India's first, world's twelfth, uterine transplant baby born
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In the wee hours of Thursday, marking a momentous achievement for the medical sciences in India, the country's first uterine transplant baby was born to a couple at Pune's Galaxy Hospital.
The birth of the baby, a 1.4kg girl who let out a loud cry to announce her birth, marks the twelfth successful uterine transplant birth in the world.
Here's more.
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The very short history of uterine transplants
The world's first uterine transplant was carried out in 2002, and since then 27 such operations have been carried out across the world. However, only 11 women had gone on to have successful deliveries - nine from Sweden, and two from the US.
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The couple had been waiting eight years for a baby
After a 12-minute Cesarean section operation, the girl was born at 12.12am on Thursday, and the successful birth marked the end of an eight year long wait for parents Meenakshi and Hitesh Valand.
The baby had minor respiratory distress after birth, but it was settled soon.
"It was like music to my ears," 27-year-old Meenakshi told Indian Express, recounting the baby girl's cry.
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A life-changing moment for the medical sciences in India
"We did it. Creating life out of a transplanted organ is the biggest medical feat we have achieved. Rest of the organs give life to a patient. We have created life out of a patient," said Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, director of the Galaxy Hospital.
Uterine transplant
India's first uterine transplants took place last year
In May last year, Meenakshi, along with Shivamma Chalgeri from Solapur in Maharashtra, underwent India's first uterine transplants.
In both cases, their mothers donated the organs, and both operations were successful.
However, in January this year, Shivamma received an embryo transfer, but lost her baby after two months of pregnancy.
Subsequently in April, Meenakshi received an embryo transfer, and became pregnant.
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Meenakshi had a condition which made giving birth complicated
Prior to her successful transplant, Meenakshi's uterus had been afflicted with a rare condition called Asherman's syndrome, a condition which caused her to lose two babies after full-term pregnancies. She had also undergone four abortions.
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Meenakshi spent the entirety of her pregnancy under medical surveillance
Meenakshi spent the entirety of her pregnancy at Room. 406 of the Galaxy Hospital, under strict medical surveillance.
While her operation was scheduled for October 21, doctors had to pre-pone it when Meenakshi's blood pressure spiked and her amniotic fluid fell sharply on Wednesday.
Mumbai-based laparoscopic gynaecologist Dr. Nita Varty, and a neonatal team headed by Dr. Sandeep Kadam carried out the medical procedures.