Ann’s Story
“Will my baby survive? Is he going to make it?” These were the questions Ann kept asking the nursery nurse. This was after she gave birth to her son at 30 weeks.
Ann confidently shared her testimony one Wednesday morning after our weekly chapel service. She told of how God has been faithful to her throughout her journey after she delivered in our facility. We later ran into her at the nursery, where she was happily staring at her baby. She tells her story:
Ann had learnt about Kijabe Hospital in 2018 when her three-month-old son developed complications.
She became pregnant in January 2022. This was quickly followed by quite a number of complications. Her friend suggested that she visits Kijabe Hospital. Upon her arrival, Ann was scheduled for an initial Gynecologic exam and further follow-ups during her pregnancy. She also discussed her previous miscarriage in December 2021. “The doctors recognized my condition and took excellent care of me. I was scheduled for clinics at monthly intervals, which I strictly adhered to,” Ann explains.
She began experiencing pains at 28 weeks, which worsened over time. She returned for another examination and was given medication. This was followed by a two-week period of bed rest. The pain did not go away, so she returned to the hospital.
“I couldn’t wake up the moment I was placed on that bed because of the pain I was experiencing,” recalls Ann.
The doctors assured her that her condition would be well handled. This soothed her heart.
After being admitted, Ann had an ultrasound done. Her contractions and the baby’s heartbeat were assessed. She was transferred to maternity where she started to experience severe pains.
The last thing she remembers is being taken to the theatre. After the CS, Ann woke up in the ward. The nurse asked her if she felt awake and ready to see her baby.
“Isn’t the infant in my belly? Isn’t the baby with me…?” She kept asking the nurse these questions.
The nurse explained to her as much as she could and offered to take her to the nursery when ready to see her tiny baby boy. Later in the day, when she was stronger, she made her way to the nursery with the help of a nurse.
She was shocked to see her son. He was so small. She wondered why he had so many wires attached to his body.
“Is he going to survive?” she asked. For a moment, Ann decided she was not going to stay around and take care of such a tiny baby. She had given up. Dr Arianna kept assuring her that she would take good care of her baby and that she would not have to worry.
“Pauline was the first nurse who helped me through the whole journey. She taught me how to express milk, feed the baby, change his diaper, even when I was scared of holding his little body. She also trained me on skin-to-skin contact with my baby. Her kindness made me have a good experience as a mother, better than I expected,” narrates Ann.
She remembers her baby “forgetting to breathe,” as they say. She became frightened after seeing the oxygen level drop and thought she was about to lose her child. Following Bob’s explanation, she understood this better and would help other new moms in the nursery. Bob is one of our paediatric clinical officers.
She says that besides caring for her and the baby, the nurses also offered her a shoulder to cry on in times of need.
Christian Paul, Ann’s son, is now three months old and doing very well.
Today, we celebrate World Prematurity Day to raise awareness on premature birth which sometimes has devastating impact on families. A parent’s embrace, is a powerful therapy.