A couple from Jayashankar Bhupalpally district struggled for years to conceive before finally opting for IVF treatment. Their joy knew no bounds when they discovered they were expecting twins.
Early Complications During Pregnancy
At just six months of pregnancy, the mother developed abdominal pain and experienced water leakage. Alarmed, the couple rushed to Hyderabad. Doctors managed to delay labor for a week, but at 26 weeks of pregnancy, she delivered premature twin boys.
Heartbreaking Loss and Critical Condition
Both babies developed severe infections soon after birth and were shifted to Kamineni Hospital on the second day. Sadly, one baby succumbed within a week due to a severe fungal infection and kidney complications. The surviving baby, however, faced multiple life-threatening challenges and fought valiantly.
Extreme Prematurity and High Risk
Dr. R.V. Soujanya, Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist at Kamineni Hospitals, explained,
“For IVF pregnancies, babies rarely remain in the womb for the full term of 38–40 weeks. A minimum of 28 weeks is considered relatively safe. In this case, the mother went into labor as early as 23–24 weeks, and the twins were delivered at 26 weeks. Water leakage lasting more than six hours before delivery significantly raises the risk of bacterial and fungal infections.”
Life-Saving Interventions in the NICU
As per the press release, the surviving baby was extremely critical. He could not cry at birth, developed severe lung problems, and required ventilator support for nearly two months. He also suffered repeated episodes of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), which prevented his intestines from digesting milk. These episodes caused abdominal swelling, vomiting, oxygen desaturation, and irregular heart rate.
Doctors provided Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), a rare and highly specialized feeding technique that delivers glucose and nutrients through a tube. The baby also had very low hemoglobin levels due to poor red blood cell production and required almost 12 blood transfusions over three months.
Fighting Multiple Infections
The baby battled bacterial and fungal infections along with frequent low blood sugar episodes. Doctors treated him with a combination of antibiotics, antifungal medications, and TPN nutrition for nearly six weeks.
Gradual Recovery and Weight Gain
By 30 weeks of corrected gestational age, the baby had gained 1.05 kg and started responding to treatment. After two months, doctors successfully removed ventilator support, though oxygen therapy continued. His fever subsided, hemoglobin levels improved, and his overall health stabilized.
To protect his brain development, the team minimized painful procedures and relied on symptoms rather than frequent blood tests to guide treatment.
Discharge and Continued Care
By 36 weeks, the baby weighed 1.5 kg and was shifted from the NICU to the ward. Doctors trained the mother in feeding techniques and baby care. At 38 weeks, the baby reached 1.7 kg and was finally discharged.
Outlook and Ongoing Monitoring
After three months of intensive care, the baby — once critically ill and extremely premature — emerged stable, healthy, and growing well. However, doctors emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of his developmental milestones, including neck control, crawling, response to sounds, and vision, along with regular follow-up check-ups.
Dr. Soujanya concluded,
“This baby has truly conquered death. His survival is a testament to advanced neonatal care and the unwavering efforts of his family and the medical team.”