Over 50 babies to be born in December in city’s Ganesh Das Hospital
By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG: The joy of Christmas multiplies with the birth of a child and nothing can be more joyful if the baby is born on December 25.
Many expecting mothers in the city are eager to deliver either this festive season or on the day of Christmas, a festival that symbolises the birth of Jesus.
The Shillong Times spoke to a few expecting mothers at Ganesh Das Hospital on Wednesday and asked them how they feel about bringing a new life to earth on Christmas. While many were reluctant to talk a few were happy and said there was a sense of fulfilment.
Mothers at the ante-natal and post-natal wards have to spend time at the hospital while other family members are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new member. “I feel happy. There is no other warm feeling to have a baby born in the family bringing joy to everyone,” said a would-be mother from Mawsynram whose baby is due this month.
This reporter spoke to a woman who became a mother for the first time lovingly holding her bundle of joy. Her family members were all smiles. “We were expecting the baby girl to be born on Christmas but it turned out to be a surprise for us when she was born ahead of Christmas,” they said. That, however, did not reduce their joy.
Some expecting mothers suffering from high BP or anaemia were kept in the high-risk ward.
There are over 50 babies to be born in December in the hospital.
An official in the Health Department said under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, all pregnant women are being taken care of. “On the ninth of every month, pregnant women across the state get free medical checkups, medicines and other tests at sub-centres, PHCs and CHCs,” the official said.