I don't know if I agree (or disagree),

If she realized she would not be able to provide for the child, and decided to find an adoptive parent out side of "the system"...I would have a little sympathy...If she had some underlying mental condition (post-partum) IE...I would have a little symapthy

If she was selling her baby, for booze and drugs...throw the book at her

I'll hope for the update

Shouldn't there be some attention paid to the fact that a person was actually thinking about buying a baby from the classified ads? That's almost as bad as placing the ad.

@give it a rest

there is a system in place for adoption, but anyone who has first hand knowledge of the system, will tell you it is a terrible system...except in the rarest occasion, I (personnally) believe that hopeful parents and mother would be better served outside of the "legal" system

If the mother decided to put the kid up for adoption today, it would likely be in the system for a year, and longer if the child "had issues"...and a couple who want to adopt a child today could be waiting for a year, and more if the couple "had issues"...

Nobody else wanted to get involved by reporting the ad?

@Give it a rest!, in general, I would agree, but despite the temptation, the person did the right thing.

If you saw a bag of money, and you picked it up, but then turned it in, I would not want you arrested either, even if your original intent was to take it. Life is full of temptation, but it is what we actually do that ultimately counts.

Actually, one may legally sell one's baby, using legal representation and submitting appropriate documentation. An acquaintance of mine got hers for free going through this process but could just as well have paid an additional fee to the birth mother. This woman did not obtain legal representation and now she's in trouble. Black market versus government sanction.

The safety, concern and care of the child is the only thing important at this time. To determine child abandonment or attempting to sale the child will be determined in an investigation.

The older I get, the more I realize that very, very few things in life are as simplistic, cut 'n' dry as many Americans wish. Single mom, living in a cheap apt., alone ---- pay attention to what the elderly neighbor said about seeing the young mom sitting alone on the apt. steps, seemingly sad. Jesus, people, she didn't abuse the baby. She knew she couldn't give it a decent upbringing. Apparently, the baby is healthy, so she stayed healthy during the 9-month pregnancy, trying to give him a good start ... then find him a good forever home. How on Earth is she expected to know the complex legalities of a govt. controlled adoption process? Does anyone commenting here know their state laws on this? Were I her, I'd have taken him to a children's hospital and asked for help, but I have a college degree, family and enough life experience to know to do that. She didn't stand on a street corner and hand him to the first person who passed by. Are there lowlifes who'd buy a baby for $200, yes. But how many lowlifes would pony up $4000? No way did she handle this appropriately, but she could've done much, much worse. The larger issue that seems to have sailed right past everyone here is that this is what happens when conservative and religious segments within the U.S. spend 30 years chipping away at the number of county/city health clinics that once provided low income young women ... and men ... with birth control.

Mental illness produces only a whisper in the beginning and evolves into a nightmarish scream. By then it is usually too late to make a difference. We can be thankful things turned out the way they have. I saw no mention of a father.

She should be arrested if she were trying to sell her kid for anything less than $6,000.

Well said Littlechange. We will see more sad stories like this as the christian fanatics destroy women's access to abortion. Kansas just convicted a doctor for providing abortion. Coat hangers will soon become a medical instrument again while those fanatics cheer for returning to the "good old days".

It seems there is an option not to get pregnant by refusing sex, unless of course she was forced. I know in this day and age it's not normal to abstain, but it should be a consideration if you know you can't provide for a child and don't take or can't afford birth control

I do feel sorry for her because it sounds like she may have had postpartum depression.In school instead of just teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, how about adding decision-making skills and consequences for different actions. A guiding hand can go a long way. Not right and wrong, but, if you do this....here is an example of what life could and probably will be like for you.

@ lonesome,

what is the big deal then, all "it" is, is a 15lb clump of human cells

First, you can't sell a child because some freak like Sandusky might be the buyer.

Second, if those well intentioned people who saw, not her sitting on the steps, sad & alone, really cared they would have went to her not waited for her to come to them.

Last, folks if you see someone like this lady, take a minute out of your busy schedule and offer a smile or a sympathetic ear. This whole mess could have been prevented with a little careing intervention.

So mom tried to sell the baby for 4k. Now the state has custody, and very soon will SELL the baby for about 35-45k. Oh wait, when the state does it, it's called "adoption." We must be politically correct you know.

lonesomegeorge2012, why don't women just take birth control pills if they don't want to get pregnant?

The real reason that selling babies or kids would be an issue, is because selling would entail the idea of ownership, which would be bordering on the idea of slavery. Since the passage of the 13th amendment, slavery is illegal within the US. Oddly enough, a US citizen could legally own a slave OVERSEAS, so long as the individual is never brought inside the US, or one of it's territories. Once the individual would be brought to the US, they would be free, as inside US territory, whatever agreements to ownership would not be recognized, and the 13th amendment would apply...

As to argueing, "well she should have abstained, etc, etc, etc", one can sit here and argue this all day. And yet religious based arguments really won't hold much weight outside of those who actually believe in, or ascribe to such religion. Not everyone in this country holds the same beliefs, and as such not everyone will pattern their lives in the same way. The non-establishment clause, combined with giving those who do believe as such the right to practice (in their own lives, not necessarily ascribe others to live the same way) also comes into play. We should perhaps keep this in mind, while looking at, and condemning groups such as the Taliban who would, just as reported yesterday, turn a hotel into the OK Corale, and shoot up the joint, because people have sex and drink alchohol there. Be whatever as it may, we don't want to come close, in consciousness, to where those individuals are at. Not that a suggestion is that close however.

In either case, it's a little late, and as no one can change the past, only the current situation can be dealt with. We also don't know if the individual in question just lost their job or something, and for whatever reason can't receive unemployment. We just don't know. Babies do take 9 months to form, plus whatever occured in the interum. Perhaps she had the financial means, and lost it, perhaps she just had sex because she was bored and had nothing else to do with her time. The background isn't here. We are at the fact however she tried to sell her baby, which on the surface is rather disgusting.

I will add though, littlechanges does have a point. Things aren't always as simple as they might at first glance appear. That they came for BACK RENT, does suggest that she was about to be thrown out on the streets, with her child, as such could entail an eviction might be coming. It also suggests financial hardships. It's a mess, and all around for the kid unfortunate. Poverty at least does seem to be a factor... I won't mention at this time all that happens in some third world countries where this enters into it (and especially where employers forceably rape their employees as a condition of employment), as it gets even worse then here... Lets just say that in this, another adtage also from Christianity might apply, aka judge not least ye be judged. If that would mean reaping the karma if you will, of being forced into her particular situation, in order to gain that experience; personally I'd rather pass and keep myself free from the universe, God, whatever, deciding that perhaps I would need to learn how it would feel to be in "their shoes" :o

All around, I don't see much good comming out of this, unless the child can quickly find a loving home, where the parents to be would have the means to provide for them... But as some have also said, the adoption prospects in this country aren't exactly that great. The adoptive system we have in place here, is one reason many prospective parents chose to adopt from overseas, instead...

African American child? Good luck with an adoption. Many rot in the system. And contrary to popular belief, the state makes a poor parent. I grew up in foster homes. Plural. When I was in college years ago, I had a friend who had put her baby up for adoption before starting college and about a year later he ended up as "Somebody's Child" a weekly ad the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services runs to try to get children adopted. She nearly committed suicide when she realized he had not been adopted as an infant. Some children are worth more than others in this society.

I'm sure most here are perfect in every way to sit there and make these negative comments without knowing Sh_t about her, it would have depended on the color of her skin on how much you people cared so don't try to seem concerned your just here spouting your hate for someone you think you're better than.

I agree in principle. But technically, a woman isn't considered 'childless' unless she never had a kid to begin with.

@Give it a Rest - it's a little disturbing, but not a crime. It's not a crime to think about doing something wrong. I could openly admit to a police officer that I thought about robbing a bank once...nothing he could do about it.

I can see admitting that you cannot provide for your child in the best way possible and giving them up to a family that can, but profiting off of the sale of your child? Its like a re-homing fee for a human...not sure how I feel about that.

The newspaper or whatever that she placed the ad in didn't call the cops? She shouldn't be the only one charged.

Not enough information in the article to say what was really going on. However, having been the primary caretaker for three babies I can say that a 4 month old can't be left at home alone ever. The fact that this occurred suggests there is an attachment disorder perhaps "insecure attachment" (look it up if you don't know what this means) between the mother and the baby. I can't imagine any securely attached mothers or fathers leaving their 4 month old at home alone. It also suggests the baby will be subject to abandonment trauma - both physical and emotional - in the psychologically formative stages of his life, if left in the care of this family. Insecure attachment and abandonment trauma are thought to be major causative factors for many types of psychopathology, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, susceptibility to gang membership, etc., etc., etc.. Many grow up to be psychotic, dysphoric, angry, antisocial, etc. with many different emotional, conduct and disruptive behavior disorders. I have participated in delivering health care in a major American city and can attest to the fact that the only unusual thing about this story is that the mother put an ad in the newspaper. There is a culture and social structure that produces these situations. In this culture having a baby as a teenager is a status symbol, like an iPhone. They have proven their fertility. One 14 yo I met had 3 babies and had been pregnant at least 10 times. Unfortunately, she was not unusual. Our culture celebrates sexuality and sexualizes almost everything but at the same time restricts measures to control pregnancy. Then we wonder why we have these problems. It is not a mystery.

What would be the difference between trying to sell your baby as it's in the womb legally for $20,000 as we all hear about and trying to sell it after it's out of the womb? Apart from this woman being stoopid and leaving her child alone for several hours, I don't see what the crime was here. A certainly better alternative than the other horror stories we so often hear about some lunatic mothers killing their own newbourns!

Glad that this child was rescued before this situation could progress further.

@ken, are you serious? There is an extensive screening process for those kind of adoptions(which is what they are called) that can protect the child from a life of negligence and abuse.

What newspaper allows you to sell children?

@Mark Taft who said:

lonesomegeorge2012, why don't women just take birth control pills if they don't want to get pregnant?

Mark Taft, for one thing, this particular woman lives in Texas, where the legislature has cut off funding to Planned Parenthood -- where women get their birth control much, much more than abortions. They have also cut funding and assistance to state and local women's clinics where poor women can get birth control.

The situation with state cuts to clinics is happening all over the U.S. and I'm sure you're aware of the opposition to PP. So it is becoming more and more difficult for low income women to get birth control.

And don't say they should just keep their legs closed. Maybe guys should just keep their d***s to themselves?

Well, conservative Texas tries to force every pregnant woman to give birth. So, why are they upset if she does, and then tries to sell it to someone who wants it?

The conservatives want to force women to take every unwanted pregnancy to term. So, she did... what's the big deal now?

Is that "Blue Book" ??

Great point Bill. Of course if she has gone through a church, it all would have been good. She wouldn't have gotten any money, but oh well. Unfortunately, you can't sell (adopt out) a baby without a license and the groups with the licenses don't want the competition.

Stand,

Would the church have made a profit on the sale of this child?

Would that be trade-in value?

I believe that to sell a human being, regardless of whether it is through adoption or through what this lady did, is, and if not so, then it should be, illegal, period. All that should be required is for the proper legal documentation of the child, a simple form, maybe a background check , a pair of signatures for a man and a woman (and if you do not like my rules, then too bad, you whiny, pot calling the kettle black, hypocritical, little narrow minded, intolerant bigots), and a year trial period and boom, the adoption process is over, period. Make it simple, people.

Bill,

You're getting overcharged. Baby ... male .... mint condition used .... Dallas .... $800 wholesale, $1100 retail.

$2,300 are you nuts? You've never seen a hospital bill? At home births with the assistance of a midwife run from $300-$3,000. Vaginal births in a traditional hospital setting cost anywhere from $5,000-$20,000. C-sections without any complications average from $14,000-$25,000 and if there are complications...ca-ching!

But the parents don't pay those bills. People would never have kids if they actually had to pay the cost for those kids themselves. They make the insurance pool pay for that -- or the taxpayers. But never themselves!

I think technically it would be spayed...don't suspend me tyler

Richard-3165941: Would the church have made a profit on the sale of this child?

Probably not. However, they'd have made sure that their leader/clergy had a chance to molest it first, before selling it off.

That is just a little racist Tarzan7...

Give it a rest,

How is that racist? Are you applying a stereotype based on how Tarzan wrote what he did? Now THAT'S racist!

And hope for humanity fades a little more. Not because of this story, but because there are still people like Tarzan and UdunnoBro out there saying stupid things like this behind the anonymity of the web.

If the mother is black then there is a 70% chance of the baby being illegitimate. That's not racism, that's statistics. Thus, no father around.

Mark Taft: Took the words right out of mouth. Couldn't have said it better.

Tarzan7 has a point in #4, and it's not about racism. It's about a way of life; people of all races populate "da hood". And they tend to have the same mannerisms and speech patterns; color has zilch to do with that. I know of what I speak. My niece is as fair-complected as a person can get, and she grew up in those circumstances because her mother disappeared for 18 years after my brother (child's father) died. Long story, doesn't matter here. But try talking to that young lady on the phone and trying to "stereotype" her race; you can't. It's an attitude, among other things.

The mother of this baby didn't get pregnant by herself. I surely do not condone what she did, but I'm not ready to fire up the torch and sharpen my pitchfork, either. I get so tired of reading/hearing "why wasn't she using birth control?" Point made, she should have been. But so should the biological father! As an example, if you can afford tats, you can afford a "raincoat". Condoms just don't cost that much; no they aren't 100%, but they beat the hell out of nothing. There are men out there who have had multiple children by multiple mothers; they somehow don't get nearly the attention they should be in these situations.

I'd be elated to pony up the necessary tax funding for these males (can't call 'em "men", because MEN take care of their own) to have vasectomies after, say the first three the taxpayer gets to raise. [And usually in very dismal circumstances.] Fair is fair.

Folks really???? Not one thing in the article mentioned then race of the child or mother. Was it the word apartment that made you think black? Last time I checked people of all races rent apartments. Was it the fact she drives a Honda? I know for a fact people of all races drive Hondas. Was it the fact that one of the neighbors's names was Latonia Smith? I know for a fact some black people have neighbors of all colors. Was it the name of the other neighbor, Omara Muhammad? Could be black or non black muslim now couldn't it?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dallas-mom-accused-sell-baby-4-000-classified-ad-article-1.1101131

@Devi's Son

I'm a little surprized that this need to be said, but MSNDC isn't the only "news" source, and just because MSNDC intentionally left out any direct reference to the "race"...most reputable sources did not...Not that I'm saying, these particular posters actually read any "real news" source...

If abortion is outlawed then I hope that stricter enforcement of the father of the child is enforced. Such as in this case the baby should go to the father and if he is an unfit parent they should lock him up for child endangerment. For some reason the fathers of the child is always the innocent bystander and the women have all the responsibility. There are unfit fathers of every race and creed.

I completely agree! Such a selfish person...and where did she go without her baby? This little man is much better off away from her!

Marty, your comment started out realistic and somewhat compassionate. However, "tubal be done on her and then an extended jail stay"? Seems a little harsh when the mother was obviously suffering from depression. I honestly don't see this as being selfish in any way. She was trying, within her means and resources to do the "right" thing. Thank God she didn't harm the baby or dump him somewhere to get "rid" of him. At least she had enough brains to take care of him until she found him a home. I would like to know where all the pro-abortion people are on this subject? Or for that matter, even what is the opinion of the anti-abortion people? It wouldn't have happened this way if she aborted. But maybe she took the high road and thought she would be able to endure having a child to raise. NOT everyone has the same resources and therefore has to make decisions based on their own lives. I DO NOT AGREE with how she went about what she has done, but take into consideration what she was going through.

If anyone tries to do a forced sterilization these days, the professional left goes ape.

Not if the sterilization is on you.

Pro-choice equals pro-murder. If you do not like this, then too bad, people. Also, for the mom that is out there, shame on you for not standing up to that guy and forcing him to be a man and take care of that boy. A true mom, let alone a true dad, would have stayed in the relationship and married and if he was a jerk, well then, it is your own fault for shacking up wih such a negative, manipulative twit in the first place. Hopefully, if there are any men that are out there, then at least show this woman the love that her lying, no-good jerk of an ex-lover never showed to her and then show her what a REAL man is in her life. You all can whine at me all that you want with being heartless if you want but I have seen this happen to my own family members AND I am the by-product of such a relationship myself except that my mom was also a mom to six children at the time, as in a SINGLE mom, and she helped my brother and I (though my little sister was given up for adoption, though we have a somewhat healthy relationship today) out and now I have a step-father whom I call "Dad" and I have a pretty good relationship with my parents to this day. My niece had this happen to her and now she is married to a man and they have a child together and things are really great. You people need to own up to things and you also do not need to kill babies and then claim that it is a choice because when you do so, there will always be people that are out there that will claim (though I am not one of them) that they have a choice in taking you down, regardless of the law. Be careful of those people when you try to do something like that because if you do avoid those people, then there is a Judge that you will not avoid in the future. Finally, to all of you lovely single ladies that are out there, if you want a good man that will not beat you up or leave you to dry, then why not leave me a message. I prefer you to not have children from a previous marriage, for you to have tattoos or body piercings, or for you to smoke, drink, or do drugs, and I prefer that you have a strong mind but who is also willing to become a complete equal in the relationship? Do I have any takers on my offer? The reason that I am saying this is because I not only want to prove that I can be a better man than my biological father was to me but that I can prove to both my parents and to you that I am a competent, mature individual that knows how to treat a woman, that can be a good husband, that can be a good father, and, in the case of the ladies, to be their best friend and to be the best lover that they could ever have in their lives.

oh yes, forced sterilization, the backbone of eugenics...... nice

There are cases in which a person should never have any children, like the guy who killed his wife and two kids, did 5 years in a mental hospital, got out, married again and had more kids. He then killed wife #2 and the 2 new kids and is claiming mental illness (again). Or how about that Yates woman who drowned 5 kids, or the woman in SC who drowned her sons because her boyfriend didn't like having kids around. Using a baby as a money making commodity is wrong also. She didn't know if the potential buyer was a pedophile, a crazy, or whatever, she just wanted the money. Being human doesn't always mean that under any circumstances the right to procreate should be absolute. Ask the guy in TN who has 30 kids with 20+ women and wants the state to pay his child support for him.

She should have had an abortion.Some people do not need to reproduce.Obviously,she's one of them. And there are TOO many unwanted babies on this planet.She needs to have a tubal at state expense and never try to have more kids.She couldn't afford to feed or house herself.So getting knocked up is just stupid.Unfortunately,there are thousands more just like her,and they're having these unwanted babies.Yes,I said unwanted.That's the truth.And a lot of these people have a baby they don't want and go on to slam it against the wall,burn it or whatever abuse they mete out.And no one wants the kids in foster care.Doesn't matter if they're black or white or whatever.My mom was lily white and grew up in foster care.Out of 4 girls,one was adopted.So this isn't just about race,it's about too many unwanted children.My grandma died,and there were 6 kids.Things happen you can't control.People should use birth control,but don't.Thus,unwanted children,with no parents.And the guys knocking them up need to be held responsible too.What a bunch of losers.It is NOT okay to run around reproducing like animals.People should be responsible for themselves.

Hey who hasn't thought of selling, or at least giving away, your kids from time to time. Usually that temptation is overcome by maternal instincts and affection. But, if you really can't afford to raise a baby, give it up for adoption for pete's sake. This is insane. She deserves a tubal ligation and forced labor.

Gee, Marty, from all you've been saying here it sounds like it's the guys who need to be snipped!

Forced sterilization? I'm not even going to touch the jail time thing, because I have no idea about her state of mind, but at least she did not harm the child and then blame it on someone else.

It's the forced sterilization that I can't wrap my mind around. Really? So external punishment is not enough, but you wish to violate her internally also? Please explain the reasoning behind this thought, I'm being serious.

Tired, about 50% of the women should be sterilized.
Sorry.

Mark, I hope that you have been also. I would not like it if there are more like you wandering around this earth.

There are a lot of good people with enough income to care for a child that can not adopt because they don't have the multiple thousands of dollars or because of a 'health deficit. The government system for adoption is extremely flawed and a lot potential adoptive parents are ineligible.

how about living in a society where we do not have to have " our leaders" to act human because we conduct ourselves as humans?

Love your neighbor... Then why's their curtains closed?

Maybe Romney will. The LDS Church (the Mormons) have a program (called visiting teaching/home teaching) where individual members are assigned several families to befriend and look after on a monthly basis. Maybe they could implement that across the country! Or maybe we could all just befriend our neighbors and come out from behind the computers and TV's!

The last thing, I can assure you, that most of us want, is to be visited by Mormons on any kind of regular basis.

LOL diatribe ....... If I could give you twenty up votes I would. Now that was damned funny!!!

My frigging neighbors are always "looking in" on me. Jerks won't stay out of my yard. And, the last time I burnt a steak, they called the fire department to report that they smelled smoke.

I vote "no" on this idea, lol.

Home teaching/visiting teaching is Mormon's visiting other Mormons. Taking care of our own, so to speak.

Yeah... I'm well aware of what it is. I guess if you live somewhere that is overwhelmingly populated by mormons, and you are one, that would seem to be a very community conscious practice. Largely, however, mormons are a relatively small minority, and what you suggest offers little in the way of overcoming the institutionalized FEAR of one another which is, in reality, the real culprit behind Americans' increasingly isolate existence. So have your insular mormon get-togethers and trust that most of us will continue to tell your pushy-a$$ "missionaries" to get off our doorsteps before we call the police.

PS- Having been down and out in Mormon country, I'm quite familiar with how "charitable" y'all are. Give it a rest, already. Mitt Romney is not going to be some new dawn for America. He is an unabashed, power-hungry corporatist looking out for himself and "his own" (that is the billionaires funding his campaign) and just hoping that he will win the popularity contest/beauty pageant that IS American politics before clueless voters, much like yourself, see through the thin veneer of well-coiffed hair and toothy grins...

Come to think of it...

Sounds just like the other guy...

why not? personal injury lawyers are allowed to place ads.

Vasectomy for the one who impregnated her and make him pay child support.

No, that would violate the guys civil rights.

That's different. If you can get that kind of jack for a baby, go for it.

Ah, but the lack of religion also wishes to take control over this country, axiom-3508568. This is a truth that can not be denied and the left, right, middle, and fringe groups all have agendas that they wish to push upon this country and they wish to play the blame game rather than take a proactive stance, weep upon the numerous sins of the nation, truly become sorry for what they have done, and ask forgiveness from their Creator for their evil deeds towards Him in their lives. Furthermore, you can not be both pro-life and pro-choice in this matter. Our mutual Creator would never allow such a stand and to promote such a philosophy is akin to becoming pro-heterophobic and pro-Christian or pro-Christian and pro-Freemason. One can not make something that is evil co-exist alongside something that is good. The reason that I am saying this is that either good or evil will triumph in the heart, mind, and life of a person and that they can not co-exist. Yeshua Yamahshiyah (Jesus Christ) made some comments about it and compared such actions to uniting oneself to a prostitute. He said that could never happen to someone who was truly holy in His sight. Furthermore, one of the Ten Commandments said that Yahweh was a jealous God and that He did not want any idols before Him, so that means you must either choose to follow His ways and His statutes or else you are not truly a part of His kingdom, period. Finally, if you want to argue with me on the subject, then you are simply looking at the wrong place because I only reminded you of what was said by our mutual Creator. I was not responsible for making the laws, so if you want to have an argument and to justify your behavior, then why not argue against Yahweh, the Law Maker and Law Giver of the cosmos? He would probably be a far superior source for you to lay your arguments on anyway. Sadly, our society is no better than ancient Israel and the end of the Han Dynasty. You people need to learn to not make the same mistakes as these people did or else you will fall into the same traps as these people. Finally, as the Scripture says, "As a dog returns to its own vomit, so a fool will repeat the same folly (foolishness)."

nah. crack ho woulda just pimped it out. better long-term income.

Anna ob .. Your comments is the only sensible comment i've read so far.. I'm a mother of six children i've struggled with them and i've worked an taken care of them i've never thought of doing any such thing but i also care for other people if i saw her i would have reached out and helped. i'm now a grandmother of five and i would have helped her to get a job are get a break from the child.. so many people want to judge and they weren't in her shoe ... My heart goes out to the mother and the child.. i pray that she will get some kind of help.. She really needed someone to help her and there was know one.. God be with them..

great idea. that way the baby sells for $50k instead of 4k. and lawyers get all the money.

Get meds. They help.

tforu, thank you for sharing your very personal experience and for your empathy. As I read this article my heart broke for this mother and for her baby. Who knows what's going on in her body and in her head, and while I'm not excusing her for placing an ad to sell her own child, the comments made by her elderly neighbor sound like an unanswered and glaring alarm in my ears. Until the facts of this woman's situation are fully known and, let's face it, they may never be known, I am inclined to reserve judgement. I do, however, grieve for her and her baby boy. Nobody wins. Only degrees of loss to be seen here. How many more women like this are out there, parenting all alone, possibly suffering severe post-partum depression which is exceptionally dangerous if not addressed and/or treated, possibly hurting for financial resources to care for their child without benefit of assistance from the father, and who knows what else plaguing their live(s)? Thank you for charging on, and God bless you and your friends and neighbors who care enough to help you through these tough times as a single mother. There are Everyday Angels walking amongst us. Seems you've met a few of them, 'eh?

Chris, meds do help, however, sometimes finding the "right" one is time consuming, expensive and some cause more depression then you started out with. I have MS and it took a year to find the "right combination" to help me. At one time I was on one that caused me to think of death every minute. So just saying to Get meds. They help. Is just not that simple. And if you don't have a Dr. that is willing to work with you it just makes it even worse. Most of the time they want you to "give it time" but that isn't always the BEST WAY.

. . .not to mention that these drugs are neither cheap nor, necessarily, prescribed to everyone equally. My sister can't get help for her raging anxiety disorder even though she's seen both general practioners and at least two psychiatrists. Imagine for a moment that one can't afford to see private physicians for lack of funds and/or insurance which is the case for millions of Americans these days. What do you think these people are inclined to do? Self medicate, perhaps? Oh, and one never get these drugs in the emergency room where triage is the only approach.

Aye, Though I agree with you wholeheartedly, I believe this particular woman to be sane and one who acted on impulse out of desperation for self without regard to where her baby may end up. I suppose she rationalized that wherever it may be, the child would be better off? I dunno, but I do pray that the world could change in a way that we care for each other better...