Destiny's children

Here's how differently the city's newborns are starting out

Despite a plethora of hospitals in the city, celebrities and political bigwigs continue to patronise Breach Candy and Lilavati hospitals when it comes to the delivery of their babies.

This fact was borne out by the birth of Sanjay and Maanayata Dutt's twins in Breach Candy last afternoon. MiD DAY set out the find the reason behind this phenomenon.

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Why did Maanayata, who resides in Bandra, choose Breach Candy, which is all the way in South Mumbai? In her case, the gynaecologist looking after her during her pregnancy asked her to get admitted to Breach Candy.

"The baby care available at the hospital is the best. Thus, even when she was gradually setting into labour, we asked her to get admitted to Breach Candy only," said Dr Indira Hinduja, a gynaecologist.

"Her baby girl and boy have been kept under observation in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
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Maanayata is doing fine and has asked for a single room next to the NICU so that she can be close to her children."



Dr Hinduja said that Maanayata had exerted herself because of the various parties she was attending. "We were anticipating a premature delivery owing to the twins.
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The babies weigh 1.4 and 1.6 kg respectively. Currently, two nurses are stationed for the twins at the NICU at any given time.

Maanayata only has one nurse taking care of her. She underwent a C-section, but is absolutely fine," she said.

Confidence?

Dr Geeta Koppikar, medical director, Breach Candy Hospital, said, "The confidence that people have in the hospital, coupled with our medical expertise and the hospital's ambience, pulls people towards us.
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We do not, however, distinguish between celebrities and the common man."

Even Lilavati Hospital has seen a host of celebrity patients in the recent past. "Earlier, it was only one hospital that catered to the elites in the city.
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But now, many celebrities are opting for Lilavati too. One of the reasons for this might be our convenient location," said Dr Nandita Palshetkar, gynaecologist, Lilavati Hospital.


Actors Sanjay Dutt and Kumar Gaurav at the Mumbai airport yesterday. Dutt was in Dubai when the twins were born last afternoon

Cost Divide

Rs 2 lakh
Caesarean section at private hospital

Rs 1,200
Cost of a C-section at a government hospital

Celeb kids

In September, Kajol Devgn delivered a baby boy at Lilavati Hospital. The other star moms who delivered their babies at Lilavati include Suzanne Roshan, Mehr Jessia and Raveena Tandon.

Breach Candy's star moms also include Gauri Khan and Karishma Kapoor.