20/09/2012

Solider Gives Birth In Afghanistan Unaware She Was Pregnant

A British solider in Afghanistan has given birth to a baby boy having been completely unaware she was pregnant.

The servicewoman gave birth on Tuesday in Camp Bastion, in the Helmand province, the Ministry of Defence have confirmed, saying: "Mother and baby are both in a stable condition."

The woman, a Royal Artillery gunner who has not been named by the MoD, only learned she was about to give birth after complaining of stomach pains.

The child was conceived before she arrived in Afghanistan in March.

In a statement, the MoD said: "It is not military policy to allow servicewomen to deploy on operations if they are pregnant. In this instance the MoD was unaware of her pregnancy."

A specialist paediatric team from Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital is to fly to Afghanistan in the next few days, the statement added, "in order to provide appropriate care for mother and baby on the flight home".

The baby was born five weeks prematurely.

(H)

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