_Health News_ *13-year-old gives birth mid-air during emergency helicopter transfer* ____________________ ____________________ BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (Chronicle) — A 13-year-old girl gave birth to a baby boy during a helicopter flight last week, in what doctors described as a rare and high-risk airborne delivery. The Helidrive National Air Rescue Service crew was transporting the teenager from Maphisa Hospital to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) when the baby arrived just seven minutes into the flight. Dr. Marshall Kahari, who led the delivery, said the emergency began as a standard medical transfer but quickly turned into a race against time. “She was having contractions at one-minute intervals, each lasting about two minutes,” Kahari said. “The patient was stable, and all vital signs were within the normal range. She was being closely monitored. “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.” Kahari said the patient, whose name has been withheld because she is a minor, was in her first pregnancy. She had been 5 centimeters dilated when the call for emergency transfer came in. “Since we were already on standby for emergencies, we immediately took off from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, where we were stationed,” he said. “I was on the mission with [Intensive Coronary Care Nurse] ICCN Kelelo Maphala. It took us about 27 minutes to reach Maphisa.” Upon arrival, the crew found the patient in active labor. The transfer was requested because the baby was in breech presentation and the hospital lacked theatre facilities. “The plan was to transfer the patient for a possible caesarean section at UBH,” Kahari said. “On examination, she was stable but experiencing labour pains. We connected her to monitors. Her vitals were: BP 134/87, pulse 104, SpO2 98–100 percent on room air, respiratory rate 21. Her level of consciousness was 15/15, and she was well-oriented in time, place and person. We then transferred her to the helicopter and took off for UBH.” About seven minutes into the flight, her condition changed rapidly. “The delivery had to be done — but with great care — because footling breech deliveries (a very unfavourable position for vaginal delivery) carry a higher risk of umbilical cord prolapse, foetal hypoxia, and birth injuries, including brachial plexus damage and fractures,” Kahari said. “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 safely delivering the baby, the helicopter landed at UBH, where an ambulance took mother and child to the hospital’s labor ward. “Upon arrival at UBH, an ambulance transported us to the labour ward,” Kahari said. “The mother was taken to the delivery room, where the tear was sutured. The baby was placed in a resuscitaire, and a paediatrician assessed him. The mother was discharged the following day.” A resuscitaire is a specialized device used to support newborns who may need help breathing after delivery. Both mother and baby were reported to be in good health. _ZimVitals_ ⚕️🇿🇼