The link connecting hope

These tiny "warriors"

Looking at An Sinh and Huu Thinh playing happily in the yard, it's hard to imagine that just over three years ago, these twins faced death when their mother was only a little over 24 weeks pregnant.

Recalling those days on the brink of life and death, Ms. Bui Thi Thien from Thai Thuy commune (Le Thuy district) is still very emotional. Having some difficulties conceiving, after being married for three years, she and her husband decided to undergo in-vitro fertilization in 2021.

More than three years ago, when they were born, An Sinh and Huu Thinh weighed only approximately 700 grams.

Ms. Thien recalled: “When my pregnancy was over 24 weeks, I went for a routine check-up and the doctor discovered signs of threatened premature birth, so they admitted me to the hospital. At that time, the doctors in the Obstetrics Department said they only hoped to hold on for two more days to give me lung maturation injections, because with the fetus so premature, it would be very difficult. After being in labor for more than a day, I went into labor. The delivery room was crowded with doctors and nurses who had prepared incubators, oxygen tanks, etc. Later, I learned that doctors and nurses from both the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Departments were there to welcome the babies.”

The two babies were born one after the other; the girl weighed only 730 grams, and the boy only 670 grams, both extremely fragile. "At that time, the doctor explained that the family needed to prepare themselves mentally because the two children were so weak, and they feared they wouldn't survive...", recounted Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang, the children's father.

For three long months, the two little "warriors," along with their parents and the doctors and nurses in the Pediatric Department, fought against all kinds of serious illnesses. "The Covid-19 situation was quite tense at the time, so family members weren't allowed in; only my husband and I took care of the children. Many days, I was so tired from holding them that I fell asleep, and the two little ones stopped breathing, the monitor beeping, but I didn't realize it. The doctors and nurses stimulated them to breathe again, and then proactively gave them milk... The doctors and nurses took such meticulous and dedicated care of the children. My husband and I are so grateful for what we have today!" shared Ms. Thien.

The Obstetrics and Pediatrics team at the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi performed resuscitation on an extremely premature newborn.

The twins of patient Bui Thi Thien are one of the most challenging cases in recent years, in which the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Departments have collaborated closely to successfully care for and treat them.

At the Neonatal Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit of the Pediatrics Department, many children are currently receiving special care. The room, filled with all kinds of machines and tangled wires, is a place where anxieties and hopes for these tiny lives are intertwined, fighting for survival every minute, every hour.

Ms. Luu Thi Dung and her children from Quang Tien commune (Quang Trach district) spent over two months in this treatment area. Pregnant with twins, she was diagnosed with premature birth and admitted to the emergency room when her pregnancy was just over 28 weeks. “When I learned about the risk of premature birth, and then during the emergency C-section, my babies were born weighing just over 1kg, weak, and with many illnesses. I was very worried. But luckily, with the advice, guidance, and dedicated care of the doctors and nurses in the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Department, I felt more at ease. Now my health is stable, and my children have been discharged from the hospital. Thank you to all the doctors and nurses here!” Ms. Dung shared.

The "handshake" that holds life...

"We need the Pediatrics Department to come to the operating room to deliver the 26-week-old baby"—similar calls from the Obstetrics Department are often routed to the Pediatrics Department when there are high-risk births that threaten the health, or even the life, of the newborn.

Premature babies will receive special care under the best possible conditions.

“When we received the call, the neonatal team's morale was ready as if entering a battle. Immediately, the emergency kit was checked to ensure all equipment was ready; a transport incubator and an incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit were switched on to ensure continuous warmth; a self-made CPAP (non-invasive respiratory support) system was activated for use as soon as the baby had its first spontaneous breath, keeping the delicate alveoli from rupturing or collapsing,” shared Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Han, Head of the Pediatrics Department.

After stabilization on the resuscitation table, the infant is transferred from the operating room/delivery room to the Neonatal Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit, ensuring all vital signs are met.

Previously, the Obstetrics Department had developed individualized treatment and care protocols for each pregnant woman, aiming to optimize the health of both mother and baby before birth, especially in high-risk pregnancies. Simultaneously, they provided prognoses for deliveries to inform the Pediatrics Department for necessary coordination. For cases of acute fetal distress, premature birth, and birth defects, the Pediatrics team was always present in the delivery room, ready to coordinate with the Obstetrics Department for timely resuscitation.

For babies in incubators, all care requires intense focus, utmost care, and tenderness.

Dr. Tran Thi Son Tra, Head of the Obstetrics Department and Deputy Director in charge of professional affairs at the Vietnam National Hospital for Pediatrics and Pediatrics, said: “We have established a seamless, smooth, and effective coordination process between the two departments. Obstetricians provide timely and accurate information about the pregnancy and the child's condition, helping the Pediatrics Department prepare appropriate care plans. The Pediatrics Department provides continuous support from before to after birth, helping to build a comprehensive care chain from when the child is in the womb until birth, ensuring that these “special” children receive special, safe, and healthy care under the best possible conditions.”

The professional coordination process between the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Departments at Hanoi National Hospital has been continuously improved over the years, contributing to saving the lives of many premature babies, extremely premature babies, and babies weighing less than 1,000g, minimizing the risk of long-term complications, and bringing joy to many patients' families.

“When receiving pediatric patients from the Obstetrics Department, we have to be careful, highly focused, ensure accuracy down to the smallest detail, and be extremely gentle and considerate… because the patients are so fragile. We also regularly participate in training courses to update our knowledge of resuscitation and emergency care, improve work efficiency, and be able to save more children,” shared Ms. Le Thi Hong Nhung, a nurse in the Pediatrics Department.

Huong Le

Source: https://baoquangbinh.vn/suc-khoe/202504/mat-xich-noi-lien-hy-vong-2225951/