DIARY OF A MATERNITY NURSE – Page 12

Shy Moments 2

My five-year old daughter asked me why my stomach was growing so big, and I told her that I was going to have a baby soon and the growing baby was filling my stomach. A few weeks later just around my due date I was entertaining some guests when she asked me, ‘Mummy, will the…

Shy Moments 4

‘Je, Ana Yake?’ My mother has never been impressed by my boyfriend and has time and again warned me against getting impregnated by him. Finally that has come to be the case and I was scared of telling her. Recently my boyfriend visited us because he and I had decided to tell Mum I am…

Vaginal examination — What it is and what to expect

Vaginal examination requires sensitivity Parting her legs to have a vaginal examination is one of the most challenging moments for a woman, especially if it is happening to her for the first time. Considering that it requires you to put aside your privacy for a while and to allow somebody else to ‘intrude,’ a vaginal…

Labour pains — Do you need anaesthesia?

Women who have previously given birth do not ordinarily have good news for those who have never done so. Labour is painful, a different kind of pain. Inexplicable. Josphine Kihi says, ‘There is nothing like labour pain. I cannot describe it. I have never felt that way in my life.’ From these expressions, new mothers…

Uterine Rupture – What it is and why it happens

Uterine rupture is a tear in the wall of the uterus, most often at the site of a previous caeserean section (C-section). In a complete rupture the tear goes through all layers of the uterine wall. The consequences of uterine rupture can be dire for mother and child. Fortunately, these ruptures are relatively rare for…

I had labour pains for 2 days!

Mid-November. Scared, uncertain and prayerful. My due date was just a week away and I recall asking my friends in college how painful labour was. Some of them were married with kids. ‘Not painful’, ‘Scary!, ‘Okay’, ‘Don’t even ask!’ were the various responses I got. While some responses raised my spirits, others got me more…

Dangers of prolonged labour

Prolonged labour suggests that labour has failed to progress normally, and is causing difficulties for the mother and child. Labour is said to have prolonged if it does not complete within 18 hours for first time mothers and 12 hours for mothers who have had a prior delivery. What could cause prolonged labour? Inadequate intensity…

Death in the uterus

Many women deliver stillborns, without getting to know the cause of their baby’s death. Even though Angelina lost her baby, she was lucky to know the reason behind her baby’s death—foetal distress. Knowing the cause of death of a loved one is part of the healing process, and puts the mind to rest. Causes Of Foetal…

Changes in your weight during pregnancy

In today’s society, most people (especially women) view wait gain with trepidation. The pregnancy period has a mandatory and compulsory weight gain requirement, for healthy foetal growth and development as well as energy source for mums

Ruptured UTERUS

A real life account as witnessed by a maternity nurse Her blood pressure was low and her skin pale because of losing a lot of blood. The baby was getting distressed because its oxygen supply was interrupted. It was an extremely dangerous situation for both mother and child. Alice (real name withheld) was rushed to…