Home birth after watching YouTube videos turns fatal; 32-year-old woman dies, husband and mother-in-law booked

CHENNAI: In a shocking incident, a 32-year-old woman died due to excessive bleeding after attempting a home birth after watching YouTube videos. The incident took place at Thalavaipalayam near Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu. The woman, identified as Sasikala, wife of farmer Kulandaisamy, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Coimbatore.

The incident took place on the 24th of this month. Police said Sasikala delivered the baby at home after following instructions from YouTube videos, hoping for a normal delivery. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy. However, she developed serious health complications after the delivery. Although her relatives immediately rushed her to a hospital, she died during treatment.

Sasikala’s first delivery was through a Caesarean section (C-section). Police said she later developed a dislike for allopathic treatment. As she did not want to undergo another C-section, the family decided to attempt a normal delivery at home after watching YouTube videos. Police said Sasikala had not visited a hospital since the beginning of her pregnancy.

According to police, Sasikala was forced to deliver the baby at home by her husband and mother-in-law. Although her family has not filed a complaint, police have registered a case against them under the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the National Medical Commission Act. Police are questioning Sasikala’s husband and mother-in-law.