Cape Town - A Mitchells Plain woman cannot bear to pack away the cot meant for her son, who died inside her when doctors at Groote Schuur’s maternity centre postponed his delivery.
The 29-year-old woman, who declined to be named, carried the corpse of her boy inside her womb, as there were no beds available to give birth to the dead child.
This is the third child she has lost at Groote Schuur. The first two were born premature, and both died. So far, it has been blamed on her Type 1 Diabetes.
The would-be mother knew that her third baby had high blood pressure and would have to be induced early. But after she had carried the pregnancy to 34 weeks, she hoped this child would survive.
“This was the one, we were so sure,” she said. “He was very active, he kicked back all the time. It was amazing.”
At 34 weeks, the mother-to-be packed her bags and checked into Groote Schuur as she had been instructed. She was monitored for weeks, then the induction was postponed. She was told to come back at 38 weeks.
“I lay there for 23 days,” she said. “They got my hopes up. Then they sent me home.”
On Tuesday last week, she checked back into Groote Schuur to be prepared for her induction the following day. “My baby kicked the whole night before, and when we got to the hospital. But when I went in for a scan, there was just no heartbeat.”
Two different nurses checked the scan. An hour and a half later, a doctor arrived and told her the baby was dead.
“If they had tried and he died, I could accept it, but they didn’t even try,” she said. “If they had fetched my baby at 36 weeks I’m sure he would have survived.”
With time running out to bury the child according to Muslim tradition, the mother was told that no beds were available to give birth to the body of her baby - and a Caesarean section was out of the question.
“I asked continuously, ‘isn’t there a bed available yet? How long must I walk with this child inside? The child is dead already, why can’t they take it out?’ “
She said the doctors gave her a brief explanation of what would happen.
“They said the baby will break up and I will give birth to him in pieces. So I must bury a limb here and a little finger there.”
She was given a bed and drugs to induce labour at 9pm on Wednesday, and delivered her child at 10am on Thursday – two days after her son’s heart stopped.
“I had to push out a 3.5kg dead baby,” she said, sitting on a cushion in her home.
Her cousin said her family weren’t the only ones desperate and frustrated in the maternity centre’s waiting room.
“There were so many mommies and daddies just as angry because they also had problems with their pregnancy, and were also sent back home. It’s so inhumane and unfair.
“There are no words to express how livid and sad we are. The cots, the baby clothes, the bath are standing all ready for the baby to come home.”
Now, the mother awaits the results of a placenta test.
“On behalf of Groote Schuur Hospital and the Maternity Centre we would like to extend our condolences to the family for their loss,” said Groote Schuur spokesman Alaric Jacobs. “Her induction was not delayed and was scheduled to take place as per provincial protocol which is strictly implemented at Groote Schuur Hospital. She had been counselled regarding the induction process and was induced the following day.
“This has been discussed with the parents on several occasions. The Hospital staff have offered to discuss the matter again with the parents and family. The parents have decided to take up this opportunity in early January (as a matter of their own choice).”
The woman said they were considering lodging a complaint with the Health Professions Council of SA.
Cape Argus