Emergency C-section performed in the dark during storm at Ogre hospital

On the night of August 22, as a powerful storm with strong winds and heavy rain swept across Latvia, an unusual scene unfolded at Ogre hospital, where a woman named Laura had to undergo an emergency caesarean section. The operation was not originally planned — Laura had hoped for a natural birth and spent several hours trying to avoid surgical intervention.

According to Laura, she barely noticed the storm raging outside during the active phase of labour, since the maternity ward and delivery room are located in a sheltered spot protected from the wind. Her husband, who stayed by her side throughout, kept her informed about how strong the wind and rain actually were.

Power went out just as surgery began

Laura says the electricity in the ward had already flickered on and off several times during her contractions, but the moment the doctor announced that surgery was necessary, the lights went out completely. She recalls that the doctor's reaction was calm and professional, showing no panic and simply adapting to work with an alternative plan.

Laura's doctor, gynaecologist and obstetrician Elizabete Ārgale, confirmed that the lights had also gone out in the delivery room itself, and that the patient's husband helped by lighting the space with his phone's flashlight. She noted that hospital management responded quickly, calling in technical staff from home already on Saturday night — a decision that proved important, as communication capabilities were lost shortly afterward. The hospital did have a generator, but conditions in the operating area remained dim until it was connected.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the operation went smoothly and a boy named Enzo was born. The doctor noted that the case serves as a reminder that childbirth happens regardless of external conditions, and medical staff must be ready to act in any situation.