Mumbai : My child is not less than a miracle, states 31-year-old Divya Ladhe from Malad who gave birth to a baby girl despite suffering from chronic renal failure.
The doctors had to perform a cesarean section after 28 weeks and the baby, who weighed 1.2kg at the time of delivery, was kept in NICU for a month. Last month, when Divya held her in her arms, the baby weighed a healthy 3.2 kg.
When Divya was informed in April that she is two months pregnant, the only thing that crossed her mind was that she couldn’t lose her unborn child and she will fight against all odds to bring the baby to the world. After nine trying months, Ladhe is the proud mother of a healthy child and post-pregnancy, she has been put on dialysis to get treated for kidney failure and has resumed work.
Divya was diagnosed with chronic renal failure in 2011 wherein 85% of her kidneys had failed, following which she started undergoing treatment under Dr Haresh Dodeja, nephrologist at Fortis Hospital in Mulund. She remembers that her doctors had clearly stated that she should not become pregnant as it would involve a lot of risks and complications for her as well as the child.
“We were not planning a baby considering my condition but when I was informed that I am pregnant, my whole world turned upside down. But, I took the decision that I am not going to abort my baby as with my current condition, there is no guarantee that I will conceive again and I couldn’t dare to lose a part of myself,” said Divya.
She informed Dr Dodeja about her pregnancy wherein she was initially advised to consider abortion given the risks to the life of the mother as well as the child. But after Divya stood her ground, Dr Dodeja explained to her the risk-benefit ratio amid different possible situations, and also warned that the odds of successful delivery were 10% or less.
Dr Dodeja then formed a team of Dr Sonal Kumta, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Dr Jesal Sheth, Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatric Intensivist at Fortis Hospital Mulund, for Divya.
“After studying her case with the team, we wanted Divya to complete 28 weeks of her pregnancy successfully with the baby weighing around 700-800gms as it would then reduce the risks to the mother as well as the child. We used to conduct blood tests and ultrasound every week to check if both are doing well. We performed a C-section after 28 weeks and the baby weighed 1.2kg at that time and we had kept the baby under observation in NICU for one month. Last month, when we checked the child, she weighed 3.2 kg which is good and Divya has been put on dialysis,” informed Dr Dodeja.
At the end of the ordeal, Divya expresses that the last nine months have been a roller coaster ride with highs and lows. But now holding her child in her arms makes everything perfect and worth the pain. “My journey would not have been possible without the support of my husband who stood by me through all my ups and downs,” said Ladhe.
