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Doctors play god, save 500gm twins in Ahmedabad

For Usha Dabhi, 43, and Hemant Dabhi, 48, it was a dream come true when Usha got pregnant in 2009 through the IVF treatment.

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For Usha Dabhi, 43, and Hemant Dabhi, 48, it was a dream come true when Usha got pregnant in 2009 through the IVF treatment. However, their joy was short-lived when Usha, a hypertension patient, discovered that 26 weeks into the pregnancy the foetuses had stopped receiving nutrition. The pregnancy had to be terminated.

However, a team of doctors led by neonatologist Dr Ashish Mehta saved these premature foetuses and decided to complete the work that nature had left unfinished.

Dr Ashish and Dr Manish Shah adopted latest methods and medicines to save the country's first extremely Low Birth Weight (LBW) twin babies of 540 gms and 680 gms. The foetuses were 26.5 weeks and 36 cm at the time of birth. The complete gestation period for a human foetus is 40 weeks and survival of a foetus, which is 'delivered' in 28 weeks, is clinically termed as 'difficult'.

Dr Ashish Mehta said, "The twins Heer and Het were 6½ -month-old foetuses when we took them out of Usha's womb on May 1, 2009.

We tried to save these foetuses which had immature lungs, brains, kidneys and intestines, by using a dose of 'surfactant' in the operation theatre as treatment for the lungs."

The twins were kept on ventilator for 25 days and were given a liquid fat, protein and carbohydrate diet via intravenous inserted directly into their central nerve system going up to the heart.

"These babies were kept in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) for 90 days, but we gave them antibiotics only for three days. In India, the prime reason for neonatal death is infection and the fact that we could save these babies from infection is a rare achievement for a third world country." Shah informed.

At the time of discharge the babies were three-times the birth-weight. "Today, when Heer and Het have finished a year and weigh almost 6 kgs, and are growing at a normal rate, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude towards these doctors who have worked hard to save my babies," said an elated Usha.

The father of the twins, Hemant Dhabi said, "The whole idea of bringing the case to everyone's notice is to inform that parents and doctors shouldn't give up hope in such cases."

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