13-Year-Old Gives Birth in Helicopter During Emergency Flight
A 13-year-old girl gave birth to a baby boy during a helicopter flight from Maphisa Hospital to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) last week.
The medical team was transferring her because the baby was in the wrong position for a normal birth, and the hospital had no facilities for a C-section. Just seven minutes after takeoff, she went into active labour, and doctors had to deliver the baby in mid-air.
Dr. Marshall Kahari, who helped deliver the baby, said it was a high-risk situation because the baby was coming out feet first — a breech birth. Despite the risk, the delivery was successful.
Once the helicopter landed, an ambulance took the mother and baby to the hospital. The baby was checked by a paediatrician, and the mother received treatment for a tear.
Both the mother and baby are doing well and were discharged the next day.
