Abandoned Fetus In Stockton Prompts Reminders Mothers In Need Have Options
STOCKTON (CBS13) — The discovery of another discarded fetus in the region is prompting officials to remind parents and families how cases like these can be avoided.
The discovery of the fetus in Stockton comes just a few weeks after two fetuses were found inside a storage locker in Placer County, and a baby was found in a trash bin in Merced.
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While the cases don't appear related, local crisis counselors say they highlight an age-old problem.
"We've seen a huge increase in babies being dumped or just unwanted," said Inez Whitlow, with a local pregnancy and crisis support group, Chicks in Crisis.
While there are multiple factors that lead to mothers dumping their babies or stillborn fetuses, it often comes down to shame.
"You get some parents who say 'You come home pregnant, I'm going to kill you. You're kicked out of the house.' So guess what they're going to do? They're not going to tell you," she said.
Whitlow says parents must make it clear that kids and teens can come to them no matter what before making a life-changing decision.
But if parents aren't there, she says anyone over the age of 12 has other options.
"They feel they can't go to a doctor because they're going to call their parents, and that's totally wrong, you can go to the doctor, you can a pregnancy test, your doctor can't even tell your parents," she said.
And they can also go to people like Whitlow, who will help. The group already serves nearly 6,000 households a year, even housing homeless young mothers.