How UP's miracle baby spent over 48 hrs in grave

BAREILLY

: The paediatrician treating the baby girl, who was found alive in an earthen pitcher buried on a cremation ground here recently, said that she most likely spent over 48 hours in the grave and burnt brown fat in her body for survival.

Brown fat or

brown adipose tissue

helps infants survive extreme cold by burning fatty acids and glucose as their body is too underdeveloped for shivering

thermogenesis

. Speaking to TOI, Dr Ravi Khanna said that the premature baby, whose umbilical cord had already fallen, showed signs of life despite her platelet count dropping to 10,000 from a normal range of 1.5 lakh. “We are trying to maintain her body temperature as it drops randomly due to absence of fat. Yet, she is responding to treatment and showing signs of improvement. We are now feeding her through a tube and her body has accepted premature baby formula as well. However, the antibiotics and intensive care will continue till the infection in her blood is gone,” he added.

The baby, who was admitted to the district hospital in a critical condition, was shifted to a private facility after a BJP MLA offered to sponsor her treatment. The move was finalised only after the chief medical superintendent and members of child welfare committee gave a go-ahead.

CWC member Dr DN Sharma said, “It was a good gesture by the MLA to help save the life of the baby girl. The decision on her adoption will be taken once she recovers and proper guidelines will be followed for the same.”

Meanwhile, Bareilly SSP Shailesh Pandey said that police have registered a case against the unidentified parents of the girl under sections 317A (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years) and 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC. He added that they are on the lookout for the accused.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.