Obstetrics Treatment in India

Anika Saxena, a 32-year-old software engineer,...

Anika Saxena, a 32-year-old software engineer, was expecting her first child after two years of trying to conceive. At 28 weeks, a routine ultrasound revealed her baby had a severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a life-threatening condition where abdominal organs push into the chest cavity, hindering lung development. Her obstetrician, Dr. Mehta, recommended a highly specialized in-utero procedure called Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) to improve the baby's lung growth before birth. Anika and her husband were terrified but chose to proceed. The procedure, performed under regional anesthesia, involved inserting a tiny fetoscope through her abdomen and uterus to place a balloon in the baby's trachea. The two-hour surgery was successful, though Anika was on modified bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, monitored weekly. The balloon was removed at 34 weeks via a second fetoscopic procedure. Anika delivered a baby boy at 37 weeks via planned C-section. He required immediate NICU care and surgery after birth, but his lungs were significantly more developed thanks to the FETO. The emotional journey was a rollercoaster of fear, hope, and profound resilience. After the birth, though anxious about the road ahead, Anika felt an overwhelming sense of having given her son the best possible fighting chance.