Deadly breast milk gets mother 9 months in jail.

[Cannikin]

Her 5-month-old daughter died after being fed cocaine-tainted milk

WEST BRANCH, Mich. - A woman accused of causing her infant daughter’s death by feeding her breast milk tainted with cocaine was sentenced Wednesday to nine months behind bars on a reduced charge.

Sara Shelby pleaded guilty last month to a charge of attempted manslaughter in the Aug. 21, 2005, death of 5-month-old Karie Lee Bowman.

She originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony that could have meant 15 years in prison, but she agreed to a plea deal in which she would terminate her parental rights to her other child, a 5-year-old girl.

Police said Shelby, 24, of West Branch, told them she had used cocaine two or three times the day before her daughter’s death.

A medical examiner ruled that the girl died of cocaine intoxication.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17032893/

[hickman]

1. Ironically enough, I think Michigan has just pledged itself

to make sure more mothers breastfeed their children. Read something about that recently and can't remember where. She should have bottle fed.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

2. That poor woman.

I mean yes, what she did was completely irresponsible, but it's not like she was trying to kill the kid. Hopefully this experience will open her eyes and convince her to give up the stuff.

[Control-Z]

3. I doubt if she had any idea it would pass

through to her milk. I feel so sorry for her. I can't say how many times I was treated with morphine or demeral during the years I nursed my children. I was never warned not to nurse by my doctors and, fortunately, it never hurt any of them. I don't know if it was the type of drug that made it safe or if I metabolized the drugs faster. I feel pretty lucky.

[barb162]

4. I am assuming she was a heavy user while pregnant too

I feel no pity for this person. And while she is using, I hope she has no more kids