Headline: Scandal in the Delivery Room: Bulgarian Nurses Dance with Newborns, Spark Outrage
In a shocking turn of events, a video of two nurses dancing with newborn babies in their arms has gone viral on social media, causing uproar and sparking disciplinary action at a Bulgarian hospital. The incident took place at the Maternity and Birth Assistance Hospital "Dr. Ivan Selenimski" in the town of Sliven.
The clip, filmed during a night shift in the neonatal unit, shows the nurses, one of whom is an obstetrician, dancing with the babies while traditional Bulgarian music, known as ‘chalga,’ plays in the background. The video was initially posted on social media as a birthday greeting to one of the nurses.
"I was holding one of the babies, changing its diaper, when the music started, and I just started dancing with it," explained one of the nurses, Yana Mitova. She also mentioned that she had asked her colleague to delete the video, but it was posted on Instagram instead.
While Mitova admitted to dancing with the baby, she insisted that the child was in excellent condition and that her actions were not reckless but rather an emotional response. However, the hospital’s management has taken a stern stance against the incident.
"We were shocked when we saw the video. This is scandalous and a first for us. We condemn the behavior of the two staff members as unprofessional and unacceptable. This is not the image of our neonatal unit," said Dr. Tanya Praymarova, chief of the neonatal department.
The other woman involved in the video is a healthcare assistant who has been working at the hospital for a month. She is expected to be fired for her role in the incident. Mitova, who has worked in the neonatal unit for three years, had already submitted her resignation for personal reasons before the video surfaced.
Both newborns in the video have been discharged and are in good health. An investigation into the matter has been launched at the hospital.
Mitova, however, has received numerous threats following the incident. "I’ve had death threats, threats to be stoned, and threats to be torn apart. In their eyes, I must look like a monster, but I never intended to harm anyone. Dancing can be therapeutic for babies," she said.
This incident has sparked a debate in Bulgaria about professionalism and responsibility in healthcare settings, with many expressing concern about the nurses’ behavior and the impact it could have on the babies’ well-being.
