37-year-old Kuwaiti refugee Dee* is 37 weeks pregnant this week. Her baby is currently in a breech, or feet first, position and she also has a large fibroid, or benign tumour, on the wall of her uterus.



Last week doctors were worried Dee would go into spontaneous labour and haemorrhage if she wasn't flown from Nauru to Australia immediately to give birth.

Now doctors have diagnosed her with the potentially life-threatening condition of preeclampsia and upgraded her status to critical saying she requires an emergency C-section in Australia as soon as this week. The Nauru medical centre does not have the staff or equipment to perform the high risk delivery, they say.

According to Doctors for Refugees, Dee was told by detention centre staff after an ultrasound on Friday that her baby was still in breech position and she should expect to deliver on Nauru.

Doctors for the group say there is a possibility she will have a major hemorrhage during the birth that requires a blood transfusion.

The symptoms of preeclampsia, which can be life-threatening to both mother and baby, include headaches, dizziness, high blood pressure and swollen hands, feet, ankles and face. Dee needs to be monitored closely and requires an urgent ultrasound to monitor the wellbeing of her baby.

Dr J, an Australian obstetric and gynaecology specialist who asked not to be named, agreed that Dee needs an immediate caesarian at 37 weeks.

"This is a critical situation now that requires urgent attention," Dr J told BuzzFeed News.

BuzzFeed News has confirmed Dee is still detained at the Australian-run detention centre on Nauru, despite a number of medical transfer flights leaving the island in the last week.



This is her first full-term pregnancy; she’s previously had at least one miscarriage on Nauru.