Woman performed one-hour-long C-section on herself using a kitchen knife with no medical training
Warning: This article contains graphic content which some readers may find distressing. Childbirth can be one of the most painful and difficult experiences. But for one woman in Mexico, it became even harder when she had to deliver her baby all by herself.
This amazing story happened in the year 2000 in southern Mexico. The woman, named Inés Ramírez Pérez, lived in a very small village. Her home had no electricity, no running water, and no proper bathroom.
When Inés went into labor, she found herself in a very dangerous situation. There were no doctors, no nurses, and no other adults around to help her. After 12 hours of labor, her baby still wasn’t coming, and the pain was unbearable.
Why Did She Perform Surgery on Herself?
Inés had already given birth to eight children before, but sadly, she had lost a baby once because of a difficult birth. She didn’t want that to happen again.
Speaking about the experience later, Inés said:
“I couldn’t take the pain anymore. If my baby was going to die, then I thought I would die too. But if there was a chance he could live, I wanted to live and watch him grow up.”
With no one around to help and no way to get to a hospital, Inés decided to do something incredible—she performed a C-section on herself.
How Did She Do It?
Even though Inés wasn’t a doctor, she had some experience from helping slaughter animals in the past. She decided to use that knowledge to save her baby.
Here’s what she did:
- She drank three small glasses of hard liquor to numb the pain.
- She grabbed a kitchen knife and began cutting into her own stomach.
- She cut through her skin, fat, and muscles, being very careful not to hurt her organs.
- Finally, she cut into her uterus and pulled her baby out.
It took her about an hour to finish the surgery. Once the baby was out, he started breathing and crying, which meant he was alive!
What Happened After the Baby Was Born?
After delivering her baby, Inés called one of her other children and told them to get help. A nurse came to her home and cleaned her wound. The nurse also stitched up the cuts Inés had made.
Then, Inés was taken to the nearest hospital, which was eight hours away. Doctors at the hospital were amazed by what she had done. They said she didn’t damage any of her organs and didn’t get an infection.
The doctors gave her antibiotics to keep her healthy. Incredibly, just 10 days later, Inés was fully recovered and was allowed to leave the hospital with her new baby.
Why Is This Story Important?
Inés’s brave actions helped save her life and her baby’s life. But her story also showed how hard life can be for people living in remote areas without proper medical care.
Her case inspired people to work harder to bring better healthcare to rural parts of the world, especially in poor countries.
This incredible story is a reminder of how strong and determined people can be, even in the toughest situations.
