18-year-old girl accused of fatally throwing newborn baby out of hotel window while on vacation

Warning: This article contains discussion of child death which some readers may find distressing.

An American teenager has been accused of throwing her newborn out of a hotel window while traveling with a group of young adults, prompting police to consider the possibility the incident may be a case of pregnancy denial.

The 18-year-old tourist has not been named, but police have launched an investigation into the alleged incident that occurred on Monday (February 24).

The American is said to have thrown the newborn out of a second story window of a Paris hotel, sadly resulting in the child's death.

Emergency services made attempts to save the life of the baby, but police confirmed that the infant could not be revived. The young mother was then taken into custody when police arrived at the Ibis budget hotel, according to the prosecutor's office.

Authorities are now considering that the incident may have been a case of ‘denial of pregnancy’.

Police have launched an investigation into the homicide of the infant (Elsa Biyick/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images/File)

According to a report by News Medical Life Sciences, pregnancy denial is, simply, when a woman denies she is pregnant.

Dr Liji Thomas explained in the report: “At 20 weeks of pregnancy, it is found in 1 of 475 women, but the incidence declines to 1 in 2,500 at delivery.

“Pregnancy denial may occur in both psychotic and non-psychotic forms. Furthermore, women with pregnancy denial may show different categories of the condition, such as frank denial, suspicion of pregnancy without conscious awareness, and complete knowledge of the fact that she is pregnant with denial and concealment of the condition.

“Women with psychotic denial of pregnancy have long-term mental disorders such as schizophrenia, which continues throughout pregnancy.”

Authorities working on the case in Paris have said that an investigation has been launched and will be treated as a homicide of a minor under the age of 15.

Police have taken the 18-year-old into custody and are considering it may have been a case of pregnancy denial (Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Research is still needed to determine the causes of pregnancy denial as the condition isn’t completely understood in the scientific community.

Some ideas suggest the conditions stems from a failure to adjust to the conditions of pregnancy. The News Medical Life Sciences report states that these include the need to adapt to changing physical needs and demands, changing shape, preparing for birth and baby care, and developing early bonding to the fetus.

Dr Thomas added: “All of this may result in overwhelming fears and doubts as to one’s own capacity to successfully carry and look after a baby, and in most severe cases, cause the patient to deny that she is pregnant."

Some previous studies have suggested those with a higher risk of pregnancy denial are of younger age, are in their first pregnancy, have low degree of social support, and/or have a history of substance abuse or psychiatric disorder.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

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