Rare Case: Baby Born Holding an IUD Device
In a delivery room in northern Vietnam, doctors expected a routine birth. Instead, they were met with an image that would soon travel around the world. A newborn baby, delivered safely at Hai Phong International Hospital, came into the world with something unusual in his tiny hand: his mother’s intrauterine device (IUD).
The obstetrician on duty, Dr. Tran Viet Phuong, described the moment as “interesting” rather than alarming. The mother, a 34-year-old woman who had received the IUD two years earlier, was astonished to learn that her chosen method of birth control had failed. But the viral photo of her healthy baby boy clutching the device made the story one of humor, irony, and wonder rather than tragedy.
How the Viral Photo Spread
After the safe delivery, Dr. Phuong snapped a quick photo of the newborn. In the image, the baby appears to be holding the small, T-shaped contraceptive device tightly in his hand.
“I thought it was interesting,” Dr. Phuong later told local media. “So I took a picture. I never expected it would gain so much attention.”
She was right about its reach. Within hours of sharing, the photo went viral across Vietnamese social media platforms and quickly spread internationally. Thousands of comments poured in, with users expressing amusement, amazement, and admiration.
One Facebook user wrote:
“This baby was destined to be born.”
Another recalled a similar case:
“Someone I know had this happen to her. Her baby was born holding her coil.”
Others simply laughed at the irony of a baby literally entering the world with the very device meant to prevent his existence.
A Mother’s Perspective
The baby’s mother, who wished to remain anonymous, had opted for an IUD after having two children. The device was inserted two years before her third pregnancy. By design, the IUD should have provided long-term, reliable contraception. But as doctors later explained, the device had likely shifted from its proper position inside the uterus.
That movement rendered it ineffective, allowing the pregnancy to occur. Still, the mother’s story had a happy ending: her baby boy was born healthy, weighing 3.2 kilograms (about 7 pounds), and requiring no special care.
What Exactly Is an IUD?
An intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most widely used forms of long-term contraception worldwide. Small and T-shaped, it is inserted into a woman’s uterus by a healthcare professional. Once in place, it works in one of two ways:
Copper IUDs: These contain copper, which acts as a natural spermicide. Copper ions create an environment toxic to sperm, preventing fertilization.
Hormonal IUDs: These release a small amount of progestin hormone over time, thickening cervical mucus and thinning the uterine lining, which reduces the chance of sperm reaching and fertilizing an egg.
Both types are considered highly effective, with success rates above 99%. In fact, fewer than 1 in 100 women using an IUD are expected to become pregnant in a year of typical use.
Why Do IUDs Fail?
Although rare, IUD failures can occur for several reasons:
Expulsion: The device may slip out of place, sometimes without the woman noticing.
Improper insertion: If the IUD is not positioned correctly in the uterus, its effectiveness is reduced.
Perforation: In extremely rare cases, the IUD may pierce the uterine wall, becoming displaced.
Natural changes in the body: Contractions or anatomical factors can shift the device over time.
In this Vietnamese case, doctors believe the device had shifted within the uterus, allowing conception to take place.
Medical Perspective
Doctors were quick to reassure the public that, while unusual, pregnancies with an IUD in place are not unheard of. Most often, if a pregnancy occurs, the IUD is removed early to minimize risks to the fetus.
In this case, the fact that the baby was born healthy and unharmed was a stroke of good fortune. Some online commenters even remarked on the “luck” of the child, noting that the IUD could have caused complications but did not.
Humor and Symbolism
Much of the online reaction was tinged with humor. The photo of the baby gripping the IUD almost seemed symbolic—a child arriving in defiance of medical odds, “holding victory” over contraception.
Social media users dubbed the baby “unstoppable” and “born to be here,” with many suggesting he will grow up to be particularly strong-willed.