"Amniotic Fluid is Leaking," Rejected 25 Times… Flew 150 km to Give Birth

A 35-week pregnant woman residing in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, successfully gave birth after being transported by helicopter to Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, following rejections from 25 hospitals nationwide that stated they could not accommodate her.

According to Jeonju Jesus Hospital on October 8, at 2:07 AM on October 1, a woman in her 30s identified as A, who was 35 weeks pregnant and living in Anseong, called 119 reporting that her "amniotic fluid was leaking."

Emergency responders determined that there was a high risk of premature birth and fetal infection due to premature rupture of membranes and began searching for a hospital to accept patient A.

However, after inquiring with 25 hospitals across Gyeonggi Province, Seoul, and Chungcheong Province—including hospitals operating support programs for high-risk pregnant women and neonatal integrated treatment centers—they received rejections from all of them, stating they could not accommodate her.

This was because it was difficult to immediately secure the medical staff and hospital beds required to simultaneously handle the delivery of a high-risk pregnant woman and intensive care for a newborn.

Subsequently, the National Fire Agency requested assistance from Jesus Hospital at 3:30 AM that day, and the hospital decided to accept patient A.

Patient A boarded a firefighting helicopter and arrived at Jesus Hospital, about 150 km away, at 5:16 AM, where she successfully gave birth.

Hong Sang-gi, head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Jesus Hospital who performed the surgery, said, "The obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and adolescent medicine, and anesthesiology and pain medicine departments closely cooperated to save the lives of both the mother and the baby," adding, "Jesus Hospital will continue to faithfully fulfill its mission of saving lives in any crisis situation."

(Photo provided by Jesus Hospital, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.