Chen Shanshan, a nurse who works in the neonatal department at Hainan Provincial People’s Hospital, responded quickly after flight attendants asked around the aircraft for emergency medical aid for the newly-born baby.
Chen said she saw the mother, surnamed Zhang, holding a palm-sized infant in her hand, and the baby was still wrapped in the fetal membrane.
Assisted by two doctors from different departments of the same hospital, Chen, wearing gloves, tore off the fetal membrane so the baby could breathe.
They soon realised the newborn’s entire body looked far too pale, it was not crying or breathing and they could not feel a pulse. The baby did not respond to stimulation.
“This little weak life is in critical danger. Every single second is vital to her,” Chen said as she performed emergency CPR on the tiny girl.
She asked cabin crew for a warm water bag to keep the child’s temperature stable, which is especially vital for premature babies who are at the risk of hematosepsis and even death.
Chen and the two doctors let out a sigh of relief as the baby’s breath and heartbeat stabilised.
The pilot made an emergency landing in Changsha, central Hunan province, southern China for the safety of the infant and her mother.
Chen had kept up the chest compressions for 90 minutes until the baby was sent to a hospital in Changsha.
“It was only as I saw the baby taken into the rescue room that I realised my arms were numb,” she said.
Zhang’s husband hurried to Changsha hospital when he heard about the birth of his younger daughter.
He said the infant weighed a mere 820 grams, gaining 50 grams during her two-week stay in hospital.
“Thank you for being there at the critical moment. We will tell our kid and she will remember you forever,” the father said in a video clip sent to Chen.
He said he would thank the nurse in person after the baby was discharged from hospital.
Chen said that she was not thinking about much at the time, she was so focused on rescuing the baby. She said the cabin crew and the two doctors also deserve thanks.
The story has triggered an outpouring of compliments for Chen on mainland social media.
