26 weeks baby successfully delivered at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka

• One of the youngest pre-term babies in North India
• Pre-eclampsia a condition causing birth defects, identified in the 18^th week; medical intervention allowed for 26 weeks gestation.

New Delhi | 10^th February 2022: Doctors at HCMCT Manipal Hospitals, Dwarka successfully carried out a preterm delivery in the 26^th week of pregnancy as the mother presented with a case of cervical incompetence, a disorder where the mother is unable to carry her pregnancy to full term because of weak cervical tissues. The mother had severe cervical incompetence since the 18^th week of pregnancy, preeclampsia, and preterm premature rupture of membranes at 26 weeks due to infection in the mother. The low blood supply for the baby from the placenta is usually the cause of this condition.

Abnormalities were first found in the baby in the 18^th week and with cervical incompetence in play, the help of different cutting-edge therapies was taken to push the pregnancy to the 26^th-week post which the baby was delivered. At the time of delivery, the baby’s lungs were severely underdeveloped as it could not get the required nutrition from the mother. The baby was born under the care of Dr. Vinay Kumar Rai and his team, with a bodyweight of 900 grams, and later was treated and given world-class care to defy the odds.

Commenting on the case, Dr. Vinay Kumar Rai, Consultant – Neonatology, Pediatrics, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “This was the rarest of the rare case considering all the complications that the mother had to face. We faced a challenge as pre-eclampsia in 18 weeks of pregnancy usually leads to abortions or miscarriages. The situation was made much worse by cervical incompetence. Despite aggressive measures by the team, the baby’s lungs were underdeveloped, and it took about a month for them to start growing properly. There have been other cases like this but the thing to note here is the growth of the organs, especially the lungs. Generally, the babies are unable to grow their lungs properly.”

Baby born at just 26 weeks survived childbirth is a medical milestone, making it one of the youngest pre-term babies in North India. This is among the rare condition where the probability of a baby’s survival at 26 weeks of pregnancy is only about 20-30%. Beating these odds, the baby left the hospital 2 months after the delivery with a weight of more than 2 kgs and without any complication.

Mr. Raman Bhaskar, Hospital Director, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka added, “Such cases are very rare and extremely complicated, which requires an experienced hand. We were only able to save the baby because of the skill and proficiency displayed by Dr. Vinay Kumar Rai and his team. At HCMCT Manipal Hospitals, we have piloted several complex procedures in the past. This was a long case that lasted almost 18 weeks, right from when we discovered abnormalities till the baby was discharged, and we invested all the useful resources to help the baby and the mother. As a result, the baby is doing well, and we are looking forward to the child’s follow-up visits to be able to see that innocent smile.”