The Safely Surrendered Baby Coalition wants moms who are unable or unwilling to care for a newborn to know they have options.

The group was at Delano Regional Medical Center on Wednesday to raise awareness about a law that lets mothers give up their newborns up to 72 hours after their birth at hospitals or fire stations with no questions asked. Chairwoman Heidi Carter-Escudero says they also want to encourage women to visit the hospital before they give birth to get prenatal care. Most of the 63 babies, including six last year, that have been safely surrendered in Kern County since 2006 were born in hospitals.

A mother can also change her mind and take back her child two weeks later, which Carter-Escudero says has happened three times.

Kelli Pierce