Newport,South Wales - Baby girl born near woods a year ago 'could have been born alive'

A baby girl was born near the woods behind the Parc Seymour estate in the Penhow area of Newport

• 18 OCT 2016
• BY HELEDD PRITCHARD

The identity of the baby and the mother remain unknown but police now believe the child may have survived

Police have said they now believe a baby thought to have been born in the open air inNewport a year ago may have survived.

New information has emerged about the age of a baby girl who was born near the woods behind the Parc Seymour estate in the Penhow area of the city last year.

Officers believe the mother gave birth sometime between Sunday, October 18, last year and Monday, October 19.

Evidence of the birth was discovered by a dog walker on the Monday morning.

Earlier this year Gwent Police Detective Superintendent Ruth Price said the force were"working on the basis that the baby, believed to have been a little girl, didn’t survive" .

But additional information which was not known to the investigation until more recently has allowed experts to reveal the possible age of the baby at the time of the birth – and they now believe it is possible the infant survived.

'Help and support available'

A more detailed and expert examination of the placenta which was left at the site has concluded the baby may have been born at a later stage than originally estimated and that the mother was between 27 and 35 weeks pregnant.

This suggests the baby could have been born alive and survived without any medical care or intervention.

Det Supt Price, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “There may have been a very good reason for the baby being born under these circumstances and for the identities of the mother, baby and even the father to remain confidential but if those reasons were in any way connected to the mother being the victim of a crime or being under pressure or duress to conceal the birth she and the baby may still need protection as may other girls or women in a similar situation.

"Help and support is still available if she, or anyone who knows her, comes forward. This is a mystery which we would really like to solve.”

Despite intensive inquiries the identity or whereabouts of the mother and the baby girl remain unknown.

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting log 126 19/10/16.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/baby-girl-born-near-woods-12042857