JOHOR BARU: The Johor Health Department will probe the incident of a woman who gave birth alone in a labour room at the Sultan Ismail Hospital here.

       State Health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu said initial checks found that the 36-year-old woman, who was about to deliver her fourth child, went to the hospital at 5.33am on July 23.

       “The patient was 39 weeks pregnant and had been experiencing early signs of giving birth.

       “She was also a close contact to her husband who tested positive for Covid-19,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 2).

       He added that the patient was examined by a medical officer and warded in the isolation room at 10.18am while waiting for her Covid-19 PCR test.

       Dr Aman said the patient was then moved to the labour room after the test result came back positive for Covid-19.

       “The room was a bit far from the nurses' counter.

       “The medical officer and nurse put on their personal protective equipment (PPE) and conducted another examination on the patient at 4.26pm.

       “A specialist had suggested surgical delivery by C-section owing to concerns over her cervix dilation and irregular contractions," he said, adding that the patient was then prepared for surgery.

       Dr Aman added that the birthing process occurred unexpectedly while the woman was in the labour room, however, at least six hours earlier than anticipated.

       He said the patient gave birth alone and was found with the baby on the bed with her.

       According to the woman's claims, which went viral on social media, she had called for help several times, even after delivering the baby.

       She claimed to have called for help for at least 10mins, while hearing laughter and talking from outside, and a nurse only came in after she shouted at the top of her voice.

       Dr Aman explained that it took time for the nurses to put on PPE before they could render assistance to the patient.

       “As to her claim of hearing laughter, it was probably coming from the labour room next door that was conducting a vacuum-assisted birth delivery,” he said, adding that a thorough investigation would be conducted and improvements made where necessary.