RIP little man :broken_heart:

Wait...don't go! I'm not asking for money! This is not one of those sad stories wanting money for anything. I want to raise awareness of a personal issue and seek some help and advice.

On Eid 2017, my sister in law, gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy. We received news that the baby and mother had difficulties and to pray. My sister in law is newly married and very young and she lives in a village in Bangladesh.
Sadly the baby passed away a week later after spending his life in an incubator.

Whilst he was born at full term with no pregnancy issues for my sister in law, it was heart failure as a result of an age old practice that took him away from his mother and father.

My sister in law was given an injection into her stomach on early labour and a tablet. What the drug or herb was, I have no idea! However it was arranged by the baby's grandmother (Mother in law) and my sister in law, either clueless or powerless to question; and it was administered by a village woman.

My questions will remain unanswered as I type away from my modern kitchen in the UK. What the hell was given to her? Why? Why was she never taken to a doctor during her entire pregnancy....that's easy to answer. Medical care in Bangladesh costs money. So, to save a few pennies, actually it's a lot of money, an untrained, unprofessional was given permission to inject via the belly button into the cord...that very cord that's connected to the baby....manslaughter perhaps! Are there any laws in Bangladesh to protect pregnant women and unborn babies against this sort of thing?

The baby was born via ceaserean as the mother had difficulties and was in a lot of pain. She kept saying she was going to die and her baby would not survive. Within minutes of her arrival at hospital, the baby was born. The doctor asked the mother in law repeatedly if there was anything they should know. The baby's grandmother replied that there was nothing until the doctor later asked, did you give her any medication or injection? That's when she answered 'ji oi' meaning 'yes'.

Can anyone who knows anything about this practice shed some light to help me understand. Was this an ancient midwifery practice, witchcraft, a type of ayurvedic treatment?

The baby never met his mother. Mother never saw her baby until the day of burial. I'm too far away to provide comfort. RIP little one who I shall never meet.

My thought's today are with the babies mother Sabina x