Lincoln woman accused of malnourishing 2-month-old, baby life-flighted to Omaha
Hospital staff discovered her 2-month-old baby was severely malnourished and had suffered a seizure as a result, police said
By Sara Badura
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A Lincoln woman was arrested Thursday after hospital staff discovered her 2-month-old baby was severely malnourished and had suffered a seizure as a result, police said.
On Feb. 20 at 5:22 p.m., officers were dispatched to Bryan West Medical Center in response to a child abuse call. Upon arrival, a nurse reported that a 2-month-old patient was brought to the hospital by Lincoln Fire and Rescue and was showing signs of neglect.
Officers then contacted the baby’s mother and grandmother. According to an arrest affidavit, the grandmother recognized earlier that day that the baby was having a seizure while at home. He was transported by Lincoln Fire and Rescue to Bryan West.
While speaking to the baby’s mother, officers discovered that she had been feeding him water since he was approximately one week old, court documents show.
The mother told police that she had lost her pump in order to breast feed and has been feeding the baby a combination of formula and water, although she sometimes skipped the formula because she could not afford it, officers said.
The mother also said that on Feb. 18, she found her baby to be very hot then very cold to the touch, according to an arrest affidavit.
Bryan West nursing staff reported that the 2-month-old had low sodium and low blood sugar which were potentially causing his seizures. Due to his life-threatening conditions, he was flown to Nebraska Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
Children’s Hospital later confirmed to investigators that the baby’s condition was life-threatening and he would have died had he not been treated.
On Thursday at 11 p.m., the mother was arrested on suspicion of committing negligent child abuse resulting in injury.
Her bond was set at 10% of $10,000. Her next hearing is scheduled for March 25.