Written By: Prerna Mittra | Published : October 19, 2024 11:01 AM IST
The babies required non-invasive respiratory support for approximately one week. It helped their condition get stable. (Photo: Freepik)
Twin baby girls were born to a mother, but they were premature. One of them had a congenital foot deformity, too, which had to be urgently treated. A rare case, it was quite an emotional journey for the parents, and an interesting challenge for the doctors. Read on to find out more about the case and how it unravelled.
A woman in Mumbai gave birth to twin baby girls at 29 weeks of pregnancy. One of them was born with congenital talipes equinovarus (CTE), commonly known as 'clubfoot'. Apparently, the incidence of clubfoot is around 1-2 per 1,000 children, affecting more baby boys than girls. But, it is a treatable condition, and when addressed early, has a success rate of close to 100 per cent.
Luckily for this new mother, despite the challenges of premature birth and a foot deformity in one of the babies, she received timely care that ensured a favourable outcome.
The 33-year-old woman and her husband -- residents from Panvel -- were overjoyed when they found out about the pregnancy after 12 years of marriage. But, their joy soon turned into distress when the woman went into preterm labor at 29 weeks after her water broke. She was taken to a maternity home in Panvel.
Dr Anish Pillai, lead consultant in neonatology and paediatrics at Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar, however, received a call from the attending obstetrician in Panvel stating that delivery was imminent. A team, led by Dr Amit Ghawade, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist, along with two nurses, rushed to the Panvel hospital within 30 minutes to ensure a safe delivery. "We prioritised stabilisation and ensured a smooth transition for the twin babies," Dr Pillai said in a statement shared by the hospital.
The babies were transported in a neonatal ambulance called 'NICU on wheels'; they arrived at Motherhood Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within an hour of birth. According to the doctor, they required non-invasive respiratory support in the form of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for approximately one week. It helped their condition get stable. Thereafter, kangaroo mother care and orogastric tube feeds were initiated to promote bonding with the mother and facilitate weight gain.
Once the baby girls were off respiratory support, Dr Chintan Doshi, pediatric orthopedician assessed the clubfoot problem. It can happen because of various reasons, including having limited space in the womb (having to share it with a twin) and developmental defects in bones and muscles.
"The first plaster cast was applied in the NICU before the baby was discharged," said Dr Doshi. The baby responded positively. "We continued serial casting after discharge until satisfactory correction was achieved."
The little patient underwent weekly cast changes for five weeks, followed by a minor surgical procedure to optimise the outcome. After that, special shoes were recommended for three months, along with physiotherapy. No further operations or castings are required. Physiotherapy will continue until she turns one.
