'Pregnant Woman Confirmed with COVID-19 Faces No Hospital Bed Again... Travels 130km for "Remote Delivery"'

Healthy Mother and Baby

Pregnant woman.
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[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] In Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, a pregnant woman diagnosed with COVID-19 was unable to find a place to give birth due to a shortage of hospital beds and wandered for over six hours before finally giving birth in Hongseong, Chungnam.

According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters on the 10th, Ms. A (32), a 39-week pregnant woman who tested positive on a rapid antigen test and was waiting for a PCR test, called 119 at around 12:37 PM on the 9th, saying "labor has started."

The ambulance team arrived at Ms. A's home within 10 minutes and, together with the Central 119 Emergency Situation Management Center, searched for a delivery-capable hospital room, but was informed that there were no available beds in nearby areas.

At around 2:07 PM, contractions were occurring at one-minute intervals, and as delivery approached, the 119 personnel began preparing for delivery in the ambulance in case of emergency. Ms. A's side also prepared to call a midwife to assist with a home birth simultaneously.

After repeated contractions, it was only at 5:28 PM that they received notification that a maternity bed was available at Hongseong Medical Center in Chungnam, about 130 km away from Ms. A's home.

Ms. A was transported by ambulance for about 1 hour and 20 minutes and was able to arrive at the hospital bed at around 6:52 PM, approximately 6 hours and 15 minutes after the initial report.

Both Ms. A and the fetus are reported to be in good health without major issues.

A hospital official stated, "The mother had been feeling contractions since 6 AM, and when she arrived at the hospital, the situation was already urgent, so we proceeded with emergency surgery. She is currently recovering steadily and well."

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