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Normal Baby Seized

November 13, 2014 permalink

When Sarah Markham's baby was twelve days old he had lost ten percent of his body weight while breastfeeding. Sarah was jailed for child neglect and Florida child protectors seized baby Caleb. Five months later the mother has been reunited with her son, but criminal charges against her are still pending.

Maybe Florida child protectors and prosecutors should learn the basics of baby care. According to the American Pregnancy Association: "A 7%-10% loss is considered normal for the breastfed baby."

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Vegan mother regains custody of infant taken away over formula

Sarah Markham
Sarah Markham lost custody of her son when he was just 12 days old because she refused a doctor's orders to seek medical treatment for the baby after he lost 10 percent of his birth weight.
Source: WFTV/CNN

SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL (WFTV/CNN) - A mother and her infant were reunited on Wednesday after five months apart.

Sarah Markham lost custody of her son when he was just 12 days old because she refused a doctor's orders to seek medical treatment for the baby after he lost 10 percent of his birth weight.

She is vegan and believes in a holistic approach to healing.

"I'm just so excited ecstatic and about getting him back. This whole thing was a nightmare and I can go back to being a new mom and bonding with him. I am just very happy," Sarah Markham said.

Sarah Markham was put in jail, and her little boy was taken from her after the baby lost 10 percent of his body weight within his first two weeks of life.

Instead of following a doctor's orders to go straight to the hospital, she bought the boy vegan formula. He's been raised by his grandparents ever since.

"There's no case, there's no abuse, there's no neglect," Bo Markham, the boy's grandfather, said. "There's simply a doctor who has been challenged by a mother, and he didn't like it."

On Wednesday, a judge agreed, throwing out Seminole County Child Protective Services' claims that Sarah Markham is unfit to care for her son.

Attorney Mark O'Mara said he expects the same to happen to her criminal case. "My hopes is that they'll simply dismiss it and not go forward on this at all," he said.

As for Caleb, he's now 17 pounds, and he's still on the same diet.

"He's still on a soy formula," Sarah Markham said. "He's been on it. He likes it. He's doing well. He's growing healthy, and I can't ask for anything more."

Source: WHNS Greenville SC

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