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Let's Heed Moms' Warning Signs

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 1, 2009 4:13 PM CDT
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(Newser) – It’s easy to demonize Otty Sanchez, the Texas mother who allegedly killed and ate parts of her weeks-old son, but the case suggests “some steps we as a society should be taking to support new mothers,” Karen Houppert writes in Salon. Even the medical community is ignorant about postpartum depression; Sanchez, a schizophrenic, was off her meds, likely thanks to a doctor’s simplistic advice not to mix drugs and breast-feeding. She even sought help in an emergency room but was sent home.

Americans don’t yet understand that killer moms need help, but others do. England and Canada are among the many countries with laws automatically reducing charges in such cases to manslaughter. Mothers who kill their children usually do so in a twisted sense of protection, and Sanchez “won't need the law or religion to punish her; she has constructed her own hell from which she'll never escape.”

This photo shows Otty Sanchez with her son, Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez in San Antonio. Sanchez, 33, is charged with capital murder in the baby's death and could face the death penalty.
This photo shows Otty Sanchez with her son, Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez in San Antonio. Sanchez, 33, is charged with capital murder in the baby's death and could face the death penalty.   (AP Photo/Scott Bucholz)
This July 18, 2009 photo released by Scott Buchholz shows Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez.
This July 18, 2009 photo released by Scott Buchholz shows Scott Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez.   (AP Photo/Scott Bucholz)
Scott Buchholz, at his parents' home in San Antonio, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, talks about his infant baby boy who was fatally stabbed and mutilated Sunday.
Scott Buchholz, at his parents' home in San Antonio, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, talks about his infant baby boy who was fatally stabbed and mutilated Sunday.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
When authorities found the infant's body Sunday, July 26, 2009, Otty Sanchez told officers the devil made her do it, police said.
When authorities found the infant's body Sunday, July 26, 2009, Otty Sanchez told officers the devil made her do it, police said.   (AP Photo/Scott Bucholz)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
luluzz
Aug 2, 2009 4:16 AM CDT
Personally my two kids were born in Canada where there is socialized medicine, and each birth cost me under $5. But in the states at the same time moms paid for it and it was about $3-4000. Not making a statement here just passing on info.
riffran
Aug 2, 2009 3:13 AM CDT
you are a good women jenna...and a good mom from the sound of it...sorry about the loss.....
Toon
Aug 2, 2009 3:12 AM CDT
Hmm, every other modern country manages to take better care of new moms and spend less money overall. And fewer babies die. How do they manage it?

 
post partum depression • mothers • infanticide • killer moms • Otty Sanchez

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