IPOH: The country’s first hospital-based baby hatch, located at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital, received its first guest — an abandoned 7-month-old baby boy — on Monday evening.The infant, weighing 7.8kg, was left at the hatch at 4pm and is reported to be active and well-nourished.

However, his head circumference is larger than normal, says ISH’s medical director, Datuk Dr Fadzli Cheah Abdullah.
He said there were no other birth defects, adding that the infant had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus or accumulation of fluid within the brain.

“The condition can be treated by a simple neurosurgical operation, that is, by inserting a ventricular-peritoneal shunt.

“We believe the baby can grow up to be normal,” he said here yesterday.
Dr Fadzli said the baby was being placed under the care of the state Social Welfare Department.

He added that the operation could be done either at ISH or the Ipoh Hospital at the discretion of the department.

The hospital’s baby hatch was opened on Dec 27 to provide early treatment as well as protection to abandoned babies.
“If there are defects, we are prepared to help.

We place emphasis on the value that every newborn has the right to live.”

Read more: Boy is first baby at hatch http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/13huku/Article#ixzz1AAtsrp9M