Ep 12. Mother's Milk

In Law & Order season 10 episode 12, titled "Mother's Milk," the detectives of the 27th precinct investigate the death of a newborn baby. The mother, a young woman named Nadine, is found unconscious in her apartment with her baby lying lifeless beside her. As the detectives delve deeper into the case, they unravel a web of secrets and lies that leads them to question whether this was a tragic accident or a cold-blooded murder.

The episode opens with Detectives Briscoe and Curtis arriving at the crime scene, where they find Nadine lying on the floor in a state of shock. She tells them that she fell asleep while breastfeeding her baby and woke up to find him dead. Initially, the detectives suspect that she may have suffocated the baby accidentally, but as they begin to investigate, they uncover a number of inconsistencies in Nadine's story.

The detectives soon discover that Nadine had been taking drugs during her pregnancy and had tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at the hospital after giving birth. They also learn that she had taken a prescription drug for pain relief that can be harmful to breastfeeding babies. As they piece together the evidence, it becomes clear that Nadine had been neglecting her baby's needs and may have caused his death through her carelessness and drug use.

As the investigation continues, the detectives interview Nadine's boyfriend, the father of the baby, who tells them that he had no idea Nadine was using drugs. He is devastated by the loss of his son and distraught at the prospect that Nadine may have been responsible for his death.

Meanwhile, the district attorney's office struggles with the question of whether to charge Nadine with a crime. They are reluctant to prosecute a grieving mother, but they also feel that justice must be served for the innocent victim. The case takes a surprising turn when new evidence comes to light that changes the entire nature of the investigation.

In "Mother's Milk," the detectives are forced to confront the harsh reality of infant mortality and the devastating effects of drug abuse on families. The episode explores the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding cases of negligent parenting and challenges viewers to consider the difficult choices facing law enforcement officials in cases that involve the death of a child.

Overall, "Mother's Milk" is a gripping and emotionally charged episode that provides a thought-provoking look at one of society's most difficult problems. It is an intense and powerful installment of Law & Order that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.