By Maryanne W. Waweru

In this article, I feature the story of Betty Mueni, a 33 year old mother of two who is currently undergoing the throes of complications from a caeserean section. So what exactly happened? This is Betty’s story, in her own words.

“My second pregnancy was easier than my first, save for a few issues here and there to do with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure readings, both of which were managed well.

Having delivered my firstborn daughter vaginally, I was 100% sure that I would deliver my second child vaginally as well.

On 10 August 2020, I went for my last check up. I was 41 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure (BP) had been a little bit high in my last visit and with my history of gestational diabetes, the doctor booked me for induction early the following morning.

On 11 August 2020 at 6am, I was given my first set of medication. By 2pm, I had still not started experiencing any pain. However, the foetal heartrate monitoring machines noted that my baby’s heart rate was not normal.

At 7pm, while waiting for the second set of medication, the doctor came in with some not-so-good news. My baby needed to be removed immediately. In less than five minutes, I gave my consent for surgery –something that I was completely unprepared for. I was so scared!

I was quickly wheeled into the theatre and in no time, my son was delivered via caesarean section. He cried normally, was received by the Paediatrician, and I saw him before he was taken away.

Then it was time to close my tummy.

I however sensed that something was not right because the doctor kept on complaining about something I could not understand. It is only later on I learned that my platelets were low, that my blood was not clotting, that’s why he was having a hard time closing me up. Nevertheless, the team managed the situation and I was discharged after three days.

Two weeks later when I went for my scheduled appointment with the Gynaecologist, I mentioned that I was feeling like there was something hard and painful in my stomach. The Gynaecologist examined me and referred me for a pelvic scan. Since it was already late, she instructed me to send the results via WhatsApp.

As I was doing the pelvic scan, the look on the face of the Radiologist told me that all was not well. I was later to be informed that I had a haematoma (an abnormal collection of blood outside of a blood vessel) of about 517 ml. I sent the results to my Gynaecologist as instructed and went home.

On reaching home at about 8pm, the Radiologist called me and told me that I needed to go to hospital, that she had already spoken to the Gynaecologist on call about my case. She mentioned about the possibility of me going back to the theatre.

I immediately rushed to hospital, while in a state of panic and anxiety. At the hospital, the Gynaecologist on call sent me to the general doctor who prescribed some medication, saying that the clot would clear. He asked me to return after seven days for review.

When I shared this information with my regular Gyanaecologist, she advised me to go home and return after seven days as advised, but from her tone, I sensed that she was not very much at ease about it.

Seven days later (now three weeks post-partum), I returned to hospital for review where I was told that the clot had reduced to 350 ml. The fluid was still a lot and very risky for me.

After discussing with the Gynaecologist, she referred me to an interventional Radiologist, who would help drain the blood clot without me having to go to theater.

This was yet another complicated procedure that involved drilling some tubes through my stomach, guided by an ultrasound machine, while the draining of the blood continued through tubes. I stayed with the tubes for two weeks at home, which were draining the blood. I managed to drain 260ml.

When I returned to hospital, a scan showed that the clot was now remaining 40ml. The doctor said that this would be absorbed by the body. The tubes were removed and I was relieved that my troubles were over and I could concentrate on my baby. I even started taking a 20-minute evening walk.

But trouble was yet to strike again when I started feeling intense pain in my tummy. A trip to the hospital and a scan showed that I had another hematoma, which now had pus of about 25ml around the CS wound.

Before the doctor could even determine the method the pus would be drained, it burst open😧! This called for emergency surgery and I was wheeled back to theatre. I was nine weeks postpartum. The procedure went well and the pus was drained, though the wound could not be completely closed. It was dressed and I was wheeled back to ward to recover.

Disaster would strike yet again when barely two hours later, I start actively bleeding from the wound! This had to be addressed immediately to prevent excessive blood loss. This was yet another very painful and teary ordeal. Thankfully, all went well.

As I share this story, I have an open wound around the part of the CS incision. I go for wound dressing everyday for up to two weeks when the wound will be closed.

I hope, trust and believe that this will be the end of these complications. It has really been a bumpy road – not forgetting the challenges of a newborn – colic, the cries and a flu in in between. How I have made it this far is only God. But I still have my smile on and I’ve learnt to live one day at a time.”

And that is Betty’s story. We pray for her complete healing and recovery. Did you experience a childbirth complication? Write to me at maryanne@mummytales.com 

You may also like to see Mary’s inspiring story below:

Mummy Tales is a blog that contains lots of helpful articles that will help you navigate your motherhood journey. Feel free to search the blog for other experiences of Kenyan moms that may teach you a thing or two. You can also follow me on Facebook, You Tube, Twitter and Instagram.