A heartbreaking incident in Moscow has spotlighted the dangers of home births conducted without professional medical supervision. On December 13, 27-year-old social media influencer Aisha Rakaeva gave birth to her son in an inflatable pool at her apartment. Although the infant was initially alive, he tragically died approximately an hour later, reportedly from drowning in amniotic fluid.

The woman assisting Rakaeva, 59-year-old Natalia Kotlar, was swiftly arrested. Kotlar had presented herself as a psychologist, educator, head of a parenting center, and instructor of “Gentle Birth” courses. She had even authored a book on water births and claimed international professional experience.

Police investigations, however, revealed Kotlar had no formal medical qualifications, higher medical education, or specialization in obstetrics and gynecology, contrary to Rakaeva’s understanding. Authorities confirmed the baby “choked on amniotic fluid,” underscoring the fatal risk of unmonitored deliveries.

Amniotic fluid plays essential roles in fetal development, including cushioning, temperature regulation, and aiding lung and musculoskeletal growth. After birth, excess fluid is normally absorbed, but complications such as Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN) can occur, causing severe breathing difficulties.

While it is unconfirmed whether TTN contributed to this death, the absence of immediate medical intervention proved fatal.

Kotlar has been charged with illegal medical practice and providing unsafe services. Obstetrician and public health expert Lyubov Yerofeyeva stressed that safe childbirth requires extensive theoretical knowledge and hands-on training.

She explained that trained professionals can recognize danger signs, such as rising fetal heart rate, and promptly seek emergency care, interventions that could have potentially saved the baby’s life.

Rakaeva, known to her 1.5 million followers as Aisha Chigga, shared her grief on Telegram, describing the loss as “the hardest moment of my life.” She detailed her hospitalization and ongoing emotional struggles, appealing for moral support as authorities investigate the incident.

The tragedy mirrors a recent UK case, in which newborn Pippa Gillibrand died after a botched home birth in August 2024. An inquest revealed that community midwives failed to monitor her heartbeat during a busy Bank Holiday weekend, resulting in brain damage from oxygen deprivation.

Both incidents highlight the critical importance of qualified medical supervision during childbirth, whether at home or in hospital, to prevent avoidable deaths and safeguard mother and child.