Expectant mom in dead baby ordeal

File picture: Debbie Yazbek

File picture: Debbie Yazbek

Published Feb 14, 2016

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Johannesburg - A pregnant Joburg woman is to spend another week in hospital after suffering serious infection from spending days with her dead baby inside her womb.

This after doctors at Thembisa Hospital postponed the delivery.

The woman, identified only by the name Alice, allegedly carried the corpse of her baby girl inside her womb as hospital staff delayed assisting her.

Her employer, Melanie Basson, told The Sunday Independent that the woman went to Tembisa Hospital to give birth to a baby girl after her water broke at about 8am on Wednesday, February 3.

“She first went to the clinic, where they sent her to Tembisa Hospital. Her cervix did not open and they induced her from Thursday (February 4) until yesterday, Monday (February 8).

“At 6.20pm (February 8), she had tremendous pain, but was not sure if it was contractions or her womb. An hour later the baby was dead,” said Basson.

“She was still walking around with the dead baby inside her and I couldn't seem to get any action out of the hospital,” she added.

The Sunday Independent couldn't get access to Alice as she was asleep when she was contacted.

Gauteng provincial health spokesman Steve Mabona confirmed the incident. “She was initially assessed to be in good health. Clinicians had to wait for a medical process to happen, which unfortunately did not and as such preparation for inducing labour was inevitable.

“Her medical situation did not improve after 24 hours, which was on Saturday, February 6.

“Subsequently, she was rested for about 24 hours. Another attempt was made, unfortunately it was not successful. Taking cognisance of her medical history, a medical procedure was scheduled for Tuesday, but was deferred to Wednesday because of other competing emergencies,” said Mabona.

A Pretoria-based medical practitioner, who asked not to be named, explained that stillbirth was the term used when a pregnant woman's baby dies in the womb from natural causes after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Sadly, Alice lost her baby when South Africa was celebrating Pregnancy Week, which started on Monday and ends today. The event is aimed at strengthening health awareness during pregnancy and a safe transition to motherhood.

“We don’t need fancy gadgets, just one simple intervention: antenatal care,” said neonatologist Dr Ricky Dippenaar. “In our country, we are still behind in antenatal care. If women would have regular antenatal visits during pregnancy, we would see fewer complications during childbirth,” he added.

Mabona said to avoid complications during pregnancy and birth, the department has implemented a programme which promotes every day as an antenatal care-day.

Sunday Independent

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