Udon Thani police seek woman who abandoned newborn baby at roadside

Police in the north-eastern province of Udon Thani are looking for a woman who abandoned a newborn baby girl at the side of the road. The newborn was found on the Mumon-Nakwang Road by a woman from the neighbouring province of Amnat Charoen.

Nation Thailand reports that 27 year old Watchara Jaruchai was driving home after making merit at a local temple, when she spotted the baby by the roadside.

“I found the baby girl lying on the side of the road with no clothes. Her body was all red from sunburn and had insect bites all over. I picked her up, covered her with my jacket and drove to Udon Thani Hospital as she was not moving, but was breathing.”

It’s understood the baby, who Watchara named, “Wanmai” (New Day) is now in a stable condition in hospital. Medical workers say she was only around 4 hours old when she was abandoned, and was suffering from dehydration and dry skin, as well as being covered in insect bites.

Meanwhile, police plan to talk to hospitals in the area as part of their investigation into the mother’s whereabouts.

“The umbilical cord was cut rather cleanly so the mother might have had someone who knew about childbirth. We will search surrounding areas to identify the mother and ask nearby hospitals if they have any clues.”

SOURCE: Nation Thailand