Woman and newborn die soon after delivery at home in Arcot

31-year-old woman dies from blood loss after giving birth at home, newborn baby also found dead in Arcot.

A 31-year-old woman died due to severe blood loss after she gave birth at her residence in Thoppukana, which comes under Arcot municipality, here on Thursday. The newborn baby girl was also found dead.

The deceased woman has been identified as T. Jothi, a mother of three.

According to the police, S. Kali, 55, who works at a private firm, brought his daughter Jothi, her husband K. Tamilselvan, a carpenter, and their three children from Salem to his house on Wednesday to spend the Pongal holidays together.

Jothi was alone with her children at the time of delivery, which took place around 7.30 a.m. She reportedly fell unconscious, while trying to cut the umbilical cord, because of severe blood loss.

She was discovered by her elder brother, K. Jeeva, who stepped in after some time. He informed his parents and her husband. She was rushed to the Government Taluk Hospital in Arcot where she was declared dead on arrival.

Health officials said Jothi’s family members had initially claimed that she was not well and had admitted that she gave birth at home only after the doctors noticed the cut umbilical cord. Subsequently, they brought the body of the baby girl wrapped in a gunny bag to the hospital.

“The deceased woman gave birth to her first child at our hospital nine years ago. So, she must have been aware of the health facilities available here. Despite this, she delivered the baby at home. The death of the baby, who weighed a normal 2.8 kg, is also shocking,” said a health official.