Beating a known cause of infertility among women, 29-year-old Sumiti Dua was a happy mother after giving birth to a healthy child at a private city hospital. Weighing 155 kg, Sumiti battled infertility for five years before conceiving and then being delivered of a healthy child.
Amrinder Bajaj, senior consultant and Head of the Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Max Hospital, Pitampura, said, “Sumiti came to us in the eight month of her pregnancy and after careful research, we grouped her under the high risk cases which needed specialised care.’’
“Not only is the caesarean section in morbidly obese patients extremely challenging, “it also requires careful management of anaesthesia and dedicated post-operative care,’’ said Dr. Bajaj.
Morbid obesity is one of the known causes of infertility and abortion.
Also if the person gives birth to a baby, there is high risk of complications like malformed babies, stillbirths, pre-mature labour, and big-sized babies. Morbidly obese patients also suffer from high incidence of diabetes and blood pressure.
“In Sumiti’s case, doctors at the hospital prepared the patient for her September 25 delivery by giving her a regional anaesthesia and as the baby’s head was free and high up, with the help of my team, we delivered the child by application of vacuum through the caesarean incision,” said Dr. Bajaj.
“Adequate precautions were taken to prevent post-operative complications and ensure speedy recovery by encouraging early ambulation and injections of LMW heparin. Sumiti is today a proud mother of a 3.4-kg healthy child,” said a release issued by the hospital on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, an ecstatic Sumiti said, “Of course I am overjoyed to be a mother. My doctors and family supported me throughout my pregnancy. Due to my hypothyroidism and morbid obesity, pregnancy wasn’t a cakewalk .’’ Dr. Bajaj said that ideally pre-conception, one should lose the weight to avoid serious complications during pregnancy or birth, and maintain proper exercise and diet during the pregnancy.
“Sumiti was told about the risks of her condition and she worked hard to ensure that she took all precautions and care during her pregnancy,” Dr. Bajaj added.
