An enlisted officer of the U.S. Navy has given birth on Sunday, Sept. 11, while aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier. Reports stated that the sailor was initially complaining of stomach pains around Saturday, and then she delivered her baby. It was unclear if she was aware that she had been pregnant all this time.
The unnamed sailor and the rest of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower crew have been sailing in the Persian Gulf to aid other military personnel in fighting the ISIS. Assisting in the birth of a child on the ship was perhaps the last thing the crew expected to do. However, some nine hours after the female crew member complained of having stomach problems, she gave birth to a seven pound baby girl.
Authorities said that both the mother and the child are doing fine and healthy, reports Navy Times. Fortunately, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower's practitioner on board is also trained in delivering babies. Daily Mail reports that many of the personnel on the ship also had training in assisting women who give birth.
According to Pilot Online, it is Navy policy for women to advise their superiors of their condition when it has been confirmed by doctors. As a matter of health and safety, pregnant sailors are supposed to be aboard a ship until they are 20 weeks pregnant only. After that, they will not be allowed to deploy until they have given birth and recovered from the pregnancy.
The Navy also provides annual tests, but spokesperson Commander Bill Urban said that the sailor's condition was not made known to her chain of command. Reports say that the new mom might also have not been aware that she was with child.
For now, mom and baby remain with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower instead of being sent back home. Baby supplies, including an incubator, have also been brought to the ship. "We are now focused on caring for the health and welfare of our sailor and the newest member of our Navy family," said Commander Urban in the reports.
