Mysore/Mysuru: Motherhood Hospital, Mysuru, saved the life of a 28-week preterm baby girl who was in need of critical neonatal intensive care.

Devika Mahesh, from a remote village near Gundlupet, conceived after 15 years of marriage. The mother gave birth to twins at 28 weeks (7 months of pregnancy) due to complications. The delivery happened in a private hospital, where the team of doctors did their best to save both the babies. However, only one of the babies survived due to severe birth related complications. The surviving preemie baby girl, weighing 1.050 kgs, experienced respiratory distress, life-threatening infections, multi-drug resistance and severe pneumonia.

The baby needed tertiary NICU care and hence was shifted to Motherhood Hospitals in ‘NICU on Wheels,’ an ambulance designed to transport critically ill newborn babies.

Upon diagnosis, the team of Neonatologists observed that the baby was having low platelet count, thereby exposing her to severe infection. The doctors completed a blood and platelet transfusion to save her.  But after 2 weeks, the health of the baby deteriorated again because of the same resistant infection. The preemie stayed at the NICU for 5 weeks and underwent multiple therapies. The little one was put on prenatal nutrition with healthy mother’s milk. Regular checks were conducted on the heart, head, lungs and gut.

Dr. B. Chetan, Consultant Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospital, said, “Our team played a vital role in retrieving the baby by providing that timely treatment. As the family was not able to afford for the treatment, we approached Neonates Foundation of India to seek financial aid.”

He further said: “With timely intervention and quality treatment the baby’s condition improved. The team was observing the progress the baby was making. She was also kept on tube feeds and gradually began to gain weight. On discharge, the baby weighed 1.620 kgs and was breathing on her own without oxygen as well as taking in normal feeds. The baby will be on constant follow up by our neonatology team along with paediatric neurology assessments being done at 3, 6, 9,12 months and thereafter at 1.5 years to assure best outcome.”

Dr. Suhaim Afsar, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital, was also part of the team.

Expressing his gratitude, the baby’s father Mahesh said: “My family and I are grateful to the team at Motherhood Hospitals for saving our daughter. We are also grateful to Neonates Foundation of India who has provided financial support for the treatment.”

The baby was discharged after 55 days of NICU stay in stable condition, said B.J. Sandeep Patel, Facility Director, Motherhood Hospital, Mysuru.