Cornelia Fazel has been working in pregnancy counseling in Wuppertal for almost 30 years. She is responsible for confidential births. This alternative to the baby hatch has been around since 2014 and is a legal and medically safe option for mothers who cannot accept their child and wish to remain anonymous.
ICONIST: Why do women choose confidential birth?
Cornelia Fazel: There are different reasons why a woman decides to have a confidential birth. It is often about the fear of not being able to care for the child – but also about the fear of violence. I accompanied two single mothers who felt threatened by their children’s fathers. Two girls came to me because they were afraid of their strict Islamic fathers and their reactions to the pregnancies. The two had to be safely accommodated in the last few days before the delivery.
ICONIST: What does the process look like?
