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Baby Born Inside Amniotic Sac After Emergency C-Section

Baby Born Inside Amniotic Sac After Emergency C-Section

The little boy looked perfectly relaxed while inside the protective sac

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Incredible images show the moment a baby was delivered while still inside his amniotic sac.

The little boy was delivered by caesarean section at 36 weeks in Fuzhou, Fujian, East China, weighing 2.5kg (5.5lbs).

The boy didn't breathe on his own for around two minutes after he was delivered, until doctors cut open the protective sac he was inside.

The baby was delivered by emergency c-section.
AsiaWire

Medics at the Fujian Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital said they decided to deliver the baby while in the sac - also known as 'en caul' - during an emergency C-section in July this year after discovering that the baby was in the breach position.

His 36-year-old mum attended hospital where she said she was suffering with abdominal pain and bleeding.

Doctor Pan said: "Newborns usually cry shortly after being born as their respiratory system is introduced to the new surroundings.

"But when this boy was born, still in his amniotic sac, it was as if he were still in his mother's womb.

"It was not until doctors opened the membrane and cleared the amniotic fluid from his respiratory system that he began to cry - a full two minutes later than normal babies."

The little boy was conceived following IVF treatment, but just weeks before he was due to be born his mum experienced bleeding and pain, prompting her to go and get checked over by doctors.

After being checked, doctors realised the baby was in the breach position - meaning he would be born bottom-first rather than head-first, which can cause problems.

To complicate matters even further, he also had a condition called velamentous cord insertion, which means the umbilical cord doesn't attach in the centre of the placenta as it should.

The baby boy seemed perfectly content inside the amniotic sac.
AsiaWire

So doctors thought the best course of action would be to deliver the baby inside the amniotic sac.

Doctor Pan continued: "We opted for this procedure because preterm babies are weaker than full-term babies.

"As premature births are among the main reasons for infant mortality, an en caul birth allows the newborn to be delivered inside the same protective membrane.

"This reduces moisture loss on the skin, avoids rapid temperature loss after a preterm birth, and decreases the risk of the infant being harmed during a C-section.

"Even if an en caul delivery were unsuccessful, the baby could then be delivered via a traditional C-section, so it's just one more option to have."

Doctors at the hospital have since used the same technique on a number of babies who needed the specialist treatment.

Featured Image Credit: AsiaWire

Topics: Science, World News, Interesting