This marked the woman's seventh birth. Doctor Le Duc Hung, from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the family called for emergency assistance when the expectant mother delivered her baby at home. A medical team swiftly arrived at the rented accommodation to provide support.

The baby girl, weighing about 3 kilograms, showed signs of asphyxia due to a lack of immediate post-birth care. Doctors cut the umbilical cord, kept her warm, cleaned her, and cleared mucus from her mouth, after which the baby's condition gradually stabilized.

Doctor Hung travels in an ambulance to the expectant mother's home for the emergency home birth. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

The expectant mother underwent a perineal examination, had the placenta removed, and received medication to aid uterine contractions. Approximately 30 minutes later, the medical team transported both mother and baby to the hospital for postpartum care.

The expectant mother reported not having regular prenatal check-ups due to financial hardship. According to Doctor Hung, her history of multiple births contributed to the rapid labor.

Babies born outside a medical facility face risks such as injury, respiratory failure, sepsis, and respiratory illnesses. Mothers are susceptible to complications like postpartum hemorrhage and infection, which can be life-threatening. Most home births occur when expectant mothers do not receive regular prenatal care or fail to recognize early signs of labor. Difficult living conditions, strenuous labor, or living far from healthcare facilities also increase this risk.

Doctor Hung emphasized that if an expectant mother goes into labor at home, she should lie on a clean, flat surface. Family members must quickly contact emergency services or transport the mother to the nearest medical facility for assistance. Once the baby is born, family members should observe its breathing and crying. If the baby does not cry, it should be gently stimulated (by rubbing its back or tapping its feet) to encourage crying immediately, then cleaned of mucus and kept warm. It is crucial not to cut the umbilical cord without sterile instruments or to pull the umbilical cord to remove the placenta.

Expectant mothers should attend regular prenatal check-ups to monitor their health and the baby's, and to gain knowledge about labor signs such as intermittent abdominal pain, pinkish discharge, or ruptured membranes. In case of any unusual signs, immediate medical attention or emergency services should be sought for timely support.

Tam Anh General Hospital participates in the city's 115 Emergency Network, maintaining a 24-hour on-call team and coordinating with the 115 Emergency Center to receive calls. Upon dispatch, an ambulance and medical team swiftly respond to the scene to provide initial first aid and timely support to patients.

Tue Diem

*Character names have been changed