13-year-old gives birth mid-air during emergency helicopter transfer
A 13-year-old girl gave birth to a baby boy mid-flight last week during an emergency helicopter transfer from Maphisa Hospital to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), in a rare and high-risk delivery that has also triggered serious concerns about child abuse.
The Chronicle reports that the birth took place just seven minutes into the flight, forcing medical personnel aboard the helicopter to perform an emergency breech delivery in the air. While both mother and baby are reported to be in stable condition, questions have emerged over the circumstances surrounding the girl’s pregnancy.
“The baby’s leg was out”
Dr Marshall Kahari, who led the delivery aboard the Helidrive National Air Rescue Service helicopter, described how what began as a routine transfer quickly became a race against time.
“She was having contractions at one-minute intervals, each lasting about two minutes,”
said Dr Kahari.“After another strong contraction, we noticed her reaching between her thighs, and realised something had emerged. Upon examination, I saw the baby’s right leg was out — it was a footling breech. I immediately knew the baby had to be delivered.”
The teenager, whose name is being withheld because she is a minor, was five centimetres dilated when the air rescue crew collected her. The transfer had been arranged because the baby was in breech presentation and Maphisa Hospital lacked the facilities to perform a caesarean section.
“The plan was to transfer the patient for a possible caesarean section at UBH. On examination, she was stable but experiencing labour pains,”said Dr Kahari.
“We connected her to monitors. Her vitals were: BP 134/87, pulse 104, SpO₂ 98–100%, respiratory rate 21. She was well-oriented in time, place and person. We then took off for UBH.”
“No time to wait”
The team, consisting of Dr Kahari and intensive coronary care nurse Kelelo Maphala, had flown to Maphisa from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
“Footling breech deliveries carry a higher risk of umbilical cord prolapse, foetal hypoxia, and birth injuries,” aid Dr Kahari.
“These situations require significant experience and precision. There was no time to wait — we had about 20 to 25 minutes before landing at UBH.”
After a successful airborne delivery, the mother and child were taken by ambulance to UBH’s labour ward. The baby was placed in a resuscitaire for assessment by a paediatrician, while the mother received treatment and was discharged the next day.
Concerns of child abuse
Despite the successful delivery, the fact that the mother is only 13 has raised serious concerns about statutory rape and child abuse.
Under Zimbabwean law, any sexual activity with a person under the age of 18 is considered statutory rape, even with consent. At 13, the girl is legally incapable of consenting to sex, and her pregnancy points to possible abuse or exploitation.
Child rights advocates and members of the public have since called for an immediate investigation into how the girl became pregnant, and for justice to be pursued where appropriate.
“This is a serious issue,” said a local health worker who requested anonymity.
“Delivering a baby mid-air is extraordinary, but what’s more alarming is that a child this young is giving birth at all. There must be a full investigation.”
The incident has once again brought national attention to the ongoing problem of child sexual abuse in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. Many community members are urging law enforcement and child protection agencies to act swiftly to eliminate the scourge of minors being sexually abused.
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The post “The Leg Was Out!” — 13-Year-Old Delivers Breech Baby On Helicopter Flight In High Risk Delivery appeared first on iHarare News.
