Mother admits to hurting her baby

A Nelson woman frustrated by not being able to feed her baby boy shook him so vigorously he may have suffered brain damage, the Nelson District Court heard yesterday.

The 25-year-old, who has name suppression, admitted assaulting her 3-month-old son on August 9.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston said the woman told police she assaulted the baby because she was at the end of her tether and had no support.

Mr Johnston said the woman, at home with her 2-year-old child and the baby, had trouble getting the infant to feed.

She was so frustrated with her son she shook him vigorously to get him to stop crying. When she realised what she had done she ran into the kitchen to calm down.

When she returned to her baby he was tense and had his legs pulled into his chest, he said.

The woman called an ambulance when the baby began to gag.

The child was admitted to Nelson Hospital with internal bleeding in his head.

The baby was taken to Christchurch Hospital for further assessment and later returned to Nelson Hospital where he remained with possible brain damage, said Mr Johnston. The woman told police she had not wanted to hurt her son.

Lawyer Mark Dollimore said the baby had significantly improved.

He sought name suppression to protect the children's identity.

Judge Pat Grace remanded the woman on bail until next month for sentencing.

- NZPA