“An’an is tested negative!” Zhou Zheng exclaimed.

An’an is the first newborn baby of a COVID-19 patient in Chongqing. At 23:46, February 11, An’an’s vibrant cry resounded through the operating room. To wait for the cry, eight medical workers in the operating room have been soaked in sweat.

An’an’s second nucleic acid test (NAT) result was released at 0: 30 a.m., February 14. When the negative result came out, Zhou let out a long sigh. Next, An’an will go on NAT for the third time to finally determine whether she has been infected by the disease.

A mother infected by COVID-19 names her baby as An'an and wishes her child to be safe and healthy. (Photo by Li Bin)

Having gotten through the first difficult pass — birth, An’an has to live through the second pass: to confirm whether she has been infected with COVID-19. Two hours after birth, An’an began her NAT. Since the baby’s mother was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient and transferred into the isolation ward, frontline medical workers have given their best to guard her life.

Ms. Li who were pregnant for 35 weeks, returned on January 22 from Shenzhen in southern China to Wanzhou District in northeastern Chongqing for the Spring Festival.

On the morning of February 9, Li went to the Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Wanzhou District Wuqiao Branch. Two days later, she was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient as her NAT result was positive. At the noon of February 9, Li was transferred to Chongqing Three Gorges Central Hospital Baian Branch for isolated treatment.

Li aged 25 years old has received closed attention from the doctors since her transfer. Apart from monitoring on internal medicine and COVID-19, obstetricians and nurses have provided close care for the baby at the same time.

Peng Zhoujie, deputy director of the Neonatology Department of the hospital, is a participant of An’an’s case. “We convened a meeting at 6:30, and it lasted until 8:30,” Peng said the meeting involved staff from the departments of gynecology & obstetrics, neonatology, anesthesiology, infections, operating room, and respiratory medicine, so as to rapidly formulate a detailed therapeutic scheme for the patient via a consultation.

12 escorts operating for the new life

“The baby’s cry is loud and clear!”

At 23:46 on February 11, as An’an’s cry sounded through the operating room, the nurse went outside and announced the safety of the mother and her baby.

Li named her baby “An’an” (literally safety) to appreciate the frontline medical workers’ efforts on bringing safety to them and lay her wish for the lifetime safeness of the child.

Eight people were working in the operating room, and another four section chiefs were watching outside in case of a possible emergency. According to Xiang Shaojian, in general, five persons are enough for such a surgery.

Subdistrict official as the “courier” for An’an

Since An’an’s parents are confirmed as COVID-19 patients, other family members who have taken care of her were recognized as close contacts and isolated for medical observation.

“We can’t stop being worried because none of our family can take care of her now.” An’an’s aunt Ms. Qin said all necessities had been prepared before her birth, but they couldn’t do anything after that.

Unexpectedly, an official from the subdistrict office warmed their heart. “Warm quilts, milk powder and clothes were newly bought and sent to the hospital.” Yang Fan at the Emergency Office of Baianba Subdistrict, Wanzhou District said that they went to several places to find the necessities one by one as per standards and spent about RMB 1,200 for them.

Three hours to build an independent ward for An’an

The hospital has begun building a newborn isolation ward since An’an was born. It took them three hours to complete the ward, which is equipped with everything needed for a standard newborn ward.

Currently, the whole floor only accommodates a baby.

In order to nurse the mother well, Xie Yongmei, head nurse of the Severe Case Emergency Area, asked for a set of nursing technical documents on cesarean delivery from the head nurse of the Obstetrics Department.

There are nine nursing items in the documents, among which a requirement on electrocardiograph monitoring is quite meticulous: test every half an hour, four times in total; test every 1-2 hours, twice in total; after the patient is stable, test once every 2-4 hours.