Born at 22 weeks, one of India’s youngest Pre-term Baby survives at Rainbow Children’s Hospital (first in South India)

• Team led by Dr. Rahul Yadav; Rainbow Children’s Hospital successfully treat a baby boy who was born extremely pre-term

25^th September 2019, Chennai: A team of expert neonatologists, led by Dr. Rahul Yadav at Rainbow Children’s Hospital today showcased the successful treatment administered to a baby boy who was born during second trimester, at 22 weeks weighing 510gms. The baby was born to Mrs. Geetha, a 38-year-old mother from Chennai.

Mrs. Geetha had given birth to twins at 22 weeks of gestation owing to pre-labor rupture of membrane. The babies were initially born and managed in NICU elsewhere. However, one of the twin babies passed away within few days. The other baby twin was transferred to Rainbow Children’s Hospital on fourth day of life, for further management of prematurity and respiratory distress.

(L to R) Dr. Arun Kumar, Senior Consultant – Neonataology, Dr. Rahul Yadav, Lead Consultant – Perinatology and Neonatology, Dr. Shobana, Senior Consultant – Neonataology along with the family of the baby

The baby, who was born at 22 weeks of pregnancy, not only faced difficulty in breathing, but also had gelatinous skin, weak bones and Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (a chronic lung disease). Weighing only 380g at the time of admission, the baby required extensive supervision and 24*7 intensive support to survive and recover.

Scientifically, the success rate of survival of babies born in the second trimester, at 22 weeks, is almost nil and very rare. At Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Dr. Rahul Yadav, Lead Consultant, Perinatology and Neonatology, along with his team, Dr. Shobana Rajendran, Senior Consultant, Neonatology and Dr. Arun Kumar, Senior Consultant, Neonatology, have treated the baby in a double walled incubator by assisting the baby to breathe using surfactants and ventilator. Additionally, the doctors supported the baby with nutritional rehabilitation and non-invasive respiratory support and developmental supportive care.

Mr. Arivazhagan, Father of the baby speaking on the successful treatment provided by Rainbow Children’s Hospital

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Rahul Yadav, Lead Consultant, Perinatology and Neonatology said, “Knowing that the survival rate of a 22-week-old baby is very low, the responsibility of saving the baby was very high. Mrs. Geetha had conceived twin babies, of which one died after delivery. The obstetricians of Mrs. Geetha advised and recommended for the baby to be brought to Rainbow Children’s Hospital, and the baby was brought in a very critical condition with acute difficulty in breathing and infection of the lungs. Our team stretched themselves to bring about a remarkable difference to the life of the child and to its parents by improving the health and now the child has gained good weight and is pretty stable.  This was only possible due to the confidence placed by the parents in my team”

He also added that, “Within the last one year, we have successfully treated five extremely pre-term babies who were born before 25 weeks. We would like to emphasize that there is life for pre-term babies who are born with low chances of survival”

Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Rajmohan, General Manager, Rainbow Children’s Hospital said, “At Rainbow Children’s Hospital, each and every life is very precious and we are equipped with some of the most advanced machines to help us in this endeavor. We congratulate Mrs.Geetha and her baby and we are happy that Rainbow Children’s Hospital has been a part of the baby’s journey”

The hospital helped the parents to raise funds through a crowd funding activity to receive the treatment. The baby at discharge was 1.54kg after 100 days of intensive care. At follow up the baby is doing well and is weighing 3.5Kg with age appropriate milestone and his eye/hearing screening are normal pointing towards a neurologically normal child.

About Rainbow Children’s Hospital: Rainbow Children’ Hospitals is a leading group of Children’s hospitals with 18 years of experience offering high standards of Perinatal Care and Paediatric Super Speciality services, with 11 units spread over Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Chennai. It is the first corporate children's hospital in India. Setting the benchmark in neonatal and paediatric intensive care, Rainbow has played a major role in saving thousands of critically ill children and has emerged as one of the best children’s hospital in the country. The hospital has a highly motivated team of highly qualified and experienced consultants, dynamic team of residents and fellows, well trained nurses and paramedical personnel. 💢💢