Blind Couple Reunited With Baby Taken Away by State

Leigh - - - Assistance, yes, removal of their child NO. The article never once states that the nurse attempted to assist the mother in positioning the baby. In cases where the mother is very large, this also happens, but the nurses do not call in social services because the mother is too fat to be a mother. In addition, the nurse was watching the entire time, so she watched the baby turn blue as well. Why didn't she correct the situation BEFORE the baby turned blue? Would she have waited until the baby died and then called the police? This nurse should have assisted the new mother and helped her "feel" where the baby should be and helped her learn - she had never had a baby before. No, she did NOT do her job, and it is as much the nurses fault as anyones!

How easy it was to HELP, not hinder! Yours was the easiest, most logical, and yes, HELPFUL solution for this blind mom & her baby to bond & breastfeed. Besides, where is it written that if you can't breastfeed you can't be a mom? OK, the baby had breathing issues related to breastfeeding.. They were in a hospital setting - part of that setting is to teach and enable folks to manage at home after treatment (or childbirth, in this case). WHERE were the reasonable, caring people? All on break? Child Services (or whatever they are called in different states) are NOT there to make children wards of the state. They are there to HELP in difficult circumstances, to teach, and to point to and provide services to the family to help raise healthy kids!

what an insane comment, "hope this couple ends up set for life after they sue the hospital." Do you not believe this couple is already getting fully supported from all sorts of government programs? It's not like they're out there punching the clock and making the old house payment.

Unfortunately in MO social workers are quick to remove kids and find new adoptive parents as fast as they can. This couple is lucky the social worker didn't already have that baby adopted. They get a percentage in adoption fees and keep an ear out for new parents who they can find any reason from immaturity to stuff like this to take kids away.

Very well said. This sounds like something that would have happend in the 40's. How pathetic for a new mom and dad not to be able to cuddle and love their baby because of an unfeeling and uncaring "public servant"..

I don't disagree with you that the state is crazy to take their child, but it wasn't just a case of not getting a perfect latch the first time. The baby turned blue, so the mother obviously needed some intervention and/or training. The nurse should have considered what implications her report would have and chosen her words more carefully. These days ppl want to criticize and report instead of aid and assist. It's sad really.

As a pediatric nurse for 40 years, I find this story appalling. How dare that nurse assume these parents weren't capable of caring for their baby. What a shame the mother missed the first 2 months of critical bonding with her baby. Sad that the baby didn't get the all important antibodies that breast feeding provides.

I hope someone gets their butt kicked over this.

The state did not have the right to take that child without notifying the parent . Also is not right to take a new born baby and put her in a foster care without notifying the parents. Although,her parent are blind and the nurse felt that the child was in ''danger'' in some way she should have check with both parent if they had any family member that were not blind and put the child at their responsibility by doing that the parent are notify that their child is in such in such care the reason why is because we fell such in such ... The state should intervene only if the parent are in danger to their child . By this i mean if the parents or parent can harm their child by Mal threatening. The nurse made the decision using her heart by not her brain . Although, she wanted what was best for the child she should have check and told the parent what she was going to do . By any mean i do not agree with her decision.Erika Johnson Blake Sinnett did not have the right to undergo this pain and the certainly deserve in apology from the nurse and the state . I hope for them the best in every way .

I fully agree with your comments. Also, why didn't the nurse recommend bottle feeding. The mother could have used a breast pump, then filled the bottles.

As some of you mentioned, where was the nurse when she was trying to feed her child? When my wife was in the hospital giving birth to our son, before delivery a nurse asked if she was going to breast feed. When she said yes, they showed her how to wash the nipple; if the nipple was recessed - how to protrude it. When it was time to feed our son the 1st time, the nurse showed her how to hold the infant and to use two fingers to keep the breast from the baby's nostrils. And my wife is sighted.

This should be the practice of EVERY hospital. Why wasn't the nurse with the mother to insure that the feeding would go right, to assist if the mother had problems? I believe the nurse and the hospital attempted to cover up THEIR mistake by claiming the mother wasn't a fit mother. With lawsuits against OB/GYN's on the rise and against hospital foul ups, I believe its time this hospital reevaluate their L&D dept.

Missouri, thoes backwards bastards should have stepped in to help
not ripp a life from its parrents, i am 70, just had both hips replaced
i came home from the hospital unable to care for myself, the state of Arizona provided me with a nurse 3 times a week and pysical therapy 3 times a week, thank God for the loving wife I have, doing all the chores and write books besides, she is the author of " Triumph of Dreams" Ruth P. Douglass
Arizona didn't take me away from my wife, OH God how I love Arizona

I am a disabled parent. I am not blind but I have brain and spinal cord injuries in addidtion to other health issues. I am just as good of parent ( if not better ) then I was when I was able bodied. People with disbailities need a supprt system in place just in case something comes up that they need help with. Since my accident I have learned to adapt in the areas of my life that I needed to. Having said that I do not think that their kids should be taken from them. the state could have offered in home support or anything other then taking the baby. As far as the sufficating breast feeding statements...when I had my children the nurses showed me ways to hold my breast. That nurse could have suggested that she feel for the nose and press her breast down in front of the nose. Breast feeding for the first time isnt exactly easy even for a mom who can see. If you ask me...if the baby turned blue from breast suffication with the nurse standing right there watching...the nurse should be brought up on charges. This wasnt her first time introducing breast feeding to a new mom and she certainly could see for herself that the breast was sufficating the baby if that is even what really happened at all.

It takes a while to turn a baby blue, people. Think about it!

Amen and amen! The person AT FAULT in this situation is THE NURSE that did not do her JOB. She should have immediately shown Erika how to position the baby properly so that would not have happened. How could anyone WATCH a baby turning blue is beyond comprehension...this nurse was negligent. How many babies of sighted mothers did she let do the same...let me guess...NONE. How many sighted mothers did she have to show how to properly breast feed? A BUNCH. Erika has a discrimination case of epic proportions here and this is one case that I would applaud going to court. I don't like frivilous lawsuits, but this one is clearly NOT in that category. Blatant discrimination of a person with a disability...

Shame on the system, and especially shame on the "NURSE" The first thing she should have done is to teach and assist the Mom in proper nursing techniques. As stated, if for some reason she was not qualified to assist, she has a moral and ethical responsibility to "do no harm" which would include finding the "family" the proper resourses that they needed, NOT depriving this young couple of the important bonding time with their new-born, AND depriving the child of the importance of nursing from her mother!!! LeLeche League is EVERYWHERE. I was 30 when my first child was born...5 weeks early, footling breach and emergency C-Section due to a prolapsed cord. I recieved wonderful coaching on how to properly nurse and supplement my 4pound 4ounce child and a nurse visited my home for the next 6 weeks to assist with nursing and monitor the growth and progress of my tiny child.
I'm sorry, but common sense dictates to tell the Mom that she needs to be aware of the baby's nose and positioning so as not to restrict her breathing. Mom has 2 hands, I'm sure she would have caught on right away had she been instructed on proper techniques. In my many decades I've seen numerous moms have difficulty with nursing and many quit because they didnt' have proper support. Social Services, LeLeche, the Hospital, Organizations and Schools for the Blind all have programs to assist those in need. The first step should have been finding solutions to the challenges, NOT CREATING MORE PROBLEMS and CHALLENGES! Shame, shame, shame, shame, SHAME on the broken system!!!

Did you not read the article? Was it better to have a baby die from suffocation because the parents didn't know the child stopped breathing. I would think the parents would be gratefull that someone was looking out after their child because they were not able to. Where was the families? I am sure having a baby and being blind can be done but what are the other reasons that social services took the baby away? Are the parents on welfare and other gov't assistance? Are their other factors? What is NOT being reported in the article. Do you know how many parents that are drug addicted, homeless and are raising their children? So they get welfare money? Think about it!

I agree with you, LS! Who the heck knows about that nurse...

the blind mother OBVIOUSLY sensed that something was wrong with the baby and TRIED to switch the baby around thinking it would help. Heck, she's new to it, the nurse should have been some sort of assistance and HELPED the lady hold the baby a proper way and work with her on that. Blind peoples' senses are compensated for when they don't have a certain ability, the Gov. should read on that sometime....

to leigh and midge: The nurse did nothing to help that child. She noticed the childs nostrils were covered and watched until thr baby turned blue. The mother realized there was a problem and shifted the baby. The nurses action was to stand there and take notes.
a decent nurse, upon noticing the covered nostrils, would have said "You're doing that wrong. Here, let me show the right way."

Well I AM a nurse (pediatric and NICU) and absolutely EMBARASSED by this nurses behavior! Yes, these parents have challenges, but my gosh, look into resources to assist them!! DON'T JUST ASSUME. Trouble breastfeeding? what new mother hasn't had problems?? call in a lactation specialist! verify resources (cab, dr, ambulance, temperature) prior to them leaving and help the parents develop a plan (like ANY SIGHTED person would anyways!) Good night! they are BLIND that doesn't equal STUPID (that nurse though does!)

I agree...that nurse needs re-training. She obviously has no "bed-side" manners. All new moms need help.I sure did and I'm not blind..not to have their baby taken away. I hope she is retrained to be a lot more helpful. I also hope they get some financial aid...nothing can give them back those 57 days but hopefully some financial help can help them go on from here...