Welcome to Oshes Delight: Beautiful Baby Girl Buried Alive

Welcome to Oshes Delight: Beautiful Baby Girl Buried Alive: It is almost impossible to understand what must have been going through the mind of the person who buried this innocent baby girl ...

Woman Jailed for Eight Years after Aborting Baby a Week before Due Date

A WOMAN who aborted her baby within a week of the due date has been jailed for eight years. Sarah Catt, 35, ended the pregnancy because she thought the father was a man she had been having an affair with. She bought drugs online that induced her labour when the pregnancy was nearly full term. She then claimed the boy was stillborn and that she buried his body. But no evidence of the child was ever found, Leeds Crown Court heard. Catt had two children with her husband when she became pregnant in 2009. The court heard she believed the baby’s father was a man with whom she had been having an affair for seven years. She tried to terminate the pregnancy in 2010 but discovered she had missed the legal limit of 24 weeks. She made several searches on the internet relating to illegal abortions and abortion drugs, including “Where can I get an illegal abortion?” and “Inducing an abortion at 30 weeks”. 

Catt, from Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorks, bought a drug used to terminate pregnancy or induce labour over the internet from a company in Mumbai, India, in May 2010. The drug was delivered to her home address when she was 38 weeks pregnant and she is believed to have taken it towards the end of May 2010 when she had been carrying the baby for nearly 40 weeks. Catt was arrested in September 2010 and was interviewed several times over the next year. She told police she had undergone a legal abortion at a Marie Stopes clinic in March of that year despite being nearly 30 weeks pregnant at that stage. She pleaded guilty earlier this year to administering a poison with intent to procure a miscarriage. Catt told a psychiatrist she had taken the drug while her husband was away and delivered the baby boy by herself at home. She said the child was not breathing or moving and that she had buried his body but has not revealed the location. She did not tell anyone what had happened. 

The court heard that Catt gave a child up for adoption in 1999. She later had a termination with the agreement of her husband, tried to terminate another pregnancy but missed the legal limit, and concealed another pregnancy from her husband before the child’s birth. Mr Justice Cooke said she had robbed the baby of the life it was about to have and said the seriousness of the crime lay between manslaughter and murder. He said: “The critical element of your offending is the deliberate choice made by you, in full knowledge of the due date of your child, to terminate the pregnancy at somewhere close to term, if not actually at term, with the full knowledge that termination after week 24 was unlawful and in full knowledge your child’s birth was imminent.” Catt made a search on the internet on May 21 2010 asking what would happen if she took the drug at term, and on May 26 she asked how soon the drug would work. 

Mr Justice Cooke said: “It’s a fair inference you must have taken the drug somewhere around that time.” On May 27 she went on holiday to France. The judge said Catt could have been charged with destruction of a child. He added: “What you did was end the life of a child that was capable of being born alive by inducing birth or miscarriage. “What you have done is rob an apparently healthy child, vulnerable and defenceless, of the life which he was about to commence.”  The judge said Catt would have been charged with murder if the baby had been born a few days later and she had then killed him. Speaking after Catt’s guilty plea, Chief Inspector Kerrin Smith said: “During the investigation, North Yorkshire Police gathered evidence that Sarah Catt purchased medication via the internet which would facilitate a labour and delivery of a child. “The evidence shows this to have happened in the final phase of pregnancy, the third trimester, ie within the last week of the due date that this baby should have been born.” 

The detective added: “Sarah Catt has not co-operated with the investigation at any stage and so the question, ‘What has happened to the baby which Catt was carrying?’ remains unanswered. “To date, no remains of that pregnancy and no child has been traced." 

Trial continues.

Woman Kidnaps Friend's Nine (9) Month old Baby

Police in Ilorin. Kwara state recovered yesterday a nine-month old baby allegedly kidnapped by her mother's friend from Oro, Irepodun council area of the state. The baby, identified as Funke Alaba, was said to have been kidnapped by her mother's friend who had come visiting them sometime early this year.  Spokesman for the state command, Mr. Olufemi Fabode, ASP, who briefed newsmen yesterday while releasing the baby to her mother, said the police was still on the trail of the suspect who was said to have abandoned the baby with an old woman in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Fabode narrated the understanding of security operatives over the matter as follows:" On January 18 this year, a case of kidnapping was reported at Oro Police Divisional Headquarters. The case was later transferred to the state CID. It was a case of a nine month of child that was missing. "On receiving the information, the state CID moved to Ibadan. On getting to Ibadan, around Oramiyan area of Ibadan, the nine-month old baby girl was discovered. Her name is Funke Alaba. The suspect was Miss Shade presently at large and the police is working on how to get her arrested. The said recovered baby girl has been released to the parents today.

"The report was initially made at Oro Division. The incident happened at Oro. Shade was a long-time friend to the mother of kidnapped girl. She came around and was playing with the mother. The mother went into the kitchen to prepare food so that they would both eat. In the course of preparing the meal, Shade took the girl and disappeared. "From our investigation, we discovered that Shade brought the girl to Ilorin, bought her dress and other necessities before she later moved to Ibadan. On getting to Ibadan, because people at Ibadan saw her last about two or three years ago, she presented the girl to them that she was her child. She presented the girl to an old woman who is her relative that she has given birth a baby. Everybody was happy. "Maybe she was feeling suspicious, she later abandoned the girl with the old woman and ran away. The mother of the kidnapped girl was living at Oke-ola in Oro. When we released the girl today to the family members, they were very happy and appreciated the police."

Colic in the Breastfed Baby

In the typical situation, the baby starts to have crying spells about two to three weeks after birth. These occur mainly in the evening, and finally stop when the baby is about three months old (occasionally older). When the baby cries, he is often inconsolable, though if he is walked, rocked or taken for a walk, he may settle temporarily. For a baby to be called colicky, it is necessary that he be gaining weight well and be otherwise healthy. However, even if the baby is gaining weight well, sometimes the baby is crying because he is still hungry. See below.

The notion of colic has been extended to include almost any fussiness or crying in the baby, and this is not surprising since we do not really know what colic is. There is no treatment for colic, though many medications and behaviour strategies have been tried, without any proven benefit. Of course, everyone knows someone whose baby was “cured” of colic by a particular treatment. Also, almost every treatment seems to work, at least for a short time, anyhow.

The Breastfeeding Baby with Colic
Aside from the colic that any baby may have, there are three known situations in the breastfed baby that may result in fussiness or colic. Once again, it is assumed that the baby is gaining adequately and that the baby is healthy.

Feeding both breasts at each feeding or feeding only one breast at each feeding
Human milk changes during a feeding. One of the ways in which it changes is that, in general, the amount of fat increases as the baby drains more milk from the breast. If the mother automatically switches the baby from one breast to the other during the feed, before the baby has “finished” the first side, the baby may get a relatively low amount of fat during the feeding. This may result in the baby getting fewer calories, and thus feeding more frequently. If the baby takes in a lot of milk (to make up for the reduced concentration of calories), he may spit up. Because of the relatively low fat content of the milk, the stomach empties quickly, and a large amount of milk sugar (lactose) arrives in the intestine all at once. The enzyme which digests the sugar (lactase) may not be able to handle so much milk sugar at one time and the baby will have the symptoms of lactose intolerance—crying, gas, explosive, watery, green bowel movements. This may occur even during the feeding. These babies are not lactose intolerant. They have problems with lactose because of the sort of information women get about breastfeeding. This is not a reason to switch to lactose-free formula.

It is also very important that you realize that a baby is not drinking milk from the breast just because the baby is making sucking movements on the breast. He may be “nibbling” not drinking and therefore the baby is not getting higher fat milk just because he is on the breast and sucking.

1. Do not time feedings. Mothers all over the world have successfully breastfed babies without being able to tell time. Breastfeeding problems are greatest in societies where everyone has a watch and least where no one has a watch.
2. The mother should feed the baby on one breast, as long as the baby actually gets milk from the breast, (see videos at nbcionling.org) until the baby comes off himself, or is asleep at the breast from being full or is nibbling even with compression. Use breast compression (see the information sheet Breast Compression) to keep baby drinking and not just sucking. Follow the Protocol to Manage Breastmilk intake (the Protocol is found on the website as well as the video clips at the website nbcionling.org to help use the Protocol). Please note that a baby may be on the breast for two hours, but may actually be drinking milk for only a few minutes. In that case the milk taken by the baby may still be relatively low in fat. This is the rationale for using compression. If, after “finishing” the first side, the baby still wants to feed, offer the other side. Do not prevent the baby from taking the other side if he is still hungry.
3. This is not a suggestion to feed only one breast at a feeding. You might be able to do it, and that’s fine, but not all mothers can manage it. You might find it possible in the morning when you have more milk (as most mothers do) but not in the evening when you have less milk (as most mothers do). If you insist on feeding on just one side, you may find your baby is “colicky” in the evening when he is, in fact, hungry.
4. At the next feeding, start the baby on the other breast and proceed in the same way.
5. Your body will adjust quickly to the new method and you will not become engorged or lop sided after a short while. But remember this: feeding on one side at a feeding, if you can manage it, will reduce the milk supply so that what may work now (breastfeeding on one breast at a feeding) may not work as the milk supply decreases. Therefore do not keep the baby to one breast, but “finish” one side and if the baby wants more, offer the other side. See Section ‘F’.
6. It is not a good idea to feed the baby on just one side, to follow a rule. Yes, making sure the baby “finishes” the first side before offering the second can help treat poor weight gain or colic in the baby, but rules and breastfeeding do not go together well. If the baby is not drinking, actually getting milk, there is no point in just keeping the baby sucking without getting any milk for long periods of time. You should “finish” one side and if the baby wants more, offer the other.
   
   How do you know the baby is “finished” the first side? The baby is no longer drinking, even with compression (see the video clip and information sheet on compression) This does not mean you must take the baby off the breast as soon as the baby doesn’t drink at all for a minute or two (you may get another milk ejection reflex or letdown reflex, so give it a little time), but if it is obvious the baby is not drinking, take the baby off the breast and if the baby wants more, offer the other side. How do you know the baby is drinking or not? See the video clips at the above website.
   
   If the baby lets go of the breast on his own, does it mean that the baby has “finished” that side? Not necessarily. Babies often let go of the breast when the flow of milk slows, or sometimes when the mother gets a milk ejection reflex and the baby, surprised by the sudden rapid flow, pulls off. Try him again on that side if he wants more, but if the baby is obviously not drinking even with compression, switch sides.
7. In some cases, it may be helpful to feed the baby two or more feedings on one side before switching over to the other side for two or more feedings, as long as baby has come of the breast from drinking. Putting a baby back on a breast that was just “emptied” may cause baby to fuss or pull at the breast or fall asleep but not be full.
8. This problem is made worse if the baby is not well latched on to the breast. A good latch is the key to easy breastfeeding.

Overactive Letdown Reflex
A baby who gets too much milk very quickly, may become very fussy and irritable at the breast and may be considered “colicky”. Typically, the baby is gaining very well. Typically, also, the baby starts breastfeeding, and after a few seconds or minutes, starts to cough, choke or struggle at the breast. He may come off, and often, the mother's milk will spray. After this, the baby frequently returns to the breast, but may be fussy and repeat the performance. He may be unhappy with the rapid flow and impatient when the flow slows. This can be a very trying time for everyone. On rare occasions, a baby may even start refusing to take the breast after several weeks, typically around three months of age. What can you do?

1. Get the best latch possible. This problem is made worse if the baby is not well latched on to the breast. A good latch is the key to easy breastfeeding. No matter what you are told about how good the latch looks, try to improve on it. Think of it this way: if your chin is tucked into your chest while you are trying to drink you would become overwhelmed by the fast flow very easily. If you want to drink quickly you will throw your head back, chin in the air, and be able to handle the fast flow. This is the kind of position baby’s head should be in while breastfeeding—his chin deep into your breast, his head in a slightly tipped-back position, his nose away from your breast, and his chin far from his own chest. This position will help him to handle the faster flow of the let down. See the information sheet When Latching and the video clips.
2. If you have not already done so, try feeding the baby one breast per feed. In some situations, feeding even two or three feedings on one breast before changing to the other breast may be helpful. If you experience engorgement on the unused breast, express just enough to feel comfortable. Remember, if the baby wants the second breast, the mother should offer it.
3. Feed the baby before he is ravenous. Do not hold off the feeding by giving water (a breastfed baby does not need water even in very hot weather) or a pacifier. A ravenous baby will “attack” the breast and may cause a very active letdown reflex. Feed the baby as soon as he shows any sign of hunger. If he is still half asleep when you put him to the breast, all the better.
4. Feed the baby in a calm, relaxed atmosphere, if possible. Loud music, bright lights are not conducive to a good feeding. Older babies tend to become very distracted as the flow slows down. Using compressions gently at first, and then more firmly as necessary to keep the speed of flow consistent, will often keep baby interested in staying on the breast longer, because he is drinking better.
5. Lying down to breastfeed sometimes works very well. If lying sideways to feed does not help, try lying flat, or almost flat, on your back with the baby lying on top of you to breastfeed, or try leaning back in a chair. Gravity helps decrease the flow rate. Remember, the baby may be frustrated at the inconsistent flow, so it may be necessary to lie down at the beginning when the flow is fast, and sit back up as the milk slows. Babies like the lying down position; they tend not to fuss with slower flow but tend to sleep.
6. The baby may dislike the rapid flow, but also become fussy when the flow slows too much. If you think the baby is fussy because the flow is too slow, it will help to compress the breast to keep up the flow, see section ‘e’. (See the information sheet Breast Compression).
   
   If all else has not made things better:
7. On occasion giving the baby commercial lactase (the enzyme that metabolizes lactose), 2-4 drops after each feeding or between breasts if you give both, relieves the symptoms. It is available without prescription, but fairly expensive, and works only occasionally. It is difficult to understand why it would work, since the enzyme is broken down in the baby’s stomach but sometimes it does seem to work.
8. A nipple shield may help, but use this only if nothing else has helped and only if you have had access to good help without any change. This is the second-last resort. Please note that a nipple shield is only very rarely the answer to any breastfeeding problem and in most situations it makes the situation worse, not better.
9. As a last resort, rather than switching to formula, give the baby your expressed milk by cup or by bottle if baby won’t take a cup. Adding lactase to the expressed milk may help as well.

Foreign Proteins in the Mother's Milk
Sometimes, proteins present in the mother’s diet may appear in her milk and may affect the baby. The most common of these is cow’s milk protein. Other proteins have also been shown to be excreted into some mothers’ milk. The fact that these proteins and other substances appear in the mother’s milk is not usually a bad thing. Indeed, it is usually good, helping to desensitize your baby to these proteins. Ask about this if you have any questions.

Thus, in the treatment of the colicky breastfed baby, one step would be for the mother to stop taking dairy products or other foods, but only one type of food at a time. Dairy products include milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and anything else that may contain milk, such as salad dressings with whey protein or casein. Check labels on prepared foods to see if they include milk or milk solids. When the milk protein has been changed (denatured), as in cooking for example, there should be no problem. Ask if you have any questions.

If eliminating certain foods from the mother’s diet does not work, the mother can take pancreatic enzymes (Cotazyme, Pancrease 4, for example), starting with 1 capsule at each meal, to break down proteins in her intestines so that they are less likely to be absorbed into her body as whole protein and appear in the milk. Of course, your chances of not being able to produce enough of your own enzymes from your pancreas are very low (unless you have cystic fibrosis, for example), but it has been shown that whole protein does get absorbed into the breastfeeding mother’s body and into her milk and adding the enzymes may decrease the amounts of whole protein entering your body and getting into the milk.

Please note: Intolerance to milk protein has nothing to do with lactose intolerance, a completely different issue. Also, a mother who is lactose intolerant herself should still breastfeed her baby.

Suggested method:

• Eliminate all milk products for 7-10 days.
• If there has been no change for the better in the baby, the mother can reintroduce milk products.
• If there has been a change for the better, you can then slowly reintroduce milk products into her diet, if these are normally part of your diet. (There is no need to drink milk in order to make milk, for example, so if you don’t drink milk normally, don’t while you are breastfeeding). Some babies will tolerate absolutely no milk products in the mother’s diet. Most tolerate some. You will learn what amount of dairy products you can take without the baby reacting.
• If you are concerned about your calcium intake, calcium can be obtained without taking dairy products. Speak with your doctor or a dietician. But, 7-10 days off milk products will not cause you any nutritional problems. Actually, evidence suggests that breastfeeding may protect the woman against the development of osteoporosis even if she does not take extra calcium. The baby will get all he needs.
• Be careful about eliminating too many things from your diet all at once. Everyone will know someone whose baby got better when the mother stopped broccoli, beef, bananas, bread, etc. You may find that you are eating white rice only. Our diets are too complex to be sure exactly what, if anything, is affecting the baby.