Mom Jailed After Giving Birth to Drunk Baby

FoxNews ^ | 07-15-05 | FoxNews

[ChristianDefender]

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — A woman who police say had been drinking heavily before she gave birth was charged with child neglect after the baby was born intoxicated and diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. Melissa Irene Tanner, 37, had a blood alcohol content of 0.29 percent when she gave birth June 30, and her daughter's was 0.21 percent, according to an affidavit by police. The legal limit for drivers in Oklahoma is 0.08 percent. Hospital staff had to use an oxygen bag to help the baby start breathing and gave her medication to counteract any narcotics, according to the affidavit. Tanner allegedly told police she and another person had consumed a case of beer and that she regularly drank during her pregnancy. She was jailed on $30,000 bail. At a court appearance this week, Tanner was advised of her rights and ordered to return to court Aug. 5. She has not yet filed an application for an attorney or entered a plea, the court clerk's office said.

[rockabyebaby]

How do we know no one was there to help??? She has 6 other children, perhaps she was too intoxicated to care enough to get help or perhaps she became beligerent and people gave up. It's a shame this woman has been allowed to conceive over and over again. These are innocent children who are now faced with a miserable life that they did not chose, hopefully now that this story has become public maybe the kids will be put with other family members or in foster homes. This woman does not deserve to be called "mom" and her children deserve better.

[eleni121]

No doubt about it ---I agree with everything you say...she seems hopeless...a wreck of a human being.

A product of the liberal state...and obviously got no help from among her native people.