Young birds overcome the 'storm'

Heavy with worry

"A pregnant mother's heart always wishes for her child to be fully nourished in the womb until full term. However, the child's life in the mother's womb had to stop early. On September 18, at the 26th week of pregnancy, the child wanted to come out earlier than planned. The child weighed 800g after birth, only the size of a water bottle... The child had to start a new battle, a very fierce battle to win his life" - Ms. VTTH (in Hung Dung ward, Vinh city) began the story of her child's battle like that.

Ms. VTTH said: The day the baby was born, both the paternal and maternal families were very worried. Knowing that many dangers were always lurking, threatening the baby's life, the whole family poured all their love and care into it. Every day, everyone visited and encouraged each other that "our baby/grandchild was born at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Immediately after birth, the baby was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, so the baby will definitely be treated well and soon be healthy because they took advantage of the golden time."

Up to now, Ms. VTTH's baby has been treated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for 2 months. For Ms. VTTH, this is a long and worrying period: "Every day I can visit my baby for 15 minutes. I am always haunted by the beeping sound from the baby's life support machine. I am very scared when the phone rings and the name of the hospital appears... The worry and love for my baby keep flooding my mind. Just thinking about my baby having to fight the disease without me being able to be by his side makes me want to stop breathing."

In room 306, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics HospitalBesides VTTH's child, there are many other premature babies being treated. From a certain perspective, the babies here are brave warriors. Because if the babies are born full term, they will be in their mother's arms immediately and will soon be able to go home. But premature babies need special treatment and medical care with incubators and ventilators. Although they have to be temporarily away from their parents, these babies are not alone - here, there are doctors and nurses who always love, wholeheartedly fight with them.

With doctors and nursesNghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, premature babies are like fledgling birds. Helping them to “overcome the storm” and be healthy is the goal and also the motivation for them to constantly try…

Dedication of "mother" doctors and nurses

Every year, there are about 15 million premature babies in the world. Vietnam is among the 42 countries with the highest child mortality rate in the world, of the 63,000 children under 5 who die, 50% are premature babies. According to statistics at maternity hospitals across the country, the rate of premature babies accounts for about 10% of newborn babies and this number is increasing.

Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature. Premature babies face a higher risk of illness and death than babies born normally. Premature babies are at increased risk of chronic diseases because they have not yet fully absorbed nutrients and their body functions have not yet fully developed.

Most premature babies are at risk of respiratory, digestive, visual and immune system problems. Without special care, modern neonatal resuscitation techniques such as hypothermia, high-frequency ventilation, and good coordination between obstetricians and pediatricians, premature babies are at risk of death, illness and poor physical and mental development.

At the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, every year hundreds of premature babies are welcomed and cared for. For each baby who is successfully weaned off the ventilator, gets stronger day by day and is discharged to return home, it is a long journey, sometimes measured in months. In that journey, the dedication and experience of the province's frontline obstetrics and pediatrics doctors and nurses are indispensable. They are the "big wings" that protect the baby birds.

"Premature birth is a huge challenge for the baby and the family. There are so many hardships to go through, but the babies and their families all overcome them. The baby's health improves day by day, he eats well, gains weight and can go home, which is a great happiness for the whole family and medical staff like us... As long as the baby is bigger and healthier than yesterday, all our hardships will be worth it" - Specialist Doctor 2 Truong Le Thi - Head of Neonatal Resuscitation Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital shared./.