Premature baby born weighing 1.2kg recovers after intensive care in Vietnam

The hospital said on Wednesday that the infant was delivered in critical condition after her mother from Ho Chi Minh City was rushed to the hospital with severe bleeding caused by placental abruption. 

The mother had previously been diagnosed with preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction at 28 weeks of pregnancy. 

Born weighing only 1,200 grams, the baby showed no signs of breathing or crying and suffered from severe respiratory distress and low oxygen saturation levels.

Doctors immediately performed emergency resuscitation, including manual ventilation, intubation and surfactant therapy to support the infant’s underdeveloped lungs.

The newborn was then placed in an incubator and received intensive care, including intravenous nutrition, preventive antibiotics and respiratory support.

After a week of treatment, her condition improved sufficiently for doctors to switch to non-invasive respiratory support.

Her mother also began Kangaroo Mother Care, a method that helps premature infants maintain body temperature and promotes bonding.

After 21 days of treatment and close monitoring, the baby was able to breathe and feed independently.

Dr. Le Van Luc of the hospital’s pediatric department said caring for a very-low-birth-weight infant required continuous monitoring of breathing, body temperature, nutrition and infection risks.

The baby was discharged weighing 1.57 kilograms, a gain of 370 grams from her birth weight.