BAJURA, OCTOBER 13

In a rare and inspiring case of medical dedication, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) in Bajura district saved the life of a newborn by performing artificial respiration continuously for nearly five hours. Health workers said the resuscitation lasted nearly five hours, involving intermittent artificial respiration and continuous monitoring until the baby's heartbeat and breathing stabilized.

The incident occurred at the Madi Community Health Center in Gaumul Rural Municipality–1 when 29-year-old Nisha Bohora was brought in for delivery early Monday morning. According to health workers, the baby's head was stuck in the womb while the legs were already out. After a complicated procedure, Bohora delivered a baby boy, her third child, but he showed no signs of breathing.

'We thought the baby had died,' recalled ANM Rama Thapa, who refused to give up. 'I started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and continued for hours until the baby's heartbeat and breathing returned.'

Born around 3:45 a.m., the infant took his first faint breath at 9:30 a.m. and cried for the first time around 10 a.m. 'That cry was the moment of hope,' Thapa said. 'We continued care, fed him with a spoon, and slowly he recovered.'

With no road access to the remote health center, transferring the mother and child to another facility was not possible. The entire team - including ANM Anita Rokaya, AHW Lalit Rokaya, and office assistant Manisha Bohora - worked together to save both the mother and baby, according to the health post.

The baby, weighing 2.6 kilograms at birth, is now in stable condition along with his mother under observation. Established two years ago, the Madi Community Health Center has been providing essential healthcare in one of Bajura's most inaccessible regions.

Gaumul Rural Municipality Chair Hari Bahadur Rokaya said the case reflects the extraordinary commitment of rural health workers who continue to serve despite poor infrastructure, limited equipment, and the absence of roads in Nepal's remote mountain communities.

How a newborn can survive prolonged resuscitation

Medical experts say newborns can sometimes survive prolonged periods without normal breathing due to unique physiological adaptations.

Low oxygen demand: A newborn's organs, especially the brain, can tolerate low oxygen for short periods after birth because they are still adjusting from the womb environment.

Resuscitation in stages: Continuous efforts, even if slow and manual, can gradually restore heartbeat and oxygen flow.

Intermittent breathing support: Health workers may alternate between mouth-to-mouth and gentle chest stimulation, maintaining oxygen supply until the baby begins breathing independently.

Lack of equipment: In remote areas without ventilators or oxygen, manual resuscitation remains the only lifesaving option.