A recently born abandoned infant in East London has been released from the hospital and is currently under the care of foster parents, according to a court proceeding.
Dog Walker Discoveres Abandoned Baby
The abandoned baby, now named Elsa, was found last Thursday by a dog walker in Newham, wrapped in a towel within a bag in extremely cold conditions.
During the hearing at East London Family Court, it was disclosed that Elsa's parents had not made themselves known. As of the moment, there was no available information regarding her true identity.
In response to a request from Newham Borough Council, Judge Carol Atkinson issued a temporary care order for the baby.
Police are still appealing to Elsa's mother to come forward and encourage her to contact them via phone, or visit a hospital or police station.
According to court documents, the baby was discovered very cold, and her temperature was recorded by doctors three hours after being found, and born approximately an hour before abandonment, with her umbilical cord still attached. Despite the challenging conditions, Elsa remained crying and responsive throughout. Staff later reported that she was feeding well, and was given the name Elsa that night.
The documents reveal that Elsa was born about an hour before being abandoned, still having her umbilical cord attached. Doctors estimate that she was a full-term baby weighing 6lbs 6oz (2.9kg) when found last Thursday in Newham.
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Baby Elsa Leaves Hospital with Foster Parents
As of Tuesday, Elsa is medically fit and has been discharged to foster parents, who had been visiting her in the hospital since then. An interim care order grants the local authority parental responsibility for Elsa while more information is gathered about her identity. Future court hearings will determine her permanent home.
During the recent hearing, Elsa's court-appointed guardian requested a change of name. They are suggesting that the name Elsa, associated with the Disney Frozen series, might be considered gimmicky and impact her in the future. However, Judge Carol Atkinson disagreed, emphasizing the importance of considering the child's position and suggesting that the name given when found could be something meaningful for her.
Abandonment of babies at birth is very rare in England and Wales, with very few cases recorded. The Office of National Statistics data until 2015 showed no registered cases for the previous three years, and only one case in 2011.
A second hearing is scheduled at East London Family Court in a few weeks, and while Family Courts usually conduct private hearings, the BBC was allowed to report under a transparency order issued by the judge. This is part of a broader initiative permitting journalists to report family court hearings and a transparency order, applicable to almost half the Family Courts in England and Wales from January 29 as part of a wider initiative.
