Newborn with Fir Tree at Hospital – Mother’s Story
- In a remarkable turn of events, a newborn baby found carefully placed near a hospital in Kaišiadorys, Lithuania, is safe and healthy, and their mother has been located...
- The discovery unfolded when hospital staff noticed the infant, carefully wrapped and accompanied by spruce twigs - a traditional Lithuanian symbol of good luck - left near the...
- Renata Dzikiene, Head of the Neonatal Diseases Division at Kaunas Clinics Clinic of Neonatology, reported that the newborn appears healthy and unharmed.
A Newborn Found Safe, Mother Located: A Story of Resilience in lithuania
Table of Contents
A Blessed Finding
In a remarkable turn of events, a newborn baby found carefully placed near a hospital in Kaišiadorys, Lithuania, is safe and healthy, and their mother has been located and is receiving support. Deivydas Aidukas, Head of the Kaunas County Child Rights Protection Division of the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, confirmed the mother’s location, stating, “We can confirm that the baby’s mother was found - it’s really good news. At the moment, the baby is still in a medical facility, the mother is with him as well. We will talk to my mother in the near future, we will appreciate what kind of help she needs at the moment.” The service’s immediate priority is ensuring both the mother’s well-being and the child’s safety, with the goal of keeping the family together.
The discovery unfolded when hospital staff noticed the infant, carefully wrapped and accompanied by spruce twigs – a traditional Lithuanian symbol of good luck – left near the hospital entrance. Linas Vitkus, Director of Kaišiadorys Hospital, noted the baby appeared to have been there for onyl a short time, with staff making repeated checks, believing someone would retrieve the child.
Medical Assessment and Circumstances of Birth
Dr. Renata Dzikiene, Head of the Neonatal Diseases Division at Kaunas Clinics Clinic of Neonatology, reported that the newborn appears healthy and unharmed. However, key indicators suggest the birth did not occur in a professional medical setting. “To my knowledge, the umbilical cord was left with a longer residue and was fully arranged by GMP staff,” Dr. Dzikiene explained. This observation, coupled with the lack of professional medical management of the umbilical cord, strongly suggests an out-of-hospital birth.
The baby weighed in at a healthy three kilograms and one hundred grams at the time of examination. Dr. Dzikiene noted that such cases are rare, occurring “once a year, once a year.”
A Community’s response and the “Windows of Life”
The incident highlights the complex challenges surrounding unplanned pregnancies and infant abandonment. Interestingly,Kaišiadorys Hospital has never previously needed a “life box” – a safe haven for mothers to anonymously leave their newborns – due to the community’s strong support network and proactive outreach.Director Vitkus emphasized, “It is a pity that the baby was left. But it must be gratifying that he was not dropped somewhere – he was taken care of.”
Nationwide, the use of “life boxes” has varied. Data shows that in 2023, five children were left in life boxes across Lithuania (three in Kaunas, one each in Vilnius and klaipėda), while no children were left in these boxes in 2024. Since 2009, a total of 95 children have been left in life boxes, with 16 biological parents later reclaiming their children.
| Year | Children left in Life Boxes |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2009-Present | 95 |
legal Considerations and next Steps
Lithuanian police initially investigated the case under Article 158 of the Criminal Code, concerning child abandonment, which carries a potential penalty of public work or imprisonment for up to two years. However, with the mother now located and receiving support, the inquiry is likely to be resolved favorably.