E-Paper
‘Virtual’ womb for 800 gm baby
Doctors at a government hospital in the city fulfilled the dream of a 50-year-old woman to become a mother in her post-menopausal period.
Doctors at a government hospital in the city fulfilled the dream of a 50-year-old woman to become a mother in her post-menopausal period. But what has made the case extraordinary is that doctors of SSKM Medical College Hospital created a ‘virtual’ womb for the baby’s organs to develop after she was born in the 26th week of pregnancy.
A resident of Birlapur in South 24-Parganas, Malati (name changed) gave birth to a test tube baby of about 800 grams at SSKM Hospital on January 20. A normal baby weighs above two kgs.
Describing Malati’s case as complicated, Dr Arun Singh, head of neo-natal intensive care unit said: “The baby’s heart, lungs, brain, vision and all other sensory organs were immature.”
The doctor created ‘virtual’ uterine wall to give a womb-like environment to the baby.
Malati said: “I had given up all hope but the doctors and nurses have done a great job. They have fulfilled my dream.” Malati is the second woman in the city to be a mother at 50. A year ago, a 52-year-old woman had given birth to a test tube baby.
