The following first hand account was shared on the Worldwide Unified Facebook group by Dr. Dale Glenn.
“I had a completely miraculous experience on Wednesday. In the middle of our Delta Flight 306 from Salt Lake City to Honolulu, I was called to assist in the delivery and resuscitation of a 29 week old baby when mom (who did not actually know she was pregnant, yes, this does happen) suddenly went into labor.
Astoundingly, there were not one but three NICU nurses on the plane from Kansas City who rushed to help Mom, who delivered in the airplane at 40,000 feet over the Pacific.
We used shoelaces, a sock (for a head warmer), plastic bags, microwaved water bottles (to raise temperature), an Apple Watch (which worked surprisingly well as a heart monitor),and an oxygen mask we made ourselves to get baby stabilized, keep him warm, and help him breathe until he was safe enough to wrap him against mom’s chest. We finally reached Honolulu three hours later.
The pivotal moment came when after landing we moved mom and baby into a wheelchair and he finally woke up and for the first time cried out loud. The whole plane applauded. There have only ever been about 60 babies born on flights in recorded history.
Newborn Raymond Mounga has some new aunties and an uncle in Hawaii Pacific Health Dr. Dale Glenn and North Kansas City Hospital NICU Nurses Lani Bamfield, Amanda Beeding and Mimi Ho who helped with his unexpected delivery on a recent flight to Hawaii. https://t.co/CdGVOTXdpu pic.twitter.com/hh6VNRpbDl
— HawaiiPacificHealth (@hawaiipachealth) May 3, 2021
What are the odds this three pound preemie would have 3 neonatal intensive care nurses, a physician’s assistant, and one semi-experienced doctor on board to help him when he decided to make an appearance in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?
Our Delta crew was also amazing. My daughter Katheryn got to help name him. Mom and baby doing well in Honolulu. God watches over all of us.”
Congratulations and continued blessings go out to Lavi and her new delivery!
Wendy H Wood
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
Why do we feel we have a right to make judgements on other people's lives? Do I have the right to say that Mom shouldn't be trusted to keep the baby because she didn't know she was pregnant? Do I have the right to tell Rozy she should apologize for thinking the Mom is not very bright? Does Maxwell (who probably has never been pregnant) have the right to complain publicly about Mom's awareness or lack thereof? Why do we have to pick on each other in public forums? What happened to civility? We all have the right to think and even say these things, but do we really need to do so in an anonymous public way? Does it help anyone? They have begun teaching 5th grade children (because 5th graders are stuck on the world being fair) to ask 3 questions. Is what I am about to say True? Is it Fair? Is it hurtful? Why can't adults consider those questions before we complain to the world?
Maxwell
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
This cant be true, how can she be pregnant for such a long time and will not know about. I don't believe this!!!
Fabienne
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
@Maxwell, I have a cousin (who was adopted) had a baby not knowing that she was pregnant. Her mother (my aunt) who never had children thought that my cousin was just gaining weight. So yes it does happen!
Rozy
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
Any woman who doesn't know she's pregnant is lacking body awareness and probably shouldn't be trusted with an infant to take care of.
Suzy
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
@Rozy, If “body awareness” is what you’re using to measure the competency of a person you need to check your awareness speaking on a subject you know nothing about. She had a cryptic pregnancy and experienced no symptoms of nausea, no fetal movement, and no differences with her body other than a few pounds of weight gain which can happen for other reasons. So her “body awareness” was fine, thank you. And she is going to be an amazing mother despite your ignorant and demeaning judgement of her.
amanda crandell
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
@Rozy, That's a terrible thing to say. I've heard of women not knowing their pregnant lots of times & 29 weeks is still pretty early. You have no right to judge her as a mother just because of this one incident. Especially if this is her 1st pregnancy. How do we know? There is always 2 sides of the story. I think this is beautiful & clearly God's hand was in the details of her life. Please apologize for your insensitive comment.
Deb
Wednesday 5th of May 2021
@Rozy, many who suffer from irregular menstrual cycles often don’t know they are pregnant. Some people also have regular cycles and are pregnant. You need to apologize for your insensitive comment.