Agencies

Mumbai, Dec 7: Head of Nasrim Shaikh’s baby began to emerge when the firing was heard; she delivered 3 hours later

Nasrim Shaikh, 28, was in labour at the Cama and Albless hospital when the terrorists struck last Wednesday. She says her baby’s head had emerged at 10.00 pm, but after being informed that the terrorists had entered the hospital, doctors pushed back the baby. She finally delivered more than three hours later.

Shaikh says it was a tough task for her to bear the labour pain for a longer time. “I started getting labour pains at 9.30 pm and the nurses shifted me to the delivery room. Then we heard the firing and several loud explosions. I was scared and felt that I would not survive.

My labour pains were unbearable, and I started screaming. The doctor put a cloth in my mouth to stop my screams. But the baby’s head started to emerge. The doctors pushed it back to try and stall the delivery,” says Shaikh, who lives at Ballard Pier.

“The doctors and nurses stopped talking. Then, suddenly we were told two watch men were killed by the terrorists. The doctors and nurses switched off the lights.

The doctor injected me with a medicine and I fell unconscious. Later I learnt they barricaded the door with cupboards and benches. The terrorists felt the ward was closed, so they went away,” says Shaikh.

She says she cannot forget the day. “Everybody prayed to God that I deliver without any problem.

A watchman finally informed us at 12.30 am that the terrorists had gone and the police had secured the hospital. I finally gave birth to a girl at 1.30 am,” says Shaikh.

Suddenly a nurse shouted that the terrorists were still there. “My new born started crying and I immediately began to breast feed her to make her stop,” says Shaikh

“The hospital authorities discharged me the next day saying the terrorists may come again, please go home for your own safety. God heard the prayers of my relatives and the doctors, so I delivered safely. Otherwise, I would have not been alive,” says Shaikh in a choked voice.

Nasru Shaikh, 30, Nasrim’s husband says he is very thankful to God and everyone at the hospital who saved his wife and daughter. “I never imagined that we would go through such a situation. I just hope my child is not affected by the loud sounds of the explosives and the firing,” he says.

The doctors at the hospital refused to speak. However, Jayshree Kurdunkar, 42, a nurse who attended Shaikh’s delivery says, “We will lay down our lives for patients. I cried a lot the next day.”