Kolkata: After enduring the
heartbreak of repeated second-trimester pregnancy losses and the uncertainty of
a condition that made carrying a pregnancy extremely difficult, a 34-year-old
woman’s journey to motherhood found hope through a rare and high-risk
surgical intervention at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass. Under the expert
care of Dr. Souptik Gangopadhyay, Consultant, Obstetrics &
Gynaecology, what began as a critically fragile pregnancy was successfully
carried to term, culminating in the birth of a healthy baby girl.
Bidisha Majumder, who was a dietitian by
profession and a resident of Garia, had a journey marked by repeated setbacks.
Her first pregnancy in early 2024 ended in a miscarriage. Later that year, she
conceived again, but at around 18–19 weeks in January 2025, she went into
sudden preterm labour and lost the baby in an emergency. It was during this
critical phase at that she came under the care of Dr. Souptik Gangopadhyay at
the hospital.
Subsequent evaluation revealed that
she was suffering from cervical incompetence, a condition where the
cervix is too weak to hold the pregnancy beyond a certain stage, leading to
recurrent second-trimester losses. In her case, the condition was attributed
to a congenital weakness of the cervical muscles.
Determined to try again, the couple
planned a third pregnancy, and she conceived around mid-2025. Given her
history, she was closely monitored and underwent a prophylactic cervical
cerclage (commonly known as McDonald’s stitch), which is a preventive
medical procedure used during pregnancy to reduce the risk of miscarriage or
preterm birth at around 13–14 weeks, this is a standard preventive procedure
performed vaginally to help keep the cervix closed.
Initially, the pregnancy progressed
well. However, at around 20 weeks, a routine ultrasound revealed a critical
complication, the cervical length had drastically reduced from a normal
3.5–4 cm to nearly 1 cm, and the amniotic sac (a thin, fluid-filled
membrane inside the uterus that surrounds and protects the developing baby
during pregnancy ) had started bulging through the cervix, signalling an
imminent risk of another pregnancy loss.
With limited options available, the
medical team recommended a laparoscopic rescue cervical cerclage, a rare
and highly specialized procedure performed through minimally invasive
surgery. Unlike the conventional stitch, this involves placing a suture
higher up near the internal opening of the cervix through the abdomen,
offering stronger support. The procedure is technically demanding and
carries significant risks, including bleeding, need for transfusion, and
complications due to surgery during an ongoing pregnancy.
After extensive counselling, the
couple chose to proceed with the surgery as a last resort. The procedure was
successfully performed on December 19, 2025. Following this, the patient was
kept under strict observation, advised complete bed rest, and monitored through
ultrasound every two weeks to ensure stability and foetal growth. As the
pregnancy progressed safely, and with the baby reaching a healthy weight, the
doctors planned a timely delivery to avoid any last-minute complications. On
March 28, 2026, a planned caesarean section was performed. The patient, Bidisha
Majumder, delivered a healthy baby girl weighing approximately 2.2 kg. Both
mother and child are currently doing well.
While discussing, Dr. Souptik
Gangopadhyay, Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, said, “This was a
complex case of recurrent second-trimester pregnancy loss due to cervical
incompetence, where even a prophylactic cerclage failed as the cervix
continued to shorten and dilate. In such situations, laparoscopic rescue
cerclage becomes the only definitive option, despite being a technically
demanding and high-risk procedure during an ongoing pregnancy. This is the
first case in our hospital where this procedure has been performed, and it
remains a rare intervention, with only a handful of such cases, around 2–3
reported across Eastern India. After detailed counselling, the couple opted
for the surgery as a last resort. The procedure was successfully performed in
mid-December, following which the patient was kept under strict observation,
advised rest, and closely monitored through fortnightly ultrasounds to ensure
stability and healthy foetal growth. As the pregnancy progressed without
further complications and the baby attained a healthy weight, we planned a
timely delivery. On March 28, 2026, a planned caesarean section was performed,
and the patient delivered a healthy baby girl weighing approximately 2.2 kg.
Both mother and child are currently doing well.”
Sharing his experience, Ronit Das,
a software engineer and the patient’s husband, said, “We had been trying for
the past 2–3 years, and going through two losses was emotionally exhausting for
us. When the same complication started happening again in the third pregnancy,
it was extremely stressful. Dr. Souptik explained everything very
clearly and gave us the option
of this rare surgery. It was a
difficult decision, but we trusted the team and went ahead with it. Today,
seeing both my wife and baby healthy feels like a dream come true.”
The case underscores the importance
of early diagnosis, timely intervention, and advanced surgical expertise of
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass in managing high-risk pregnancies, offering hope to
many couples facing similar challenges.