The last two days were hard. My stomach was upset and I didn’t sleep well.
We were called late Sunday, to come to the obstetrical ward. There was a patient who just came in with eclamptic seizures. She had already had three seizures at home and was unconscious. Her baby had died and she was completely dilated. We had to deliver the baby with forceps because she was unconscious. She had been subjected to female genital mutilation as a child and there where no labia and there was no clitoris. She was nineteen years old and had a tiny pelvis. I cringed as I put the forceps on praying I wouldn’t hurt her, but realizing that the quicker I could deliver her dead baby, the quicker her seizures would end and the better chance I had for her to survive.
The patient woke up from her post seizure coma yesterday after noon and couldn’t remember a thing. Today her family wants to take her home. They have no money to keep her here. We could pay, but the midwives prefer we don’t. It sets a precedent that is not sustainable. It’s hard to see her go.
What is going to happen to this girl? Is she going to heal up from her repair? Is her family going to bring her in for prenatal care next time so she doesn’t get eclampsia and so she doesn’t loose her baby?
I have all these questions. I am frustrated. I feel like I am just scratching the surface. There is so much underneath. So much I do not know about.
Yesterday, we had a patient come in with a retained placenta after a home birth 24 hours ago. Upon further examination it wasn’t just a retained placenta, but a placenta and a whole other baby. This is what happens if you have no prenatal care. The second baby was breech and dead. We did a breech extraction and removed both placentas. Today the patient’s blood count is 19%, half of a normal blood count. At least she has one baby that is doing well, but it will be a while before she feels better with that blood count.
She too will go home today. Will her family let her rest to recuperate? When will she be asked to fetch water or clean teff?
So many questions…..
