foto: SCMP
A bloated belly is often mistaken for a sign of excess fat. But in this extraordinary case, pregnancy was the unexpected culprit. A woman named Gong from Hangzhou, East China, only realized she was pregnant four hours before she gave birth to a 2kg baby boy.
Gong, who was previously diagnosed as infertile by doctors, had considered undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) but was turned down due to her weight issues. The pregnancy was detected when she was tested for hypertension.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, a check-up at Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital showed that Gong was 34 weeks pregnant. This was especially surprising considering that she had not had her period for several months, which she thought was due to other health problems.
Doctors immediately took action by performing a cesarean section due to Gong's critical condition. News of the extraordinary experience went viral on Chinese social media, leaving many shocked, especially since she had previously been told that pregnancy was impossible.
Gong, now 36, lived her life believing she could not get pregnant. A doctor's diagnosis of uterine syndrome left her hopeless. An IVF program she applied for was rejected because of her obesity.
She was used to having a pot belly and thought it was due to her habit of eating sweet foods. Even when her period stopped for a few months, Gong just thought it was a side effect of other health problems. However, everything changed when she was referred to a big hospital.
"It only took four hours from finding out I was pregnant to the birth of my baby," Gong said. The obstetrician immediately performed a cesarean section to save the lives of both mother and child.
After the pregnancy was revealed, the doctor immediately decided to perform a cesarean section. Gong's condition was considered critical and did not allow for a normal delivery. A 2 kg baby boy was born safely.
According to Dr. Yang Liwei, this is not the first case of this kind to occur at the hospital. Some overweight women often do not notice the signs of pregnancy. "A weak pregnancy reaction is not necessarily a good thing," he said.
Lack of prenatal check-ups in such cases increases the risk of complications. Therefore, doctors recommend that every woman with irregular menstrual cycles still have regular check-ups.
"Women who do not know they are pregnant will have difficulty ensuring the safety of their babies and themselves," Yang added.
(brl/red)
