Early surgery "choosing a good time", 37-week-old baby with respiratory failure did not survive

(Dan Tri) - A 2-day-old newborn was transferred to the National Children's Hospital in a state of cyanosis and severe circulatory failure. The baby was delivered by cesarean section at week 37, at the family's request to "choose a good day and time".

On August 13, the National Children's Hospital reported a very unfortunate case, a baby born at 37 weeks of pregnancy to "choose a good time" suffered from respiratory and circulatory failure and could not survive.

Accordingly, the 2-day-old baby was transferred to the Neonatal Center - National Children's Hospital in a state of cyanosis, severe circulatory failure and was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Doctors tried to actively resuscitate, using advanced techniques such as mechanical ventilation, surfactant, and iNO breathing, but the child still did not respond to treatment and did not survive.

The baby had respiratory failure due to early elective cesarean section and was actively treated at the Neonatal Center - National Children's Hospital (Photo: TT).

Medical history revealed that the baby was electively operated on at 37 weeks at the request of the family to “choose a good day and time”. Immediately after birth, the baby showed signs of respiratory failure, required oxygen and was urgently transferred to the hospital.

It is worth noting that this is not an isolated case. In fact, doctors have recently recorded many similar cases in which newborns fell into critical condition after being delivered by cesarean section without going into labor, because the family wanted a "good day and time".

According to the Ministry of Health 's 2022 summary report on maternal and child health care, the cesarean section rate accounts for nearly 37% of total births.

In some hospitals, the rate is up to 50-60% - much higher than the 10-15% recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect the health of mothers and newborns and limit dangerous complications that may occur.

According to doctors, the cesarean section rate is increasing due to many reasons, the most common of which is that families proactively choose the date and time of birth; in addition, high-risk labor cases are often prescribed by doctors to ensure the safety of mother and baby...

Medical experts warn that cesarean section carries more risks than normal birth, causing long-term health concerns for both mother and baby.

Cesarean section also has more complications than normal delivery (possibly heavy bleeding due to anesthesia, surgical site infection, etc.). At the same time, if you have a cesarean section for your first child, of course you will have to have a cesarean section for your subsequent children because if your uterus is scarred, the rate of cesarean section is very high.

In addition, there is another very common complication, which is pregnancy on the surgical scar.

"In particular, an extremely serious complication that we encounter at a very high rate is placenta accreta. The placenta adheres abnormally to the uterine scar, causing severe bleeding. Therefore, we should consider a reasonable indication for surgery," said an obstetrician.

Meanwhile, vaginal birth helps mothers recover faster, reduces the risk of blood loss, postpartum infection, early milk production and saves costs.

For babies, natural birth helps them adapt better to the outside environment.

Thanks to the pressure of contractions during labor, mucus in the lungs and respiratory tract is pushed out, reducing the risk of respiratory failure. The baby is exposed to beneficial microorganisms from the mother's vaginal tract, helping to develop the immune system and digestive system.

In addition, normal births can easily have skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding right in the delivery room, thereby enhancing emotional bonding and supporting physical and emotional development right from the first hours of life.

Therefore, experts recommend that cesarean section should only be performed when there is a clear medical indication. Instead of worrying about choosing a time of birth or unnecessary intervention, pregnant women should proactively monitor their pregnancy regularly and choose a reputable medical facility with a team of experienced doctors, following the doctor's instructions to "keep the mother and baby safe".

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/mo-som-chon-gio-dep-em-be-37-tuan-tuoi-suy-ho-hap-khong-qua-khoi-20250813154554079.htm