Sep 10, 2008 6:32 pm US/Eastern
Hours-Old Baby Left On Doorstep Of Newton Home
NEWTON (WBZ) ―
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The hours-old infant was left outside this Newton home.
WBZ
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Police say the baby was left inside this tote bag.
WBZ
An infant was found on the front steps of a home in Newton Wednesday afternoon.
The infant, who was only a few hours old, was found by an elderly man on
Moulton Street who went outside to check the temperature.
A note was left with the baby that read, "Please take good care of this child."
Listen:
Man's 911 Call
The man, who asked to not be identified, said he was glad he was home to find the infant and that he has no idea why she was left on his doorstep.
"I saw the bag at first. The baby was in the bag and I leaned over put my hand in and felt the cheek," the man told WBZ. "And the cheek was warm, so I thought 'this is crazy.' I picked up the bag and took her inside the house."
According to police, the infant is a black female with curly hair. She weighs 6.4 pounds and still had the umbilical cord attached when she was found. Hospital officials said the healthy baby was born sometime between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday.
A lieutenant with the Newton Police Department said it appears the baby was left on a random doorstep. He said this is only the second time in 27 years in Newton that an infant has been left like this.
The baby is said to be fine and has been taken to
Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where she is being taken care of. An emergency room doctor affectionately named her "Baby Matilda."
"She is eating well. She is very vigorous. She's as cute as a button. I've seen her myself and I can attest to that," said hospital spokesman Brian O'Dea. "She had been cleaned and dried before she was left. So obviously someone took good care of her."
Baby Matilda will stay at the hospital for the next 24 to 48 hours while she is checked out and some blood work is done. She will then be placed in the custody of Social Services.
Hospital officials said they are concerned about the mother's health. They said they believe she needs medical attention and should see a doctor right away.
The baby was dropped off at a home on Moulton Street, not far from Newton-Wellesley Hospital, which is considered a drop-off location under the Safe Haven Law.
Police said they are searching for the baby's mother.
"A person could have taken the child. An animal could have come up there and done something to the child," said Newton police Lt. Bruce Apotheker. "It was not a smart thing to do."
Under Massachusetts' Baby Safe Haven Law, parents can voluntarily place a newborn up to seven days old at a hospital, police department, manned fire station or a designated Baby Safe Haven facility. 
Baby Safe Haven Law
Baby Safe Haven ResourcesSince the state's Safe Haven Law went in effect in 2004, six babies have been safely surrendered to hospitals, and more than 50 women have used the Safe Haven Hotline to give their babies up for adoption.
The hotline is 866-814-SAFE.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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