A woman in Uttar Pradesh has gone viral for shouting and threatening her daughter-in-law in the labour room as the doctor prepared for delivery. In a video shared by the gynaecologist, the mother-in-law can be seen insisting on the pregnant woman going ahead with a natural delivery, even as other family members and even the husband were in favour of a caesarean section.
The incident happened in a hospital in Prayagraj and the family appeared to have travelled from Varanasi for the delivery.
"Shut up or I'll break your mouth!" the mother-in-law is seen telling the daughter-in-law as she cries out in labour pain. "How will you become a mother if you keep on crying like this?" The elderly woman also objected to the woman holding her son's hand. "Leave his hand, leave his hand, I say," she says in the video as other family members try to pacify her.
'One should speak lovingly at this time'
Reacting to the incident, the gynaecologist Dr Naaz Fatima said the elderly woman initially appeared to be playing a prank on her daughter-in-law. But she added that in delicate situations like this, the family should treat the pregnant woman with love and care. "One should speak lovingly at this time," Dr Fatima wrote on Instagram.
Netizens slam mother-in-law, husband
Social media users, however, slammed the elderly woman for her treatment of the new mother.
"Hard to watch a pregnant woman being disrespected and no one saying a word," commented an Instagram user. "Another reminder that not every elder deserves respect. Age doesn’t automatically make you wise or kind. Being older doesn’t give you the right to be rude. People who are saying that she is joking and having fun (I am sorry she just gave birth to a baby, it's not the right to joke around her). Being old is not a free pass for bad behaviour."
Another user wrote, "I wouldn't wish a mother-in-law like this even for my enemies." "They cannot bear to see their son holding hands with his wife, wow, even in a labour room," added another.
The husband, who appeared to defend his wife mildly, was also criticised for not siding with his wife properly. "You all see a problematic saas, I see a problematic husband who has failed to take a stand for his wife. He has failed as a husband to every extent," wrote an Instagram user.
"The husband ???? Why is he saying nothing?" asked a second user, while a third asked why he was laughing like an "idiot" while his wife was being mistreated.
"This lady is traumatised by her mother-in-law, and she is passing generational trauma, sadly," concluded another user.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
