Gynecologist helps deliver baby mid-air

Responding to the distress call of the crew members, Dr. Shailaja Vallabhaneni, a consultant foetal medicine rushed to the spot and introduced herself as a gynecologist. She spotted a pregnant lady who was about to give birth after which she delivered the baby on the flight bathroom

The crew informed her about one of the patients who was experiencing severe pain and discomfort and was also pregnant. The patient was in her thirties and the doctor was afraid that she might be aborted, because of the symptoms common during this gestational age and at a high altitude. The doctor recalling the incident stated that she asked the patient about medical history and of any episode of spotting or bleeding.

The woman replied in the affirmative stating that she had severe gastritis. After that she wanted to use the bathroom, when she started walking toward the bathroom the doctor spotted blood strains on the floor and came to know that her water had broken.

The Bengaluru Mirror reports, taking control of the situation, the doctor decided to deliver the baby in the bathroom. The doctor, due to the ongoing pandemic was already equipped in gloves, masks, and face shields, and successfully helped the women to deliver the baby.

The doctor immediately after the delivery placed the baby on the crew serving table and clamp the cord using a gauze. She sanitized the scissors with the available hand sanitizers and cut the cord. She also informed that the baby was premature and it was around 30 to 34 weeks. The baby weighed from 1.82 to 2kg, however, the condition of the baby was stable and he cried immediately after birth.

The doctor told one India that the co-passengers were kind enough to share their shawls and bedsheets to cover the baby and keep it warm. The doctor also gave due importance to the mother and provided the necessary attention to relaxing her uterus and stopping the bleeding. The doctor also used two of the injections which she located in the medical kits in order to stop the bleeding. The doctor further ensured that the baby was breastfed and confirmed that the mother and baby were in stable condition.

The pilot also inquired the doctor whether it should be necessary to return the plane to Hyderabad when the plane was 40 minutes closer to Bengaluru. However, after checking on the condition of the mother-son duo, who were stable, she suggested the pilot should continue the journey.

The doctor confirmed that the whole procedure took 50 minutes to complete and also expressed her gratitude towards the crew of the plane, without whose help this could not have been possible, reports Mirror.