec helpline. Specialists from TPD are on duty at 988 from Monday to Friday, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.