CA - Faith Fuelling, 8 days, drowned, Granite Bay, 20 Jan 2008

[paddy01]

Believe, I truly believe Kristina was suffering from postpartum psychosis. But, to be honest the thought of sterilization for her never entered my mind, not until I read your post. You know from my past posts that I'm one of the biggest howlers. Gosh, thanks for jarring my brain, I need to think about this

 

[Bobbisangel]

I got it with my third child and ended up just taking her and staying in the bedroom most of the time for a couple weeks and then it was gone. Thank God my mom was their and took care of the other two. I knew I was depressed but didn't really understand the whole thing.

Maybe doctors should have a talk with the husbands and let them know what to look for after their wives have had a baby. A husband should know if the wife starts acting unusual and he could take her to the doctor to get help. I think a lot of the time we put it down to lack of sleep, etc.

I wonder if this mother had any family close by that gave her a helping hand and could have answered her questions? I would think a lot of first time mothers are afraid that they aren't doing things right. I can see calling the doctor if there is no mother or sisters who have given birth close by. This is just a sad thing to have happened. I wish she had told her husband how she was feeling. Maybe she did and he just thought it was because she was a new mom.

 

[Belinda]

November 17, 2008

Kristina Lynn Fuelling, the Granite Bay mother who drowned her 8-day-old daughter in a bathroom sink, will spend a maximum of 15 years in custody under the terms of a comprehensive plea deal approved Monday in Placer Superior Court.

Her actual sentence will be decided after a hearing scheduled for Jan. 23.

snip

During a brief, emotional court proceeding on Monday afternoon, Judge J. Richard Couzens accepted a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Faith Fuelling on Jan. 19.

The court discussion also revealed that Fuelling's sanity was disintegrating over the course of several days leading up to the death of her baby.

Fuelling's insanity plea will not cover several incidents that occurred on Jan. 16 when she started hurting Faith, according to court testimony.

snip

Fuelling entered guilty pleas to charges of attempted murder and child abuse stemming from the incidents on Jan. 16.

The prison time for those offenses will be "no less than six years and four months and no more than 15 years," Couzens said.

He will make a final decision on sentencing after the Jan. 23 hearing.

Fuelling will begin her time in custody in a state mental hospital, where she will spend at least six months. She will be transferred to a state prison to serve the remainder of her term if and when doctors determine that she has regained her sanity, Couzens said

More at link:
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/2008/11/mom-ruled-insan.html#ixzz0oCTqXoCE

=============================================
January 26, 2009

In California, Kristina Fuelling has been sentenced to more than 6 years in prison, with at least 6 months to be spent in a psychiatric facility, for killing her infant daughter. Two separate medical evaluations found 27-year-old Kristina Fuelling was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and was legally insane when she drowned her 8-day-old daughter in January 2008. Her attorney, Tom Johnson, said Fuelling will spend at least six months in a psychiatric facility, then be reevaluated. Then, she would either serve the rest of her sentence in state prison or be held indefinitely in the psychiatric facility. Her husband and family are fully supportive of her.

http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com/weblog/legal_issues/index.html

 

[kbl8201]

God bless that little angel and her family.

Why aren't all new moms screened for postpartum depression?

lots of moms get ppd and still dont murder there babies.

im guessing it means there is a character flaw outside of the ppd when mothers who have ppd kill there children

 

[kbl8201]

oh thats nuts......the judge just ACCEPTED an insanity plea? great. so no one judged her other then the judge, no jury, nothing.

and how is it she wasnt insane on january 16th but was 4 days later?

ppd or not this makes no sense to me

 

[Disguiseduser0308]

lots of moms get ppd and still dont murder there babies.

im guessing it means there is a character flaw outside of the ppd when mothers who have ppd kill there children

Most mothers suffer baby blues following the birth of a child. Many mothers suffer from PPD following the birth of a child. Very few will suffer from PPP (postpartum psychosis). PPD doesn't often lead to infanticide or suicide. It is PPP that can lead to suicide or infanticide.

Unfortunately, we don't often hear of PPP despite many mothers committing suicide because of the torment they are in. PPP has become synonymous with infanticide. Truth is, just as many mothers kill themselves as well. It's just not newsworthy when they do.

PPP is not caused by a character flaw. It is a true blue mental illness. One that causes a mother to lose touch with reality and can cause many of the following symptoms/signs:

* Delusions or strange beliefs
* Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
* Feeling very irritated
* Hyperactivity
* Decreased need for or inability to sleep
* Paranoia and suspiciousness
* Rapid mood swings
* Difficulty communicating at times

Snipped from here -
http://www.postpartum.net/Get-the-Facts/Postpartum-Psychosis.aspx

Consider me the PPP brigade. I myself was a sufferer following the birth of my second child. I was one who had thoughts of hurting myself and my child. I was lucky though, I had good doctors and a strong support system to help me overcome it. Many women are not so lucky.

I'm not picking on ya, Kbl. Just wanted you to know, it's not a character flaw that causes this to happen. It's a mental illness that many women will be lucky enough never having to deal with.

 

[Disguiseduser0308]

oh thats nuts......the judge just ACCEPTED an insanity plea? great. so no one judged her other then the judge, no jury, nothing.

and how is it she wasnt insane on january 16th but was 4 days later?

ppd or not this makes no sense to me

I don't know how to explain this part of your question, Kbl. Other than to say.. the mental illness continues to take you into it's grip with each passing day. Each day you feel another part of yourself and your sanity leaving you. Till one day you can no longer take it. You break. Your heart and soul breaks and you are only a shell of what you once were. You are no longer yourself. I can't speak for this mother in particular but that's how it was for me. Barely scraping by until my mind and body could take no more.

Unfortunately, this can happen within a matter of days or even hours. It really is difficult to explain. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.