A brutal experience in an African Medical Ward

ClaireMelanieOgg · Feb 28, 2016

South Africa, 1993. I was a student nurse at a large Government training hospital, and was working on nights in the Medical ward.

It was 19h00, and the beginning of a 12 hour shift. A middle aged African woman had been admitted with gastritis by the previous shift, and was in obvious agony.

Looking at her I made a mental note to avoid whatever caused gastritis at ALL COSTS.

Her moans of agony continued as the evening wore on, so the RN called the Consultant in.

Whilst he was obtaining some history in the nurses station, the patient gave a really loud scream, which was sure to wake even the dead.

I was told to run and give her her pain medication, the RN handed me 2 tablets.

The woman was writhing in pain and sweating when I got to her room.

I was frightened for her, but tried to calm her, and gave her the medication.

She was shouting in Zulu (she didn't speak any English).

The RN came running in,followed by the Consultant, and told her to please keep her voice down. "Thula Mama, thula...." Thankfully the RN knew some Zulu.

But the patient was inconsolable.

The Consultant palpated her abdomen, and made the discovery that the patient was in fact pregnant, and was giving birth.

The RN sent me to get a receiver, and towels, whilst she helped the Consultant with the patient.

A small 24 weeker slid out of her just as I entered the room.

He was perfect, and still breathing, his little tongue was even moving around his mouth. I so hoped all would be ok, and now the patient would be alright.

But reality set in, as she didn't even want to look at her son. And the small foetus was placed into the cold receiver, still moving.

I was told to put the receiver into the sluice room, and leave it there. If the foetus was still alive in the morning then it would be taken to NICU.

I was going with the motions, and following orders. I wished I could have saved him, he was perfect.

The mother had, it turned out, given herself a herbal abortion.

GASTRITIS: Inflammation of the lining of the stomache. NOT to be confused with pregnancy!