Baby Suraiya now safe in mother's arms

What could be more comforting for Nazma Khatun than being finally reunited with her baby girl Suraiya who was separated from her at birth?

Although the 35-year-old mother was allowed to breastfeed Suraiya over the past two weeks, doctors kept the baby away at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to protect her from infection.

After Dr Kaniz Hasina of the Department of Pediatrics Surgery yesterday handed Suraiya over to the mother, an emotional Nazma held her three-week-old baby tightly and showered her with kisses.

“Alhamdulillah! I'm very happy today with the baby in my arms. I haven't expected that she'll survive. I thank the Almighty Allah,” she told reporters at the DMCH.

When eight-month pregnant Nazma was shot in the lower abdomen during a clash between two factions of Magura Jubo League on July 23, her unborn baby too sustained critical injuries in the shoulder and in one of her eyes.

Although both of them survived after a two-hour caesarean operation, doctors in Magura hadn't expected that the bullet-injured newborn would be able to cling to life.

Suraiya was immediately rushed to the DMCH where doctors saved her putting in a commendable collective effort. However, Nazma stayed in Magura to recuperate but was brought to the DMCH about a week later to breastfeed Suraiya as per doctors' advice.

Until yesterday Nazma could visit Suraiya now and then to breastfeed her but from now on the two can stay together, said doctors at the DMCH.

Dr Kaniz said they were so relieved that they could finally give the baby to her mother.  

She said although the mother and the baby are out of danger now, the baby is still at risk of infection for her low birth weight. 

“We will observe both of them for three or four more days before deciding on their discharge,” she told The Daily Star.

A team from National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital will examine the baby's eye injury on Monday, she added.