Baby who died after mother put him in washing machine highlights an Indonesian stigma
- Sutina, a babysitter, gave birth in secret and then hid her newborn son in a washing machine, where he later died
- The case has thrown a spotlight on the stigma faced by unwed mothers in Indonesia, where there is also a lack of sexual health services
Indonesian police have arrested an Indonesian babysitter whose baby died after she hid him in a washing machine, in a case that has shocked the country.
The suspect, Sutina, 36, told police she had no intention of killing her newborn son, but merely wanted to “hide him” as she was ashamed to have given birth out of wedlock on November 4, local press reported.
“Firstly, I was ashamed, I was scared that people would know,” Sutina was quoted as saying by Detik.com. “I had plans to bring the baby to an orphanage. I had no intention to kill.”
TV footage showed a thin and weeping Sutina, who covered her face with her hand.
“For now, it is believed the baby died from a lack of oxygen but we still have to wait for the final [autopsy] report from the doctor,” said Yon Edi Winara, the detective chief in Palembang city, South Sumatra.
Sutina told reporters she had a relationship with a young man whom she dated for a year. He left her upon learning she was pregnant.
She said she knew she was pregnant as she felt her stomach moving, but she did not go to the doctor. She wore a corset to hide her pregnancy.
On November 4, she felt pain in her stomach and went to the bathroom, where she delivered the child in secret.
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“The baby fell on the floor as I was standing at that time,” Sutina was quoted as saying by CNN Indonesia.
Some local press outlets reported the baby was in the washing machine “for some time”.
The tragedy occurred soon after Sutina emerged from the bathroom looking pale, and another helper who worked in the same household became concerned and offered to take her to the doctor.
Worried she would be found out, Sutina wrapped the baby and hid him in the washing machine, according to Palembang police detective Winara.
But Sutina’s colleague heard the newborn’s cries after she entered the toilet, where she found the washing machine switched on and the baby wrapped in a black plastic bag and towels, CNN Indonesia reported.
The boy was brought to the hospital but died soon after.
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The death of Sutina’s child highlights the fate of many Indonesian babies born out of wedlock who end up being killed or dumped by women overcome by the shame and stigma of being an unwed mother.
Women’s activist Hera Diani said there should be a safe and accessible option for those who did not want to keep a child from an unwanted pregnancy.
“It’s unfortunate that the social stigma of an unmarried woman who gets pregnant has led to such a tragic death of an innocent baby,” said Hera who is the managing editor and co-founder of Indonesia’s online feminist magazine Magdalene.co.
“This is such a heartbreaking and tragic incident. I am deeply saddened,” Hera said.
On the same day Sutina’s baby died, Merdeka.com news portal reported that a domestic helper in Medan, north Sumatra, was sentenced to five years’ jail for killing her baby by throwing it into a rubbish dump.
Dewi Purnama Sari, 28, admitted to causing her child’s death as she was afraid of being found out and getting sacked by her employer.
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Hera said the lack of reproductive health services in Indonesia places a tremendous burden on women.
“The burden has always been on women: the rate of male contraception is low, health reproductive service has yet to be accessible to all,” Hera said.
“Women are prone to baby blues and postnatal depression after giving birth, maybe that was at play too,” said Hera, adding that public awareness and access to mental health service is also low.
