Getting financially armed for your delivery
We had barely started the day one Friday morning when Stella* came rushing into the hospital anxious and hysterical. Her waters had broken just as her last trimester was approaching—at six and a half months. She had to undergo a medical examination to assure her that her unborn baby was safe. Stella and her husband Mutiso were expecting their third child, a child that was threatening to come too early. She had come previously for her antenatal clinic visits and no problem had been detected.
I rushed her to the emergency room, as instructed by the doctor who would attend to her. She was put on bed rest so that we could closely monitor her and her baby’s progress. In the two weeks that she was admitted, I got to talk to her every time I was doing the rounds and also had time with the husband when he came to visit her.
Two weeks passed with occasional visits from her family as we kept her under round the clock guard. Then one morning, I noticed that she was slowly developing hypertension and immediately informed the doctor, fearing a possible threat to both the lives of the baby and the mother. The doctor recommended dressing her up for theatre immediately: She had to undergo an emergency C-Section to save the situation. The moments that followed were a flurry of activity. We hurriedly collected our gowns, prepared the necessary tools and dressed the patient. She consistently asked whether her baby would be alright despite our constant reassurance that all would be well.
Calm, soothing words and efficiency was the name of the game for the next hour. A healthy baby girl was delivered, despite weighing a paltry 0.7kgs.
Baby Sally stayed in hospital for three months and incurred a huge hospital bill for the couple. This was a life-changing period in the life of the Mutiso’s as the financial emergency literally drained them. Because they had two older children, they had assumed that the third pregnancy would also be smooth. None of them had considered taking a cover that would cater for hospital expenses; something they both regretted.
Two years later, baby Sally is a healthy baby girl and the parents are great crusaders of taking insurance that can cover the delivery process and other baby expenses. Normally money issues do not arise in gynaecological or clinical visits but experience has taught me that it should be the first consideration to be made. A couple that is expecting a baby has plenty of time to shop around for a good hospital with good rates. Those that don’t have an insurance cover should save for a rainy day and for what they intend to spend come their baby’s delivery. When getting an insurance cover it is important to get the details about what they cover because most people have been frustrated by the companies at the last minute.
* Not her real name.
Normally money issues do not arise in gynaecological or clinical visits but experience has taught me that it should be the first consideration to be made.
END: PG24/15