Three weeks ago, a tragic incident in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district raised doubts about the risk of unassisted home deliveries after a 32-year-old woman died of severe postpartum bleeding three days after she gave birth at home. Authorities have opened an investigation into the case, which included the woman’s husband and mother-in-law using YouTube videos to help with her childbirth.
The deceased, K. Sasikala, 32, of Punjai Thalavaipalayam village in Uthukuli taluk, went into labour early in the morning of June 24. Sasikala and her family had planned for a natural childbirth at home, police said.
Investigators said Sasikala’s husband, Kolanthasamy (35) and her mother-in-law helped in the delivery. They watched videos on YouTube about the natural childbirth process, they said. Sasikala delivered a baby girl at home, with no professional medical supervision, investigators reported.
But shortly after giving birth, she began to suffer from severe postpartum haemorrhage, a potentially life-threatening condition that can result in excessive bleeding after childbirth. Family members tried to help, but the bleeding was worse at home, the family said.
With the seriousness of her condition, Sasikala was eventually rushed to the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital in Perundurai. She was transferred to a private hospital in Coimbatore on June 25 for further treatment.
Despite the medical treatment and intensive care efforts, doctors were unable to save her. Sasikala succumbed to complications on Sunday morning, several days after the delivery.
Police officials confirmed that a case has been registered against her husband under relevant legal provisions following a complaint filed by the Block Medical Officer of Kunnathur. Sasikala’s relatives were not interested in filing a complaint, but the health department took cognisance of the matter because of the circumstances surrounding the delivery.
Investigators are also looking into whether proper maternal healthcare protocols were followed during the pregnancy. Initial investigations by health department officials show Sasikala was not registered under Tamil Nadu’s PICME system for maternal and child health monitoring to provide regular medical supervision during pregnancy.
Health professionals have repeatedly cautioned against trying to have babies without professional help, in cases where complications may occur suddenly. Postpartum haemorrhage remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide and often requires immediate medical intervention, blood transfusions, and emergency care.
They called the newborn baby girl “a healthy and stable baby” and said she is doing okay. The couple already had a six-year-old daughter who was born in a hospital in 2020 without complications.
The incident has revived conversations about the dangers of misinformation and self-guided medical procedures found online. Digital platforms can provide general health awareness, but medical professionals stress that childbirth is a complicated and highly critical process that needs to be kept in the hands of medical professionals to protect the mother and child.
Police and health department officials are investigating what caused the tragedy. They will write a detailed report once they have investigated the case.
