Records say it's Harsha Chawda (24), but Kruti Parekh (25) says she's the first
Records say it's Harsha Chawda (24), but Kruti Parekh (25) says she's the first
Controversy over India's first test tube baby erupted after the airing of the show Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka on NDTV Imagine on December 25 where magician Kruti Parekh (25) claimed that she was the country's first IVF baby.
Her declaration on the show has the documented first IVF baby and her doctor up in arms. According to documentation, Harsha Chawda is recorded as the country's first IVF baby in 1985.
The doctor who made it possible, Indira Hinduja, said, "I don't know how they can make such a claim.
The baby was not created in India so how can she be the country's first baby? They are merely acting upon a technicality," said Hinduja.
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Baby No 1: Harsha Chawda is recorded as the country's first IVF baby. Dr Indira Hindujau00a0made it possible in 1985 |
According to Kruti's parents, the fertilisation was performed by Dr Patrick Steptoe, the man who first developed the technique along with Dr Robert Edwards in the UK.
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However, the Cesarean delivery took place in Kolkata. Said Subhash Parekh, Kruti's father and a Walkeshwar-based jeweller, "We're leaving it to the people to decide who came first.
We had read about Dr Steptoe delivering the world's first test tube baby and approached him. Kruti was born in 1984 and Harsha was born in 1986 and they are both test tube babies.
We're not trying to steal credit from anyone here. We just want that our daughter is appreciated."
Meanwhile, Harsha has other concerns. "I am still living in a rented apartment. The government promised me housing because I was the first test tube baby.
What happens tomorrow when the officials come by to verify the facts and they say that they saw another 'first test tube baby' on television?
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Stealing My Thunder: Kruti Parekh claims she holds the title since she was born in 1984 in Kolkata |
We have all the documents to prove the truth, but I am hurt that this other girl would try to do this," said Harsha, who lives in Jogeshwari.
IVF was originally developed to treat infertility caused by blocked or damaged fallopian tubes but has since spread to use in treating a wide variety of fertility problems.
The further development of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), where a single sperm is injected into an egg, has helped many couples with male factor infertility.
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IVF protocols are adapted to suit the needs of each patient.Generally patients may prepare for a cycle by taking medications to ensure that ovarian stimulation can occur at the correct time.
Then the ovaries are stimulated by daily injections to produce multiple eggs (during this time blood tests and ultrasounds are used to monitor progress and determine the best time for egg collection.
A "trigger" injection is administered to mature the follicle and eggs and these oocytes are retrieved using an ultrasound guided procedure around 36-38 hours later and a fresh sperm sample is collected at the same time.
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Fertilisation takes place in the lab and 2-5 days later the fertilised embryo is transferred into the uterus by catheter.
Further drug support is also given. Generally a pregnancy blood test is taken around 15 days after egg collection or ovulation.
Making history
Dr Patrick Steptoe and Dr Robert Edwards: The doctors who developed the technique in the UK
Louise Brown: The world's first IVF baby born in 1978
Rajo Devi: The 70-year-old woman who delivered her first baby girl through IVF
Omkari Panwar: Another 70-year-old gave birth to twins
| The Doc Who Committed Suicide |
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Bengali IVF specialistu00a0Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay is regarded by some to be the u00a0first doctor to have u00a0successfully carried out u00a0in-vitro fertilisation resulting in the birth of baby Durga.
However, his achievements u00a0were not recognised at first leading subsequently to depression and suicide. His achievements have since u00a0been posthumously u00a0recognised.
What is IVF?
IVF is short for in vitro fertilisation which literally means "fertilisation in glass" (IVF babies are sometimes referred to as "test tube babies", even though fertilisation doesn't take place in a test tube).
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IVF refers to a technique of assisted reproduction where the egg and sperm are fertilised outside the body to form an embryo.
This embryo is then transferred to the uterus to hopefully implant and become a pregnancy. |
