A HEARTFELT plea has been made by a head of midwifery services for the mother of a newborn baby found dead in a bin to come forward and say goodbye to her child.

The baby girl was discovered on Monday afternoon in a wheelie bin in Whitcliffe Grange, Richmond, by Dennis Wemyss, 71, who had been taking out his own recycling to the communal refuse area for the block of six flats.

North Yorkshire Police have been appealing for the mother of the baby to come forward so she can receive medical attention and professional support, while forensic teams have been painstakingly searching other bins for evidence.

At a press conference at Darlington Memorial Hospital today (Tuesday, December 2) Anne Holt, head of midwifery and gynaecology at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said the mother should not feel she would be judged by medical staff.

She said: “The baby girl was brought to Darlington Memorial Hospital yesterday.

“Her mum has given birth without medical support and we are concerned about potential dangerous, very heavy, bleeding – which can occur days or weeks later - and severe infection.

“We are also very concerned about her mental health and how scared and emotional she must be feeling after a traumatic birth.”

Ms Holt added that her staff are highly trained in specific counselling skills, and that they will be understanding and sympathetic.

She said: “Most importantly we want to reunite her with her baby – she needs to say a proper goodbye, perhaps with her family too, and to give the baby a dignified burial.”

Ms Holt said a post mortem would be carried out on the baby girl in the near future to find out more about how she died.

She added: “The mother may be feeling she is on her own and things are really bad, but midwives have dealt with this sort of situation before and aren’t going to be judgemental.”

Inspector Mark Gee from North Yorkshire Police said officers were continuing to search the area and would remain at the scene through the night. (Tuesday, Dec 2)

Ms Holt said in her 30 years as a midwife she had experienced similar situations around six times.

She said usually the mothers eventually came forward and were able to receive the care and support they needed.

“I would urge her to come forward, and I also urge any family members to help her to come forward if possible – think of the baby, who is here with us, and needs to be with her mum,” she said.