Aisha Rakaeva: Midwife with no medical degree charged after influencer’s baby dies in water birth in Russia
A woman who posed as a midwife without medical training has been arrested after a newborn boy died during a home birth.
A woman who presented herself as a midwife despite having no formal medical training has been arrested after a baby she delivered during a home birth died.
Russian influencer Aisha Rakaeva, 27, gave birth to a baby boy in an inflatable pool at her flat in Moscow on December 13 last year. The infant was born alive but died around an hour later.
Local media reported the baby drowned after choking on amniotic fluid.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The woman who assisted with the birth, 59-year-old Natalia Kotlar, was arrested shortly after the incident.
“The baby choked on amniotic fluid,” a law enforcement source told Russian news site KP.RU.
During pregnancy, babies are surrounded by amniotic fluid, a mixture of water, nutrients and electrolytes that cushions the fetus, regulates temperature and supports lung and musculoskeletal development. Oxygen is supplied through the placenta and umbilical cord.
After birth, fluid in a newborn’s lungs is usually absorbed naturally. However, complications can arise when this does not occur. One potentially serious condition is Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN), which happens when excess fluid remains in the lungs, causing breathing difficulties. It is unclear whether Ms Rakaeva’s baby suffered from TTN.
TTN is typically diagnosed by a doctor within the first hours of life and often requires supplemental oxygen.
Kotlar described herself as an experienced psychologist, educator, head of a parenting culture centre and instructor of “Gentle Birth” courses. She had also written a book about water births, claiming to have delivered one of her five children in the Indian Ocean, and said she was frequently invited to work overseas.
However, investigators later determined she held no qualifications allowing her to practise midwifery — contrary to what Ms Rakaeva had reportedly believed.
‘According to investigators, the woman, born in 1965, was not a medical professional and did not have a higher medical education or qualification in obstetrics and gynaecology,’ the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Moscow said.
Kotlar has been charged with illegal medical practice and providing services that failed to meet safety standards. She reportedly denies wrongdoing and is contesting her pre-trial detention.
Ms Rakaeva, who has more than 1.5 million social media followers under the name Aisha Chigga, is also a choreographer, dancer, model and actress. She has worked on The Masked Singer and Star Factory, appeared in the TV series Patriot, and featured in music videos.
On January 27, she shared a post on Telegram announcing her loss.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I write this to you... Tragedy struck during my home birth... my newborn baby didn’t survive.
“I was hospitalised, and now I’m experiencing incredible pain; the night was terrible.
“This is the hardest moment of my life, and I don’t even know how to find the strength to continue. Plus, there are still numerous hearings, consultations, investigations, and funerals ahead.”
