Woman gives birth to premature baby on flight with help of doctor on board

Finally, some good airline news during the coronavirus pandemic.

Flight attendants had their hands full when a tiny customer made an early arrival – after being born prematurely during a low-cost Indian airline flight, according to The Sun.

The newborn was clearly not interested in social distancing aboard the IndiGo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru on Wednesday, when his mom went into labor less than 32 weeks into her pregnancy.

Fortunately, a doctor – a gynecologist, no less – happened to be sitting nearby and sprung into action as the baby earned his wings.

“Was on @IndiGo6E 6E 122 flight to BLR, woman gives birth mid-air, amazing team work of indigo flight attendants,” passenger Prabhu Stavarmath said in a tweet.

“They set up a hospital in minutes and the new born cried mid-air. Dr Shailaja Vallabhani was fortunately on this flight!” he added about the doctor, who works at Cloud Nine hospitals Bengaluru.

The cabin crew members also were hailed for reaching new heights in customer service by assisting the doctor while wearing personal protective equipment, according to the Deccan Herald.

“Kudos for such presence of mind and great work,” an airline insider told the news outlet.

Soon after landing, the baby and his mom received a round of applause from fellow passengers and IndiGo staffers before being whisked to a medical facility at Kempegowda International Airport for preliminary checkup.

Meanwhile, social media was abuzz with questions about whether the young flier will get free lifetime airfare, as is customary, for being born during the flight.

Women are not permitted to fly if they are more than 36 weeks’ pregnant – but in this case, the mother was reportedly a month shy of that mark.

via: https://nypost.com/2020/10/09/premature-baby-born-on-indian-flight-thanks-to-gynecologist-on-hand/

Photo Credit: Moses Marton