Nghe An: Premature baby born 3 months early saved.

(Baonghean) - After two months since her birth at Nghe An General Hospital, receiving special care and intensive treatment from the medical staff of the Obstetrics Department, along with the loving care of her family, baby girl Pham Thi Phuong Thao - born prematurely at 27 weeks, weighing 1000g - has developed healthily, is stable, and has been discharged from the hospital to go home.

Previously, on December 14th, after a day of gardening, Nguyen Thi Vinh (25 years old, Nghi Lien, Vinh City), a pregnant woman over 6 months into her first pregnancy, experienced increasing abdominal pain and signs of threatened premature labor. Her family immediately took her to the emergency room at Nghe An General Hospital. After examination, doctors determined that Ms. Vinh's cervix was fully dilated and a natural birth was necessary. At 1 AM on December 15th, with the assistance of doctors and midwives, Ms. Vinh gave birth naturally when the fetus was only 27 weeks old. The delivery was successful, and a baby girl weighing 1000g was born.

“Because the baby was born three months earlier than expected, the newborn was extremely premature and weak. Immediately after birth, the baby suffered from respiratory distress, gasping for breath, cyanosis, and very weak muscle tone and neonatal reflexes. Doctors immediately transferred the baby to the Neonatal Unit, where respiratory support was administered using a manual resuscitation bag and ventilator, along with intensive resuscitation treatments,” Dr. Tran Thi Ngan from the Obstetrics Department stated.

Dr. Tran Thi Ngan (Obstetrics Department) advises mothers on how to care for premature and weak newborns.

At the ward, the baby was kept in an incubator for over 1.5 months, monitored for its overall condition via a monitor, ventilated, and fed entirely intravenously via the umbilical cord during the first few days. Because the mother, Ms. Vinh, went into labor immediately upon admission, it was not possible to administer lung maturation medication while the baby was still in the womb. The Neonatal team quickly implemented a plan to administer Surfactant to treat respiratory distress syndrome (respiratory distress syndrome) in premature infants via endotracheal intubation. “Throughout the two months of treatment, due to the baby's extremely weak constitution, it continuously experienced many episodes of physiological apnea, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, anemia, and an infected umbilical vein, making it impossible to insert a peripheral intravenous catheter. At times, the baby's condition worsened, and death was imminent. We had to use a combination of the best antibiotics and assign medical staff to closely monitor the baby's condition to provide timely treatment,” Dr. Ngan added.

After 60 days of intensive treatment, baby Thao's condition gradually stabilized. She is breathing independently, her lips are pink, her neonatal reflexes are quick, she weighs 1.7 kg, and she is able to breastfeed on her own. Ultrasound of the fontanelle showed no signs of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and all laboratory tests were within normal ranges. Today, she has been discharged from the hospital and will be cared for at home under the detailed guidance and advice of her doctor.

Baby Thao has been receiving special care at the Birthing Unit, Obstetrics Department, for the past two months.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh, mother of baby Phuong Thao, shared her overwhelming joy while cradling her baby using the Kangaroo method: “For the first three weeks after birth, seeing my baby lying in isolation, barely breathing in the incubator in the sterile room, my heart ached. Many times, my baby was in critical condition, and seeing the doctors focusing on saving her, I couldn't suppress my sorrow. Each time, the family prepared ourselves for the worst. But thanks to the doctors and nurses in the Obstetrics Department, my child overcame the 'threshold of death' and stayed with us. For the past 10 days, right before the Tet holiday, my baby has been taken out of the incubator… Holding my baby close to my chest using the Kangaroo method, listening to her heartbeat, feeling her gentle breath, I know there is no greater joy than seeing my child healthy.”

Hoang Yen