A 32-year-old pregnant woman in India has died after she and her husband allegedly relied on YouTube videos to carry out a home birth instead of seeking medical care, prompting police to launch a criminal investigation.
The woman, identified as Sasikala, lived with her husband, Kolanthaisamy, in a village in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu. According to Indian media reports, she had previously undergone a Caesarean section while delivering her first child and was said to have developed a deep fear of hospitals and surgical procedures following the experience.
Investigators said that when Sasikala became pregnant with her second child, the couple allegedly decided to avoid hospital treatment altogether. Instead, they reportedly watched YouTube videos to learn how to conduct a home delivery, while also avoiding routine prenatal check-ups and government health monitoring throughout the pregnancy.
On the day of the delivery, Sasikala reportedly gave birth to her baby at home. However, she suffered severe bleeding shortly afterwards. Although she was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, doctors were unable to save her and she was pronounced dead.
Police investigations revealed that the couple had deliberately avoided professional medical care during the pregnancy in an attempt to prevent another Caesarean section. Authorities have since opened a case against Kolanthaisamy on suspicion of culpable homicide by negligence while investigators also examine whether any unlicensed practitioner or unauthorised midwife assisted with the home birth.
The tragic incident has reignited discussions about the dangers of unsupervised home births and the importance of proper prenatal care. Health experts have repeatedly warned that childbirth can become life-threatening within minutes if complications such as severe bleeding are not treated immediately by trained medical professionals.
