17-year-old girl delivers baby watching YouTube videos in Kerala

A 17-year-old girl, allegedly impregnated by her lover, delivered a baby on her own at home with the help of YouTube videos in Kerala's Malappuram district. According to police, the girl delivered the baby and cut the umbilical cord using YouTube videos as a guide on October 20. The preliminary investigations showed that the girl did not receive any external help during the entire process.

Both the mother and child, currently admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri, are doing fine, the police said. The 21-year-old man, who impregnated her, has been arrested under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IPC Section 376 (Rape), they said.

Her parents came to know about the incident on October 22 when they heard the cries of the baby. The girl, who delivered a baby boy, developed an infection and had to be taken to the hospital. It was then that the news was known and the hospital authorities informed the police.

The police said the girl, a plus-two student, had managed to hide her pregnancy from her visually challenged mother and father, who works as a night watchman.

According to the Child Welfare Committee, the girl had received medical aid from two hospitals during the period of her pregnancy. The CWC will enquire if there were any lapses on the part of these hospitals.