Newborn Who Lost His Mother To Covid Sees Wave Of Compassion As Lactating Mothers Come To His Rescue

A recent birth of a premature baby moments before his COVID-positive mother succumbed due to cardiac arrest at Kingsway Hospital in Nagpur is been seen as a miracle.

The birth was a major coup in itself, as doctors performed an emergency special perimortem cesarean section of the mother, Minal Vernekar, to save the baby. What happened next is heartwarming. Many lactating women reached out to offer their breast milk.

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Chetan Vernekar, the boy's father, has been left overwhelmed by the selfless gesture of strangers.

¡°My family and I are filled with immense gratitude for the new mothers who contacted us in Nagpur after they learned of the death of my wife in the 32nd week of her pregnancy on April 8. Since our baby is allergic to formula milk, the ladies regularly supplied us with their own breast milk," Chetan told Times of India.

Also read: Nurse Comes To Rescue Of Newborn Whose Mother Wasn't Lactating, Breastfeeds Her

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He said it was only because of this humane act that his child survived and has now been discharged from the hospital.

Minal, an HR consultant, was in Nagpur to be with her parents when she contracted COVID-19 and had to be hospitalised, TOI reported.

Chetan's sister, Shanoo Prasad, said after the baby came home with his father to Thane, they again had to search for milk. It was said that a Facebook group called Breastfeeding Support for Indian Woman came forward to help.

Also read: Humanity Above All: 3 Instances When Mothers Donated Their Breast Milk For Babies In Need

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She added that someone had also posted about their situation on Twitter, following which they received several calls from people who wanted to help. "We are overwhelmed by this milk of compassion," Shanoo said.

Currently, the family is busy arranging for milk from various donors in Mumbai and Thane. ¡°There is one lady in Borivli, another, Neha from Mahim, and Shagun, mother of a one-month-old from Jogeshwari, who have been sending us milk," Shanoo added.

The family has requested milk donors to contact them on 9137902749.

Also read: Lactating Mothers In Tamil Nadu Start Breast Milk Donation Camps To Help Save Babies' Lives