No Heart Beat

As narrated by a maternity nurse

It was on a Sunday morning when I had just reported on duty. I received the handover report and by 9am, my colleagues and I were set to start off the day. Little did we know what awaited us.

Twenty six year old and 37 weeks pregnant ‘Becky shuffled into our office wearing a long face. I greeted her and offered her a seat. Reading the anxiety in her face and posture I asked her to take a deep breath and relax. After her countenance had relaxed and she could now peacefully recline to the back of the seat. I asked her how I could help. No sooner was I through with my question than tears welled up her eyes. Something was amiss.

I gave her the ‘go-on’ nod indicating that it was okay for her to narrate her predicament, in whichever state. She took a few more seconds to regain composure and relayed to me that her baby had not moved for more than six hours.

For a 37 weeks pregnancy, six hours of no kicking was worrying—thus calling for speedy attention. Having been taught at the midwifery school.

I knew better than heightening my patient’s anxiety. Stifling myself from doing a 100m dash, I semi-trotted for a stretcher.

I asked a colleague to book her in as I rolled her into the observation room, while re-assuring her about her baby. I advised her not to panic.

First check. I listened to the foetal heart rate: no heart-beat. Next check; still no heart beat. I dismantled the gadget and re-started it just to make sure that it was not the gadget that was at fault, then positioned it to search for the beat. Still nothing!

I took in a deep breath and asked her to seat up in preparation to give her my findings. Now the look in her face was too pleading for me to bring myself to tell her the baby’s heart beat was still at large. So to steady myself. I asked her to recline on the bed so we could do another sound check.

One more auscultating of the heart rate, and there it was!120-125 beats per minute. Wow! I quickly informed her that we needed an urgent obstetric ultrasound to establish the status of the baby. She had no objection and l ordered the scan and later wheeled her to the scan room.

The scan’s findings were a normal 37 weeks pregnancy with a heart beat of 125 to 130 per minute. However the baby movements were noted to be reduced and urgent delivery was necessary.

I warded her and informed her doctor of the scan findings, and he concurred that there was need for an emergency caesarean section.

He called the anaesthetist and the paediatrician and theatre was also alerted. I finally wheeled her to theatre and a caesarean section was done. A cord round the neck was noted after the baby’s head showed. It was the cause of reduced foetal movements. A bouncing baby girl was born.

The father, who had arrived while she was under anaesthesia, was beside himself. He had nothing to say but a string of ’thank you-s’ to the medical team and to the Almighty. Becky was reversed successfully from anaesthesia. The sight of her baby brought a light we had not hitherto seen in her face. Both recovered well and were discharged on day five.

Becky’s experience showed that should a pregnant woman note a lot of dullness about her unborn baby, she ought not to be embarrassed to call in for attention. This will help keep both baby and mum safe.

* Not her real name.

END:PG29/18

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