After the baby was found in a trash can on Sunday in Riverside, police searched Wednesday for a woman who gave birth to an infant, primarily to provide her medical assistance.
The newborn is now being safely treated in the hospital after being found inside the trash can in the apartment where his umbilical cord is still attached, police said.
The Riverside Police Department said it is not clear whether the baby’s mother had dropped the newborn, but the police priority was to see a female doctor.
“She has just had medical experience with trauma with childbirth and wants to ensure that she is probably able to get the medical care she probably needs,” Riverside Police and Ryan Railsback said.
Police said officers were called to an apartment on Jackson Street near Magnolia Avenue Sunday afternoon.
“That’s not normal,” said neighbor Keith Ross. “What you do to leave your child is a silly AV.”
Staff at the clinic, a few blocks from where the baby was found, were on standby as they focused on guiding pregnant mothers at every stage regardless of the situation.
“If you have addiction issues or if you’re homeless, you have resources to help you find shelter and rehabilitation,” says Sandra Ramirez of Riverside Life Services. “It’s important to make sure her body is checked out, but it also requires mental and emotional support.”
In California, the Baby Suspension Safely Act was passed in 2006, allowing a legal custody parent or person to safely abandon a baby in a hospital, fire or police station without fear of being charged within 72 hours of birth.
Police, who released blurry photos of the toddler, said they hope the image encourages the mother to move forward.
“We hope that someone will see this picture and that a beautiful boy will smoke a pacifier and say, ‘I know who they are.’ ”
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