Kisumu: Doctors at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) have successfully delivered a baby from an extremely rare and life-threatening abdominal pregnancy, in a case that specialists say is among the few documented globally. The infant, born at 38 weeks and weighing 3.2 kilogrammes, developed entirely outside the uterus inside the mother's abdominal cavity yet survived without visible deformities, defying typical medical outcomes associated with such conditions.

According to Kenya News Agency, the pregnancy falls under a true abdominal pregnancy, a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the foetus implants and grows completely outside the reproductive organs. "This is a very rare occurrence. In most cases, these pregnancies do not result in a live birth," said Maternal-Foetal Medicine specialist Dr. Kays Muruka, who was part of the team that managed the case.

Lead gynaecologist Dr. Gabriel Eliazaro said the condition poses significant risks to both mother and child, including severe internal bleeding. "When diagnosed early, we usually recommend termination because the survival chances are extremely low and the mother's life is at risk. Foetal mortality is above 90 per cent in such cases," he said.

In this instance, the baby survived by drawing blood supply from surrounding abdominal organs, including the intestines and major blood vessels, rather than from the uterus. The delivery required a complex surgical procedure after doctors discovered that the placenta had attached itself to critical internal organs, increasing the risk of life-threatening haemorrhage. "To avoid uncontrollable bleeding, we made the decision to deliver the baby and leave the placenta inside the body to be gradually reabsorbed," Dr. Eliazaro said.

The operation was conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Eliazaro and senior surgeon Dr. Owila Edward, with support from anaesthetists, nurses, and imaging specialists. The mother, Mercy Aduke, had initially experienced unusual symptoms, which she mistook for normal menstrual cycles. She later received conflicting medical assessments, including being informed at one point that the pregnancy had ended. It was only after further examination and referral to JOOTRH that the abdominal pregnancy was confirmed. "I was shocked when I was told I was pregnant. Later, I was advised to terminate it because it was risky, but I refused," she said.

Following the successful surgery, Aduke is recovering under close observation as doctors monitor the gradual absorption of the retained placenta, a process expected to take weeks or months. The newborn is currently admitted to the hospital's Newborn Unit in stable condition. Doctors have urged expectant mothers to seek early antenatal care and ultrasound screening to detect such high-risk pregnancies in time. "Early diagnosis is critical because many of these cases can be fatal if not managed properly," Dr. Muruka said.

The successful outcome highlights JOOTRH's growing capacity to handle complex medical cases within the public health system.