close
close

A Chennai couple is choosing to deliver their baby at home, following the advice of a 1,000-member WhatsApp group.

Posted on by L. Dreeye
A Chennai couple is choosing to deliver their baby at home, following the advice of a 1,000-member WhatsApp group.

Chennai: A couple recently gave birth to a baby in Kundrathur, relying solely on a WhatsApp group without any professional help. The incident prompted police to investigate.

According to a TOI report, Manoharan, 36, who works as an earthmover operator, and his wife Sukanya, 32, decided to seek help from the WhatsApp group ‘Home Birth Experience’.

The WhatsApp group has around 1,000 members and is reportedly full of posts with advice on how to give birth at home, accompanied by illustrations.

How the incident became known

The local health inspector lodged a complaint against the couple at Kundrathur police station after the birth of their child. The complaint alleges that Manoharan’s actions violated established medical safety regulations.

In response to the complaint, the police questioned Manoharan and during the investigation, the police discovered his connection with the WhatsApp group.

Why did the couple use WhatsApp?

The couple decided to use WhatsApp to deliver their third child and avoided any medical examinations. They already had two daughters: one eight years old, the other four. When Sukanya became pregnant with their third child, they decided to forego medical examinations throughout the pregnancy.

Even when Sukanya went into labor on November 17, the couple chose to follow the instructions and advice of the WhatsApp group instead of going to the hospital. Manoharan reportedly took care of the delivery himself.

According to the police, content in the WhatsApp group was a major factor influencing Manoharan’s decision. Times of India reported.

What will happen next to the newborn baby?

The local health officer told TOI that necessary medical attention will be provided to the mother and child.

Local health officials spoke with Manoharan, explaining the risks associated with using unverified online information. They stressed that his wife and newborn require proper professional medical care and monitoring.