Woman with kidney failure delivers baby girl

Magic does happen in life and 31-year-old Divya Labde, a resident of Kandivali, is living example of it. Despite suffering from 85 per cent chronic renal failure, she delivered a healthy baby girl, Kimaya (meaning magic in Marati).

Divya had been undergoing treatment for renal failure for years at Fortis Hospital, Mulund when she got pregnant early this year. Though it was a joyful moment, it came as a surprise to doctors as in her condition the chances of getting pregnant is only 5 per cent.

“In my 15-year career, it was the first such case where a woman with 85 per cent damaged kidney-reported pregnancy,” said Dr Haresh Dodeja, nephrologist from the hospital.

Initially, doctors had to explain to Divya the risk-benefit ratio where the risk was higher than the latter. Divya was also advised to consider abortion.

“Patients with mild kidney disease can have a healthy pregnancy. In women with moderate to severe kidney disease, the risk of complications is much higher. Divya’s condition was borderline with 80 to 85 per cent damaged kidney where the chance getting pregnant was only 5 per cent,” said Dr Dodeja.

Kidney patients need dialysis if they lose about 90 per cent of their kidney. Pregnancy in such a condition is not advised with a high risk of complications. But Divya opted to go through the pregnancy despite all perceived complications.

So, a group of doctors from the hospital including Dr Sonal Kumta, obstetrician and gynecologist and Dr Jesal Sheth, consultant neonatologist and pediatric intensivist, came together for her treatment. .

Dr Sheth said, “We knew if Divya could complete 28 weeks of pregnancy without any trouble with the baby weighing 700 to 800 gms approximately, then the risk to herself and the baby would reduce significantly. So, we ensured that the period of 28 weeks passed without the development of any complication.”

The delivery was done in August after she completed 28 weeks. During the delivery, the baby weighted 1.1kg and now, a healthy 3.5kgs.