A young mum whose stillborn baby was found in a waste tip is trapped in a torrent of conflicting emotions and pain, according to a medical expert.

Ann Geddes, head of midwifery for United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the main concern now was to find out why the 7lb baby boy, found in Pudsey, had died and whether it was linked to any ill health with the mother.

Mrs Geddes said in her experience as a midwife, the mum was probably trying to act as normal as possible and may even be feeling relief at having got rid of something she did not want.

She said: "She is probably going through some sense of relief at the moment, that something she didn't want is out of her life.

"This baby obviously didn't figure in her plans and now that he is out of her life she will be trying to forget about him.

"But hearing all these pleas for her to come forward is probably changing her outlook and she may be starting to worry a bit about what has happened."

The 7lb baby boy was found by a passer by on the top of a waste tip in the Grangefield Industrial Estate last Tuesday evening.

Mrs Geddes that she had seen similar actions from girls as young as 11 to women in their mid-40s -- and all with different reasons.

But each one had been pushed to the end of their mental strength at the thought of having to bring up a child.

"She would have been considering this for a while and she would have been in an extreme state of mind at the time of the birth," said Mrs Geddes,.

"From what I understand, the girl gave birth to the baby herself, which would have put her under even more distress and pressure.

"But all any of us are worried about now is this girl's health.

"She would be trying to hide any pain she is in by passing it off as something else. And with the Bank Holiday upon us, her friends and family may be away and may not even notice anything different about her."

Police said yesterday the young mother is at risk of death from infection following examinations on the baby, which revealed complications at birth.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pudsey police on 0113 241 4859.

e-mail: kanchan.dutt@bradford.

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