A sorrow from OTCs
*Rose came to the hospital already in labour. Her contractions were good so we closely monitored her. The foetal heart rate, as checked using a foetal scope, was also good. Her labour was generally progressing well.
Her husband was very supportive. He stayed beside her and gently massaged her back cooing words of comfort when the intensity of pain increased. This was their first baby—no wonder the anxiety and excitement, clearly evident from their eager questions and cooperation.
I performed an internal examination on her, to check the cervix, and found that she was 9cm dilated. I encouraged her to get off the bed. held her hand and the three of us walked slowly to the delivery room where I got her ready for birthing. After a while, she was 10cm dilated so I instructed her to push the baby out. But her second stage of labour was taking longer than expected: I called in the doctor who ensured that the process was alright and after a number of more pushes, out came a baby girl.
She had malformations: short arms with just one finger on the left hand, a short neck, and cleft palate. I took the baby to wipe her and keep her warm. Her short breaths indicated that she needed some oxygen, which we administered. In the meantime. Rose’s husband had walked out of the delivery room shortly after seeing the baby. And from the air in the room. Rose could tell something was wrong.
‘What is the problem? Is my baby alive?’ she asked. The paediatrician had been called in to explain the problem to her. He told her that the baby was alive but had some special features.
‘Can I see her?* Rose cried. There were even more tears as she pleadingly asked the doctor whether her baby had a chance to live.
Rose’s husband on the other hand was convinced that the baby was bewitched—adding onto Rose’s devastation. The baby stayed with the mother for two days then succumbed and passed on. We had to take Rose for guidance and counselling so that she could cope with the loss.
As it went on, I asked Rose if she had taken any OTCs (over the counter drugs) while pregnant. She agreed that she had frequently visited the chemist whenever she felt unwell. And never at any time did she mention her expectant status to the pharmacists, not privy to the caution that all expectant mothers should seek medical advice before taking any medicine because some drugs affect the baby, especially during the first and second trimester. This is the period when the organs are formed.
Reasons why a baby is born with congenital malformation include: exposure to radiation, use of drugs that cross the placenta barrier, genetics among other reasons.
I also learned that Rose had started attending the clinic very late: at her seventh month of pregnancy. A woman should start attending clinic as soon as she realizes she is pregnant. This is important because an ultrasound scan is done to detect any malformations the baby may have providing a platform to counter the condition from getting out of hand.
Rose was later discharged after undergoing extensive counselling and her immediate family members being advised to support her.
*Not her real name.
END: PG21/20