Visually impaired woman gives birth in Shanghai

A visually impaired woman recently gave birth to a healthy baby via natural birth at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, the hospital said on Thursday.

Both the mother, a woman in her 30s surnamed Di, and the baby girl, who was born on July 21, are in good health, the hospital said.

Senior doctor Li Xilian, who Di had seen for maternity checkups, and a midwife accompanied Di throughout labor.

Doctors said it is important for medical workers to use verbal guidance as it is difficult for visually impaired women to understand the relationship between their bodies and objects and spaces around them. The woman and her husband were taken to tour the labor room and ward before she gave birth to help her get familiar with the environment.

"Over the years, we've accumulated rich experience in ensuring the safety of special groups when giving birth and minimizing their psychological and physiological burdens," said Gu Weirong, assistant to president of the hospital.

"We've continuously optimized medical procedures, hardware support, and humanistic care to give more women the confidence of having babies," said Gu, who is also director of the hospital's newborn department.