‘He wasn't sleeping, so I kept him in fridge': Moradabad mother's statement after chilling act

Image generated by AI

A young mother in Moradabad suffering from a severe postpartum mental health disorder placed her 15-day-old infant inside a refrigerator, a shocking incident that has underscored the critical need for greater awareness of perinatal psychiatric conditions.

According to a report by News18, the 23-year-old woman, whose husband is a brass worker, lives with her in-laws in the city’s Jabbar Colony. The incident occurred on September 5 when the newborn was restless and would not sleep. The mother carried the child to the kitchen, placed him inside the fridge and then returned to her room to sleep.

The infant was rescued moments later when his grandmother was alerted by his cries. She discovered the child inside the appliance and pulled him out. The family immediately took the baby to a doctor, who confirmed he was unharmed. When confronted by her horrified husband and in-laws, the woman responded with a calm and flat explanation: “He was not sleeping, so I kept him in the fridge.”

The family’s initial reaction was to attribute her behaviour to a supernatural influence. The following day, they took her to a local tantrik for exorcism rituals. Only when these efforts failed did a relative advise seeking psychiatric consultation.

The woman was subsequently admitted for psychiatric care, where doctors diagnosed her with postpartum psychosis. This is a rare but acute mental health condition that can emerge after childbirth, causing a loss of touch with reality.

Psychiatrists explain that the disorder exists on a spectrum. While many new mothers experience mild ‘baby blues’, which typically resolve quickly, some develop postpartum depression, marked by persistent sadness and anxiety. In its most extreme form, it escalates to psychosis.

“Such mothers are not in control of their thoughts. They may harm themselves or their babies without realising it,” explained Dr Kartikeya Gupta, the psychiatrist treating the woman was cited by News18. “The patient here had lost her sense of reality and was also severely sleep-deprived, both common in postpartum psychosis.”

The case has highlighted a widespread but often ignored public health issue. While psychosis is rare, affecting 1 to 2 women per 1,000 deliveries, postpartum depression is far more common. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 20% of women in developing countries experience it, with a study in the National Library of Medicine placing the prevalence in India at around 22%.

Speaking on the broader implications, Dr Jyotsna Mehta, a renowned gynaecologist from Lucknow, told News18 that such disorders must be treated as medical emergencies. “The Moradabad case is tragic, but it is not isolated. Many new mothers suffer silently because families and even frontline health workers miss the early signs,” she said.

Dr Mehta urged families to be more vigilant. “Instead of brushing off symptoms as fatigue or mood swings, relatives should watch for patterns — persistent sadness, sleeplessness, withdrawal, or strange behaviour. Early counselling and medication can make a huge difference.” She emphasised the need for community-level awareness campaigns and training for health workers to identify these critical symptoms.