One more baby saved.
The past weekend saw a second baby placed in the Helderberg Baby Saver this year.
A newborn baby girl was given a chance at life this past Saturday, bringing the total of babies to benefit from the Saver to four since its inception in 2014.
According to Sandy Immelman, founder of the Helderberg Baby Saver, the “healthy” baby was an estimated five days old when placed in the special built-in safe at the Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre in Schapenberg Road, Somerset West.
“I was conducting a presentation on the Baby Saver at the Ikhwezi Clinic when the alarm of the safe was triggered,” she said. “That is why I named her Ikhwezi, which means star.”
Immelman mentioned almost always experiencing mixed emotions when a baby was deposited into the safe.
“It is wonderful that the mother opted to place her in the Saver and discard of her unwanted baby safely,” she said. “But at the same time one can’t help but try and understand the circumstances that have made the mother feel she had nowhere else to turn and forced her into giving her baby up. We are very grateful for the choice she made; she was very brave.”
Immelman encouraged women to go to their nearest clinic or to Choices and find out what their options are, learn about contraception and get help before giving birth, and not reach the point where they feel so desperate that abandonment seems the only option left.
Baby Ikhwezi was placed in the care of the Wandisa Specialist Child Protection and Adoption Agency (WSCPAA) following the incident. Since Tuesday, she has been temporarily cared for by a foster mother.
“Baby Ikhwezi is doing very well,” said Debbie Wybrow, founder and director WSCPAA. “She has been getting many hugs, cuddles and love from the volunteers. The first 1 000 days of a baby’s life are very important, so I put together a group of volunteers who will always be there to provide such affection to a baby should the need arise.
After being discharged from hospital with a clean bill of health, little Ikhwezi appeared in court to get all the necessary paperwork sorted and her adoption process started.
Wybrow also says the WSCPAA is heading into the busy season in terms of many babies being born, and the agency is always in need of donations to aid in caring for these babies.
“The next few months are always busy for us with lots of babies born,” she said. “Volunteers are always welcome, especially temporary safe parents for the babies.”
The baby girl placed in the Baby Saver on Saturday 21 April is doing well and exceeding all milestones, said Wybrow. She was dubbed Mbali, which means flower.
