In one of a medically rare case, Purnima Devi, a resident of Kotdwar, gave birth to four children (quadruplets) at Max Super Specialty Hospital here. The four babies — two boys and two girls — and the mother are hale and hearty.
Purnima was referred to the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), Jollygrant, when she was diagnosed with multiple fetuses at the Government Hospital Kotdwar. Citing lack of sufficient incubators, the HIHT Jollygrant also expressed its inability to admit Purnima and she was admitted at the Max Hospital.
The Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Max Super Speciality Hospital Dr luna Pant said that on June 19, 2014, a caesarean section was performed and Purnima delivered four babies weighing 1.6 kg, 1.5 kg, 1.7 kg and 1.2 kg. The babies were immediately shifted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where they were kept for 20 days. She said that special care was given to Purnima as she had multiple pregnancies and pre-term labour. Pant said that it was her first experience of performing an operation where quadruplets were born.
The pediatrician at Max Super Specialty Hospital, Dr Rohit Srivastava said that medical management of pre term babies is a critical task and requires expert guidance to ensure weight gain and development of the baby.
He said that in earlier times in case of a quadruplet delivery, 1-2 babies used to die due to improper medical management. Dr Srivastava said that quadruplets are very rare and the chances of such babies are 1: 50000. He appreciated the efforts of the nursing staff in providing utmost care to the babies.
Purnima the mother of quadruplets said that she was exited yet anxious as how to take care of four babies but the doctors of the hospital explained all the preventive care steps to be taken to ensure well being of her babies. She said that the nursing staff was very helpful and friendly and even gave names, Akshutam, Ambika, Krishna and Vaishnavi to babies.