Hundreds of expectant mothers dressed in resplendent saris looked pleased to take part in a baby shower function organised by Velammal Medical College here on Friday.
The mothers donned bangles as part of the traditional Tamil ‘valaikappu’ ceremony and were given a silk sari each from the institution.
To provide additional nutrition, they were also given protein powder as part of their ‘take-home’ kit.
Chairman of Velammal Educational Trust M.V. Muthuramalungam and his wife Mrs. Kunjaravalli inaugurated the event.
Mr. Muthuramalungam said that benefits from the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy scheme, designed to provide optimal nutrition for pregnant and lactating women, and compensate for the wage loss during pregnancy for working women, is available at the hospital. He said that he aimed to subsidise the tariff of deliveries at the multispecialty hospital as well.
Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Velammal Medical College, S. Rajarajeswari, said this was the third edition of the joyous function.
“Every year, we make it a point to celebrate expectant mothers at the hospital. Many of those who come to our hospital cannot afford a grand ‘valaikappu’ function back at home so we do it for free,” she said.
Over the years, Dr. Rajarajeswari says that the number of women attending the function has substantially grown. On Friday, close to 600 women from Madurai, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Aruppukottai, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul attended the function.
“In the beginning, the function was organised only for the women at the hospital. Eventually, we began inviting other women as well,” she said.
T. Anupriya, an eight-month-old pregnant woman who took part in the ceremony, said that it made her feel more confident about her pregnancy.
