Mentally ill Woman Gives Birth to Baby Boy in Hailakandi

Hailakandi, June 18, 2019:

A 32-year-old Sabita Kol with mental illness began complaining to doctors of SK Roy Civil Hospital about contractions around 3 pm on June 11.

The mentally ill lady who came there alone with excruciating labour pain was ushered into the operation theatre by doctors. After some time, she was there with her newborn baby boy.

At her time of extreme need and vulnerability, doctors and nurses provided Sabita with the assistance and medical care all mothers need and deserve.

But the real challenge came about when the mother refused to breastfeed the newborn baby. Doctors were at a loss what to do as Sabita was adamant in her stand. Their pleas to Sabita to breastfeed the infant fell on deaf ears.

On June 12, the condition of the baby, whom the hospital authorities named Muskaan, worsened as the infant did not feed on his mother's milk.

SoS was sent to the ChildLine and Child Welfare Society. It was decided to shift the baby immediately to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital for better care and treatment. With the joint efforts of Child Line and police personnel, Muskaan was rushed to the government hospital. After check-up in the OPD, the hospital authorities did not admit Muskaan, as there was no attendant around.

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Later, the mother-baby duo was taken to the one-stop center at Silchar's Das Colony by a team of officials of Child Line and police personnel on the night of June 12.

The baby's condition deteriorated and was diagnosed with jaundice. The baby was wailing and doctors knew that they have had a task at hand to keep the baby in fine fettle by administering life-saving fluid or else condition might aggravate further.

At this point of time, the Hailakandi district administration headed by Keerthi Jalli directed to District Social Welfare Officer Jyotirmoy Daimary and District Child Protection Officer Jitul Bora to take expeditious steps. The infant was shifted to the one-stop center's shelter home Nivedita.

Treatment began in right earnest. Though Muskaan is afflicted with jaundice, doctors stated that the infant is out of danger.

This incident came to light only a couple of days back.

Meanwhile, the district administration with the help of Child Line has found a new home for Sabita in Ujjwala, a shelter home for women in Silchar.

The investigation is on to find out under what circumstances Sabita, who was mentally unsound, became pregnant.

"Women with mental illness are vulnerable in our society which is still grappling with the idea of accepting women as equal to men,” said an official.

It is learned that mentally ill Sabita is a resident of Thaligram under Udarbond Police Station of Cachar district. Efforts are on to trace out her family members