Saba Ali, a resident of Dubai, experienced a challenging pregnancy with her fourth child. During the 24th week of pregnancy, she developed a high fever that led to an emergency delivery at Aster Hospital Sharjah. Despite being unprepared, she placed her trust in the doctors who delivered her baby Arsheen, weighing just 700gm. The baby was immediately moved to the NICU, where she spent the next three months.
Doctors explained that Saba had to deliver early due to a combination of factors including infection, bleeding, and severe anaemia. Following the delivery, Saba experienced postpartum haemorrhage and required two pints of blood to improve her haemoglobin levels. After two days, Saba was moved to the ward and reunited with her baby in the NICU. However, the emotional toll of seeing her premature baby was overwhelming for Saba.
Saba’s husband, mother-in-law, and friends provided support during this challenging time. Saba spent the first month post-delivery in tears, fearing for her baby’s life. The couple found solace in the daily updates from the doctors about Arsheen’s progress. The couple faced the difficult task of explaining to their older children why they couldn’t bring their new sibling home and why they couldn’t even see a photo of her.
After three months, baby Arsheen was able to come home, overcoming heart and lung issues in the process. Saba expressed her constant fear of taking her eyes off her infant, ensuring her safety at all times. The family has been cautious about preventing infections, restricting contact with the baby. Despite the challenges, they are grateful to the doctors at Aster Hospital for their support and care throughout the ordeal.
