On January 14, Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City informed that the unit had saved a newborn baby in a case of complicated complications in a twin.
Ms. H.N (21 years old, Tay Ninh) became pregnant thanks to in vitro fertilization. At the end of June 2025, after transferring the embryo, Ms. N was determined to have twins - 2 amniotic fluids.
In the first 3 months of pregnancy, 2 fetuses developed normally. However, in the 16th - 17th week of pregnancy, early ultrasound revealed a fetus with severe congenital defects.
Coming to Tu Du Hospital for examination, doctors determined that there was a fetus with a severe congenital defect in the form of "brain splitting and open-brain amputation" that was unlikely to survive after birth. At the same time, they advised the pregnant woman and her family on how to handle it, which is to stop this abnormal fetus from developing in order to preserve the chance of survival for the remaining fetus.
The procedure was carried out smoothly and safely and achieved good results. In early October, Ms. N re-examined, ultrasound checked and found 1 fetus aged about 19 - 20 weeks developing normally and stably, and 1 stillbirth.
At the beginning of November, when the pregnancy was 24 weeks and 6 days, while at home, Ms. N suddenly had abdominal pain and discovered an abnormal mass protruding out of the vagina.
Emergency at the hospital, doctors determined that the 16-week stillbirth had slipped out. After treatment, this stillbirth block was clipped and cut off and weighed 200 grams, part of the umbilical cord and the entire placenta were still in the uterus.
At this time, the cervix is 2 cm open, uterine contractions are reduced, the pregnant woman stabilizes and reduces abdominal pain, there are no signs of infection, and the fetal heart remains normal.
Because the remaining fetus is only 24 weeks and 6 days old, the fetus is slow to grow in the uterus, weighs about 620 grams, and the chance of survival if born at this time is very low, the treatment team unanimously decided to nourish the fetus to maximize pregnancy duration.
Ms. N's condition gradually stabilized and continued to be monitored. In mid-December, the doctor checked that the pregnant woman had a condition where the end of the amniotic fluid was starting to form, so she was hospitalized.
The results of Ms. N's vaginal discharge culture showed infection with E. Coli bacteria, so she was treated with antibiotics and fetal care.
On January 6, 2026, the pregnant woman suddenly had a ruptured membrane, and through examination, it was recorded that the cervix was about 5-6 cm open, with many contractions. After that, Ms. N gave birth to a premature baby girl, weighing 1,800 grams. The baby was examined and evaluated by newborn doctors.
After 3 days of postpartum, the pregnant woman's health condition stabilized, recovering almost completely. The baby also gradually stabilized in body temperature, breathing and circulation. Currently, both mother and baby have been discharged from the hospital.
Tu Du Hospital said that currently, according to world medical literature, there are only a few dozen successful cases of postponing the birth of the second child in a twin and the postponement time is usually short from 1-4 weeks.
This postponement poses a risk of amniotic fluid infection leading to dangerous sepsis of the mother's life. In Ms. N's case, doctors made efforts to extend the pregnancy for more than 8 weeks, bringing good results.
