Desire for home birth costs woman's life

Kiruthika and Karthikeyan, both happily married for seven years, always desired to have a home birth of their second child. And when the 28-year-old woman conceived again, their happiness knew no bounds and the couple began watching videos on YouTube on how to have a baby at home.

Eventually, the couple took the risk of a home birth with the help of another couple on Sunday resulting in the death of Kiruthika. The unfortunate incident took place in Tiruppur district and family members of the deceased say despite their warnings, Kiruthika was adamant about having a child at her home.

After successfully delivering a baby girl, Kiruthika began bleeding profusely and became unconscious after which she was rushed to the Government General Hospital, where she was declared “brought dead.” Kiruthika is survived by her 34-year-old husband and a five-year-old girl, besides the newborn.

Karthikeyan had called his friend Praveen and his wife Lalitha, who claimed to have delivered a baby without the assistance of doctors, to assist him in the delivery. The trio seemed to have taken the help of videos on YouTube and carried out the delivery.

The incident has come as a shock to people in Tamil Nadu as a well-educated couple decided to go for a risky home delivery without the assistance of experienced people. The state boasts of 100% institutional delivery.

Sources said police have booked Karthikeyan, Praveen and Lalitha under various sections and have questioned them.

Police registered a case after Tiruppur City Health Officer K Boopathy filed a complaint demanding action against Karthikeyan, his friend Praveen and his wife Lalitha on charges of causing death by preventing Kiruthika from undergoing medical treatment.

“My daughter and her husband decided to try the natural way of childbirth like in older days without going to the hospital. Though my wife and I pleaded with them not to take the risk, Kiruthika stood firm in her decision and also convinced us. They learnt delivery techniques by watching YouTube,” Kiruthika's father Rajendran said.