'I was tense,' Swathi Reddy tells South First about her experience delivering the baby girl — who has been named after her.
Published Sep 14, 2022 | 9:27 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 15, 2022 | 9:15 AM
Medical student Swathi who helped a 28-year-old woman deliver on a moving train in Andhra Pradesh. (Supplied)
A 22-year-old final-year medical student who helped deliver a premature baby girl on board the Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Duronto Express on the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday, is winning hearts on social media and has even been complimented by Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao.
Kesari Swathi Reddy, house surgeon at the GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Visakhapatnam, narrated the events of the eventful night to South First.
That night, Swathi boarded the train for Vizag at around 1 am. At about 3.30 am, when she was deep in sleep, she was woken up by a visibly distraught man asking for help.
Gitam Medical College student Swathi Reddy. (Supplied)
“I was quite surprised when he came to me and said, ‘Can you please come and help my wife deliver? She is eight months pregnant and she is in delivery pain,'” Swathi recalled.
Wondering how this man even know that she was a medical student, Swathi rushed to help and was shocked to find a young woman writhing in pain with the baby’s head almost out.
“It was quite an extensive labour. She must have been in a lot of pain and had no energy to push the baby out. I helped her push the baby and she managed to deliver,” said Swathi.
Swathi, who hails from a small town called Narasaraopeta, though a final-year medical student, had only assisted her professors in performing deliveries, and had never done one herself.
“I was tense too, as this was my first time doing this alone. The family trusted me and nearly 15 people inside the coach came to help me,” said Swathi.
Swathi says the 28-year-old woman, Satyavati, had probably gone into labour about 45 minutes before she came into the picture. Swathi says she tried to push the baby out for another 45 minutes, but placenta had not come out.
“Finally at 5.30 am, a healthy baby girl of 2.2 kgs was delivered,” she said.
Knowing the importance of saving the placenta, Swathi first safely put it into a clean cover and tied it. She had to also ensure that the newborn was kept warm.
Medical student Swathi Reddy with mother Satyavati, her husband and other passengers on the train. (Supplied)
“As the coach we were traveling in was air-conditioned, other passengers extended help by providing blankets to wrap the child. We converted the compartment into a makeshift delivery room,” Swathi said.
The Duronto Superfast Express, which does not have any halts between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, made an unscheduled stop at Anakapalle station, where medical officials, who were informed over telephone by the train’s TTE, took over.
Swathi, too, interrupted her journey and accompanied Satyavati and the newborn to the NTR Government Health Hospital and ensured the baby and the mother were safe .
Both Satyavati and her husband were overwhelmed and extremely thankful for Swathi’s help.
And it is no wonder that the parents have decided to name the baby girl “Swathi”.
“I just did what I had to do. I am thankful that I was in that compartment, and that her husband came to me seeking help, and that I could perform a safe delivery,” Swathi said matter-of-factly.
She thanked those in the coach who came forward to help keep the child and mother safe, and appreciated all those who showered blessings on on her on social media, including KTR.
