"Unlicensed 'Water Birth Expert' Arrested After Baby Drowns During Home Delivery"

AN UNQUALIFIED ‘water birth expert’ was arrested in connection with a new-born baby drowning an hour after he was born.

Influencer Aisha Rakaeva, 27, gave birth in an inflatable pool at her flat on 13 December last year.

Aisha Rakaeva gave birth to a baby boy at home but he died an hour laterCredit: Jam Press A so-called ‘water birth expert’ was present during the birthCredit: Jam Press The woman, Natalia Kotlar, was arrested shortly after the boy’s deathCredit: Jam Press

Her baby boy was born alive but died an hour later, it was reported.

Local news reported that he had drowned in amniotic fluid.

“The baby choked on amniotic fluid,” a enforcement source told Russian newsite KP.RU .

Natalia Kotlar, 59, assisted Aisha during her birth in , , and was arrested shortly after the tragedy.

Natalia presented herself as an experienced psychologist, educator, head of a parenting culture centre and instructor of ‘Gentle Birth’ courses,

She’d also written a book on water births – having delivered one of her five children in the Indian Ocean – and claimed she was frequently invited to work abroad.

Natalia was arrested after the death of the baby boy.

later discovered she had no formal qualifications allowing her to provide midwifery services.

The 59-year-old was charged with illegal medical practice and providing services that failed to meet safety requirements.

Natalia is reportedly denying wrongdoing and is challenging her pre-trial detention in court.

While develop in the womb, they’re surrounded by amniotic fluid, which fills their lungs too.

They receive oxygen through the umbilical cord and don’t draw a breath until they’re outside of the womb and exposed to air.

After birth, any fluid in the baby’s lungs is naturally absorbed into the body.

But sometimes there can be a delay in fluid clearing from the lungs – called transient tachypnoea of the new-born – which can lead to breathing problems.

Some babies might also have their first bowel movement during birth, before exiting the womb.

This stool, which mixes with the amniotic fluid, is called meconium.

The baby may inhale it during or shortly after birth, which can be serious and can harm a baby’s ability to breathe outside the womb.

Babies who inhale meconium may need treatment with suction and oxygen after birth.

It’s not known if Aisha’s baby suffered from either of these two conditions.

Obstetrician, gynaecologist and public expert Lyubov Yerofeyeva told local Russian media: “The woman [Natalia Kotlar] who assisted with the birth had no medical training and, in my view, simply didn’t understand the cause-and-effect processes or the mechanics of childbirth because she hadn’t undergone proper training – which involves not just a huge amount of theory but extensive practical skills.

“In hospital, doctors could have worked out what was happening and saved the baby.”

Aisha has more than 1.5m followers on social media, where she goes by the name Aisha Chigga.

She is also a choreographer, dancer, model and actress.

On January 27, she posted on Telegram : “It’s with a heavy heart that I write this to you… Tragedy struck during my home birth… my new-born baby didn’t survive.

“I was hospitalised, and now I’m experiencing incredible pain; the night was terrible.

“This is the hardest moment of my life, and I don’t even know how to find the strength to continue.

“Plus, there are still numerous hearings, consultations, investigations, and funerals ahead.”

The news follows the , who died at just 12 days old after a botched home birth, as midwives juggled staff shortages over the bank holiday weekend.

Her mum Victoria Gillibrand, 33, had planned to give birth at home but was blue-lighted to hospital and rushed into surgery.

But by then it was too late, as the 8lbs 5oz baby had experienced after being deprived of oxygen during her delivery.

Victoria, a public health practice manager, and her husband, Thomas, 34, chose a – believing it would be safer – and in the expectation of closer one-to-one care.

An inquest into Pippa’s death is being held at the Coroner’s Court.

Victoria and Thomas had their baby Pippa on Bank Holiday Sunday, August 25, 2024Credit: Supplied Jennifer Cahill, 34, gave birth to her second baby, Agnes in 2024 but both diedCredit: Facebook

Earlier this year, it was also reported that mumduring a home birth.

The delivery, which took place on June 3, 2024, when Agnes was born not breathing with the umbilical cord around her neck.

Jennifer – who, her husband Rob said, was never able to hold her baby – suffered a perineal tear, two postpartum haemorrhages, and later went into cardiac arrest.

She died the following day on June 4, while Agnes died in hospital four days later.

Around one in 50 women in and give birth at home, according to the .

Home births are controversial due to the lack of specialised care at hand if something goes seriously wrong.

Last year, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) also said: “Home births, supported by a midwife, may be suitable for healthy, low-risk women who are having a second or subsequent child and have had a straightforward pregnancy.

“However, for women having their first baby, evidence shows a home birth slightly increases the risk of a poor outcome for the baby.

“Some degree of anxiety about giving birth is common in many expectant mothers.

“Women should be given the opportunity to address their fears and past traumas via open discussions with their midwife or obstetrician.”