Due date on July 23-24? Admit yourself to hospital a few days early as Mumbai may go under water on these days, warns BMC
Due date on July 23-24? Admit yourself to hospital a few days early as Mumbai may go under water on these days, warns BMC
The BMC claims to have its disaster management plan in place, but may not be able to come to the rescue of expecting moms this monsoons. In fact, it has already issued a warning for pregnant women with due dates around July 23 and 24 and asked them to get admitted a few days earlier, as they fear a deluge-like situation on these days.
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According to the Mumbai Port Trust's reports, July 23-24 will witness a high tide of 5.05m, which is about 57 cm higher than what was recorded on 26/7. If this coincides with heavy rains, the situation is expected to go out of hand. "We're prepared for the monsoons, but it's wiser to be careful. Pregnant women, especially those living around chronic flooding spots like the Milan Subway, whose due dates clash with the heavy rain days, should not take this warning lightly," said an official from the BMC's disaster management department.
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This warning has sent would-be parents in a tizzy. Santacruz resident Prerna Sathe, who is expecting her baby on July 23, said, "The hospital I am registered with is in Vile Parle and I have to cross Milan Subway to get to it. I've informed my doctor that I will admit myself five days before the due date."
Ravikant Paste, a resident of Ghatkopar, whose wife delivered an evening before the 26/7 deluge also recommends this strategy. "I'm lucky my wife delivered before the flooding. However, I could not escape the wrath of the rains. I waded through waist-high water to get to my wife and new-born child on the deluge day.
It took me two and a half hours to get to the hospital, which is a 20-minute drive from my place," said Paste.
"The situation at the hospital was worse. There was no electricity for hours. If my wife had gone into labour on 26/7, I don't know how I would have ferried her to the hospital," he added.
For a safe delivery
>>Avoid travelling in auto rickshaws and potholed roads
>>Avoid uncooked food like juices, sandwiches and salads
>>Avoid walking in puddles wearing chappals
>>Beware of mosquitoesu00a0
(Tips by Dr Rishma Pai, consulting gynaecologist at Jaslok and Lilavati hospitals)
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