Medical care for abused, pregnant girls in India

We are only in May but so far we have already welcomed ten girls into Tejus Home.

Ten girls of different ages and from different backgrounds but ten girls, minors, with important choices to make.

Our youngest girl was twelve years old, abused by her brother of only fourteen. It became a case where various professionals (doctors, lawyers and journalists) with their own ideas started discussing what should be done regarding her pregnancy. The fact was that she didn't want to do anything. Our midwives felt that she was healthy enough to carry the pregnancy to term and this was backed up both by her mother and by a panel of doctors from the government medical college.

She gave birth naturally and her child was relinquished for adoption.

We had another similar case where the young girl was thirteen and had also been abused by her brother of sixteen. She had a natural delivery and gave her baby for adoption.

Apart from one other case of child sexual abuse, the seven remaining girls said they were in consensual relationships. Due to their young age however, and the fact that their partners were adults, they were legally cases of abuse.

Two girls opted for MTPs (medical termination of pregnancy) which is allowed before 20 weeks and is done in government hospitals.

Two girls left our home before giving birth because thankfully they had the full support of their families.

Four girls had natural births with our midwives in the birthing centre. One girl had to deliver in hospital but had a vaginal birth.

One girl is expected to deliver next month.

We are really happy with these results. The girls put in a lot of hard work to avoid having caesareans (they don't want the scar!). They eat healthily, they exercise, they get to relax as well in a very non-judgmental home.

Thanks to your incredible support, we can continue to run Tejus Home as long as necessary.