Remember how in the climax of the movie ‘3 Idiots’ Kareena Kapoor guided Aamir Khan in delivering Mona Singh’s baby? While that scene may have been exaggerated for dramatic purposes, due to COVID-19 a similar situation unfolded in Hanagal town in Haveri district of Karnataka.
According to The Hindu, on July 26, Vasavi Fattepur went into labour prematurely so her husband Raghavendra called the ambulance. But he was informed that it would take 30-45 minutes to arrive, so he requested help from their female neighbours. One of the women called up Dr. Priyanka Mantagi, a gynecologist from Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) hospital in Hubballi for instructions and a baby boy was delivered successfully.
The Times of India quoted the mother saying, “I thank my neighbours who showed exemplary courage and presence of mind to support me during the crisis.”
The New Indian Express quoted Dr. Priyanka adding, “I only guided them to conduct the delivery. The women who were on the spot knew a few things about baby birth and that was helpful. Soon after the delivery, the ambulance reached their residence, and the mother-baby duo was taken for further treatment to a hospital. This is first such kind of delivery I conducted or was part of it.”
Kudos to the women for their efforts. We wish both mom and baby good health and happiness!