Sailor Gives Birth on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf

Dealing with unforeseen events is part of the job and life of sailors and other mariners, but assisting with childbirth on a naval aircraft carrier engaged in air operations is completely unexpected. On Sunday, September 21, an American sailor gave birth to a child on the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The aircraft carrier left Norfolk, Virginia, on June 1 (12 Khordad) this year, and this female sailor, who serves in the flight department of the ship, was apparently unaware of her pregnancy. According to Captain Bill Urban, spokesperson for the U.S. Fifth Fleet, this sailor, who suffered from abdominal pain on the weekends, visited the medical department of the Eisenhower, but it soon became clear that she was pregnant and very close to giving birth. Fortunately, one of the ship's general practitioners, who also had midwifery experience, rushed to assist the pregnant sailor and helped her deliver her baby. The newborn, weighing seven pounds (three kilograms and 370 grams), was born at 4:35 AM local time. In this regard, the spokesperson for the Fifth Fleet stated: 'Since the baby was born on a ship on a combat mission, the safety of the mother and child was the focus of the Navy and the ship's crew, and therefore, the mother and child were transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Bahrain for postnatal care.' Before this flight, at the request of the ship's medical department, baby formula, diapers, and a special device for premature infants were flown to the ship by helicopter. According to U.S. Navy regulations, women in this force can only serve on ships until the 20th week of pregnancy, after which they must continue their work in shore-based jobs. According to the U.S. Navy website, female personnel are required to inform their direct commander of their physical condition within two weeks of confirming their pregnancy to ensure timely and necessary service arrangements. Captain Bill Urban stated that commanders of ships at sea are obligated to disembark women who have not timely informed their direct commanders of their pregnancy as soon as possible so they can work in shore facilities and bases. This is not the first time an American sailor has given birth on a ship on a mission. According to the spokesperson for the Fifth Fleet, thirteen years ago in May 2003, a U.S. Marine stationed on the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer gave birth while at sea in the Persian Gulf. The USS Eisenhower, which has been assigned to the Fifth Fleet (the naval branch of Central Command or CENTCOM) in the Persian Gulf for seven months, is participating in Operation 'Inherent Resolve' of the coalition countries against ISIS in air operations against this group's positions in Iraq and Syria. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, operational since 1977, is one of ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. This ship has a displacement of 101,600 tons, a length of 332.8 meters, and a width of 76.8 meters. Its draft is 11.3 meters, and its height is 74 meters, with a maximum speed of 31.5 knots (58.3 kilometers). The ship's personnel number 5,680, of which nearly 2,480 are flight crew. The ship can carry 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.