Despite health complications, a 48-year-old woman has successfully delivered triplets at Vadamalayan Hospitals here. The 28-week pre-term babies with “very low weight” are keeping “good health,” as they are under the watchful eyes of doctors.
Weighing 1.05 kilograms, 500 grams and 540 grams at birth, the three babies have gradually improved their weight to 3.170 kg, 1.320 kg and 1.470 kg respectively.
Team work
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, a team of doctors led by V. Pugalagiri, Chairman and Managing Director, and comprising Vinodh, neonatologist, and Jalaja Ashok, obstetrician and gynaecologist, attributed the success to “team work, state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities and effective follow-up.”
The patient, who was admitted to the hospital on December 7, 2014, delivered the triplets (one boy and two girls) on December 15.
After infertility treatment, the woman got admitted in the seventh month of pregnancy with diabetes.
Dr. Vinodh, who was following the highly complicated delivery, said, “On delivery, the kids were less than the size of a loaf of bread and could be easily accommodated in the palm of an adult’s hand. From the moment of delivery the newborns were on ventilator support and treated with surfactant as the lungs were immaturely developed. For a normal baby, the weight would be around 2.5 to 3.0 kg and managing an extremely low birth weight baby is very difficult.”
Dr. Pugalagiri said that babies born with low birth weight had extremely poor functioning of body organs.
93 days in hospital
Dr. Jalaja said that the mother and the babies were discharged on March 18 this year, after 93 days of stable improvement.
“Today, on follow-up, they have gained weight and are doing well,” she said.
