Long wait for baby ends in tragedy

After 18-year struggle, middle-aged Kerala woman delivers twins, then collapses and dies at hospital

Aman in Kerala’s Kottayam district who felt on top of the world last week when his twin children were born was dealt a heartwrenching blow on Monday when his wife collapsed and died in hospital.

The parents, identified as Shishupalan and Sheeba, 42, had waited 18 years and undergone various treatments for infertility, and their joy knew no bounds when Sheeba delivered twin girls at a private hospital in Thellakam on February 1.

When the babies were delivered through a medical procedure, one of them was found to be underweight and moved to an incubator. Sheeba had been breast-feeding the other child and was set to leave the hospital yesterday, when tragedy struck.

The mother reportedly felt dizzy, apparently due to low blood pressure, and was quickly provided ventilator support. However, doctors could not save her.

The children continued to be in hospital, even as Sheeba’s body was taken out for funeral on yesterday.

Kerala leads the country on various health parameters including a low infant mortality and high maternal health.

Last month, data released by the Office of the Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner of India had revealed that the under-5 mortality rate — death of children below five years — in Kerala had declined to 11 per 1,000 live births, in 2016, improving on the figure of 13 per 1,000 live births in 2015.

Last week, Kerala finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac had allocated Rs16.86 billion in the state budget for public health services. He also announced oncology departments in all medical colleges in the state in view of the rising prevalence of cancer.