What do you think when you see a cyclist, football player or other athlete with an oxygen mask (not illegal since oxygen is natural, though some may object that 21% atmospheric oxygen is natural but 100% tank oxygen is not natural)? The more the better, right?Well, that's what neonatologists thought a few decades ago who gave premature babies continuous 100% oxygen. It turns out though, that high oxygen levels stimulate blood vessel formation--normally a good thing, but not in the retina, which such proliferation can cause blindness.
Enter Helena, who was born premature 34 years ago, given 100% oxygen and blood transfusions as well (premature babies are often severely anemic). Fast forward: Helena is blind, HIV positive, and pregnant. Oh, and as another consequence of prematurity, her cerebrospinal fluid doesn't circulate so she has a plastic shunt draining excess fluid away from her brain into the regular vascular system. A couple of hours hard pushing could disrupt the shunt. And did I mention she's breech?
Well, the baby was turned by one of my colleagues, and we are now waiting for spontaneous labor.
