Baby hatches a lifeline for unplanned pregnancies

 

OVER the past 16 years, the OrphanCare Foundation has saved 636 babies, with 78 saved in 2024 alone, the highest recorded in a single year.

Since opening its first baby hatch in May 2010, these life-saving efforts deserve our applause and recognition.

As a community in Malaysia, we must strengthen the message that baby hatches convey. We need to shift the narrative that leaving a baby in a safe space is an act of compassion, not a crime, whether legally or morally.

Unexpected pregnancies can be daunting, especially among teenagers. Seeing the positive lines on a pregnancy kit may provoke a whirlwind of fear, uncertainty, and confusion. Expectant mothers facing these challenges, especially first-time mothers, may feel fearful and overwhelmed.

Once the baby has been birthed, they may do something drastic, even infanticide. This is where baby hatches come into play. This is where baby hatches play a vital role, offering a safe, confidential alternative to abandonment or worse.

As Zakiah A. Rahman from OrphanCare Foundation has pointed out, while the foundation has saved many lives, the increasing number of babies being saved signals a concerning rise in abandonment.

Hence, rather than retracting support for baby hatches and safe care programmes like OrphanCare, we must double down on our efforts.

Baby hatches should be made more visible, accessible, and known to the public. If baby-dumping is on the rise, these safe havens should not be hidden due to fear of stigma; they should be embraced as lifelines—a place of refuge where mothers can safely leave their babies without guilt or shame.

It is essential that we change the narrative. Leaving a newborn in a secure place, rather than abandoning them on the streets, should not be viewed through a lens of shame or judgement.

We must prioritise saving lives over societal perceptions. Fear and stigma should never prevent someone from choosing life for their child. It is important to stress that murder is the crime, but sending an unwanted infant to a safe place is not.

While baby hatches offer immediate help, support does not end there. OrphanCare provides counselling for birth mothers, helping them make informed decisions for themselves and their babies.

However, it is equally important that we consider the mental well-being of these mothers. Providing postpartum care, including mental health services, ensures that mothers are not left to struggle alone during what can be an emotionally challenging time.

We are not promoting premarital sex or irresponsible childbearing and its consequences, but to support individuals in circumstances beyond their control. The focus is to advocate for women in crisis, offering compassion and care when they need it most. 

Tee Hooi Ling is the Wanita MCA National Deputy Chairperson.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT. 

- Focus Malaysia.