What if the child you loved, raised, and cherished wasn’t really yours? This scenario, worthy of a dramatic film, is nevertheless very real. Mistakes made in maternity wards have led families to discover, sometimes decades later, that their babies had been switched at birth. But how are such situations possible? And above all, how are they discovered?
What is a baby switched at birth?
A baby switched is a newborn who is unintentionally or intentionally confused with another baby and then given to the wrong parents. The switch can occur in the delivery room, at the nursery, or even when the baby is taken home. These exchanges were relatively common between the 1950s and 1980s due to various factors.
How can a baby swap happen?
Baby swaps are rare today, but can occur for a variety of reasons:
- Staff fatigue or overload (peak delivery times).
- Misidentification (swapped bracelets, illegible writing, lack of double-checking).
- Poor management of medical records
- Lack of training or strict monitoring protocols (older or under-resourced facilities)
A notorious example in France is that of Sophie Serrano, which occurred in 1994 at the Cannes maternity ward. Two babies, born one day apart and suffering from jaundice, were placed in the same incubator.
A “fragile and chronically alcoholic” nursing assistant switched the babies. At that time, birth bracelets were less reliable, placed on the ankle and sometimes lost.
How is a baby swap discovered at birth?
A baby swap can go undetected for years, until a doubt arises and turns everything upside down. Parents may be alerted by differences in physical traits, an illness that does not fit with the family history, or family rumors.
The children themselves may feel different from other members of the family. These factors can raise suspicions of adultery, before being disproved by DNA testing.
DNA testing is the most reliable way to establish parentage. It analyzes:
- The paternal haplogroup (Y chromosome): passed from father to son, it traces the direct paternal lineage (can be done by a man from the paternal line).
- The maternal haplogroup (mitochondrial DNA): passed from mother to all her children, it traces the direct maternal lineage.
- Autosomal DNA (atDNA): examines the 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes inherited from both parents to identify matches and estimate ethnic origins.
In 2024, two 55-year-old women discovered their true families thanks to a simple genealogical DNA test.
In addition, genealogical laboratories such as MyHeritage DNA, Living DNA, and FamilyTree DNA not only allow you to discover your origins, but also to find your living relatives.
If you have even the slightest doubt about your family origins, a genealogical DNA test such as MyHeritage DNA can help you find out. You will discover your origins and your living relatives.
An identity shock: the consequences for parents and children
The discovery of a baby swap years after birth causes deep trauma for both the child and the parents, manifesting itself in:
- Attachment disorders
- A feeling of betrayal or loss
- Identity confusion
- A feeling of guilt
- A loss of serenity
- A loss of emotional connection
When faced with such a tragedy, the need to talk, even timidly, can help to free oneself. Psychologists specializing in family trauma can offer support.
Turning to support groups can also help break the isolation by sharing experiences. Maintaining a routine, paying attention to each other, and respecting everyone’s emotions in the family are also key to helping overcome this ordeal.
Legal recourse and possible compensation
In France, families can take legal action for moral damages, damages related to establishing parentage, or medical liability.
They can first attempt amicable settlement with the healthcare institution. If this fails, the Commission for Conciliation and Compensation (CCI) for medical accidents can be contacted. It examines the facts, determines who is responsible, and proposes compensation.
Compensation covers pecuniary damage (expenses, loss of income) and non-pecuniary damage (physical and psychological suffering, loss of affection, difficulty in building a “normal” life).
Families can obtain significant compensation, such as the €2 million awarded in the Serrano case in 2015. The statute of limitations for bringing legal proceedings is generally 10 years after the child reaches the age of majority or the facts are discovered.
Preventing the irreparable: current measures in maternity wards
Modern maternity wards have strengthened their security measures to prevent newborns from being switched:
- Rapid birth registration
- Identification bracelets checked by a parent and placed on the baby’s ankle at birth. They contain information about the identity of the child and the mother.
- Multiple identity checks at each key stage (admission, care, discharge), involving staff and parents.
- Skin-to-skin contact and 24-hour rooming-into create an immediate and continuous bond between mother and newborn.
- Unique barcodes or QR codes for each mother-baby pair.
- Footprints or photos of infants at birth.
- Staff training in neonatal safety and continuous vigilance.
Some maternity wards go even further with video surveillance or geolocation systems for cribs to ensure complete traceability.
Conclusion
Although rare today, cases of babies being switched at birth remain devastating. Fortunately, advances in genealogical DNA testing are helping to uncover many cases, sometimes decades later. Medicine and the justice system now offer tools to help families find some form of closure. In maternity wards, prevention measures are constantly improving to avoid such tragedies.