New Delhi:A Karnataka-bound woman Tuesday gave birth to a baby at a departure terminal at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The youngest passenger was warmly received at Terminal 3 of IGI and both the mother and her newborn were admitted to a health facility at the airport complex.
The couple was scheduled to board a flight to Karnataka's Hubbali Tuesday morning, but "fate had something else in store for them", a doctor who assisted the woman through childbirth at the medical facility of Terminal 3 said. "She had gone to a washroom when her water broke," the doctor said.
"Luckily our medical facility was nearby. She was brought to the facility where we attended to her and delivered the baby. It was a healthy boy, who cried to signal his arrival at an airport no less," Dr Pravin Singh of the Medanta medical facility at Terminal 3 told PTI.
The woman was brought to the facility around 9:20 am and the baby was born around 9:40 am, he said. The doctor claimed it was the first baby to be born at the Medanta clinic of the Delhi international airport. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) welcomed the arrival of the tiny "passenger".
The IGI posted a photo of the newborn baby on its official Twitter handle, captioning it with 'welcoming the youngest passenger ever!' "Celebrating the arrival of the First Baby at Terminal 3, Medanta Facility. Mother and child, both are doing well," IGI said in the tweet.
"Kudos to our team of doctors for safely delivering a healthy baby at Medanta Mediclinic at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3. This is the first time that a child has been delivered at the Indira Gandhi International Airport!…," Medanta wrote in twitter, sharing two images of the newborn.
Until when expectant mothers can fly
An expectant mother in good health can fly up to and including the 32nd week of pregnancy, without question. According to Air India's guidelines, a passenger can also travel up to 35th week of pregnancy with a Fit to Fly certificate from the attending obstetrician, dated not more than 3 days prior to departure. Indigo says it will allow the travel up to 36th week.
Air India will not allow flying expectant mothers beyond 32 weeks in case of multiple pregnancy which refers to twins, triplets etc, or Complicated pregnancy which refers to cases where on previous occasions a mother has experienced difficult and complicated delivery.
In case of the pregnancy beyond 35 weeks, passenger may be accepted for transportation only on urgent or compassionate grounds, with the authority of the Executive Director - Medical Services, after filling the MEDIF form, in Air India.
In addition, medical clearance is given by the company doctor who will discuss the case on an individual basis with the passenger’s doctor/or will check all the medical documents of the passenger (pregnant lady) in case treating obstetrician is not contactable, if you are flying Indigo.
