I was terrified when I was told I gave birth to three-headed baby - Zainab

Category: News Published on Saturday, 09 March 2013 05:00 Written by Yusha’u A Ibrahim, Katsina Hits: 1159

When Malama Zainab, a 19-year-old mother was rushed to the Malumfashi General Hospital in Katsina State on Sunday, March 3, 2013 while in labour, members of her family were eager for the twins an earlier scan revealed she will deliver.

However, they were disappointed when Zainab gave birth to a three-headed baby girl after a briefed labour. The entire family members were confused when they were informed about the unusual delivery, Weekly Trust learnt.
Members of the family who were present at the hospital including Zainab’s husband, Malam Dahiru Umar busted into tears when they were informed about the abnormalities of the new baby. Mother of the baby on the other hand could not control her tears when she beheld the strange child.
Malama Zainab said “I was shocked when I was told I gave birth to three-headed baby girl; I busted into tears because I was baffled and upset with the development.”
Recounting her ordeal to Weekly Trust at her matrimonial home at Unguwar Sodangi in Malumfashi town, Zainab said “the delivery had confused me, because I have never expected it in my life. During my ante-natal visits to hospital, I was told that I was carrying twins, but to my utmost surprise, I gave birth to a three-headed baby.”
Zainab said  though that was her first delivery, but she has never experienced any abnormality during her ante-natal, adding that “I also underwent normal labour before I finally delivered the baby through normal processes.”
“I have considered the development as a destiny and a test from the Almighty Allah, which every Muslim is expected to accept in good faith. As a Muslim,   I have accepted it in good faith and prayed for Allah’s intervention. And I am sure Allah will not let us down as far as this issue is concerned, because He knows why this happened to us,” she concluded.
Weekly Trust learnt that the three-headed baby was also delivered without eyes, but had a mouth, two legs and two hands like any other normal baby.
As at the time Weekly Trust visited Zainab’s matrimonial house at Unguwar Sodangi in Malumfashi town, the house was full to its capacity with women, who converged to commiserate with her over the abnormal delivery.
Malam   Umar the father of the baby said, “my wife has never missed her ante-natal checks at the Malumfashi General Hospital; I was personally taking her to the hospital whenever she has an appointment, but nobody ever told us that   she was carrying   a three-headed baby.”    
Umar, who spoke to Weekly Trust on phone from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), said the three-headed baby was referred to ABUTH for further examination after a successful delivery at the Malumfashi General Hospital.
He recalled that when Zainab started labor at home on Sunday, he took  her to the hospital and health personnel on duty directed him to buy some items but on his return he met the new born baby.
The 25-year-old petty trader said his wife has never complained to him of any abnormality during her pregnancy and that when he was told that his she had given birth to the three-headed baby he left everything to God the Almighty.
“This is something that one cannot escape if Allah destined it to happen on him, so we have accepted it in good faith; if the baby is going to survive fine and if she cannot then we can only pray to Allah to in His infinite mercy give us another baby,” he prayed.
Commenting on the delivery, Dr Ahmad Bala, a popular Pediatrics  in Malumfashi, said the baby needed maximum medical examination to ascertain the nature of the abnormalities she was born with.
Bala said the medical examination included physical checks, x-ray and other diagnosis that would equipped a physician to speak properly on the matter at hand and possible remedies.
Residents of Malumfashi town in Malumfashi Local Government Area were stunned last Sunday when the news of the birth of three-headed baby filtered into the town.
Ibrahim Muhammad, a resident told Weekly Trust that the unusual delivery of the three-headed baby has shocked many residents in the area as it was the first time they had seen such a wonderful creature in their life.
Muhammad, however, said although they were shocked with the development, but as Muslims they believe nothing is beyond the power of Allah the Creator.
Another resident, Ilyasu Bello said “I am praying that this unusual delivery will strengthen our Iman, because to me the unusual birth was meant to strengthen our Iman; Allah has many ways of enlightening His creatures and this is one of such ways.”
Bello appealed to the public to assist the family of the three-headed baby with prayers and cash donation, as according to him they are in need of such assistance at present.
However, Weekly Trust learnt that, Malumfashi local government has sponsored the three-headed baby to ABUTH for further necessary medical action.