When I saw a stream of blood down my leg, I knew right there and then; it’s happening! My worst nightmare was coming true and I couldn’t believe it because it was already days after delivery. I have NEVER been that terrified ALL MY LIFE.
This is my story: SURVIVING PPH #Thread 🧵
This is my story: SURVIVING PPH #Thread 🧵
I tried to be calm, but I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. It felt like someone ripped out my heart and put it in speaker right next to my ears. I felt dizzy, so I sat down. I can’t tell if I was dizzy because of blood loss or the fear of becoming a statistic.
As we prepared to go back to the hospital, I tried so hard to appear calm; a big smile on my face but in my heart I was terrified. I knew it very well, PostPartum Hemorrhage is no joke. In a matter of seconds EVERYTHING COULD GO WRONG.
I asked for ONE thing: my rozary ring.
I asked for ONE thing: my rozary ring.
As a healthcare worker, I have attended a number of women who came with Postpartum Hemorrhage(PPH) and as scared as they were; none of them were as terrified as I was when it was me on the other side of the condition. PPH scares me as a doctor, but TERRIFIES me as a patient.
And for once in my lifetime, the saying “ignorance is bliss” really made sense because my knowledge on PPH really just made me more horrified.
On my way to the hospital, I was holding on my rozary ring and as crazy as this sounds; I couldn’t pray any other prayer than Mazinde Juu
On my way to the hospital, I was holding on my rozary ring and as crazy as this sounds; I couldn’t pray any other prayer than Mazinde Juu
school prayer.
I whispered, “Almighty and Eternal Lord, Father of the world to come, your goodness is beyond what our spirit can touch and your strength is more than what the mind can bear. Lead us to seek beyond our reach and give us the courage to stand before the truth..AMEN”
I whispered, “Almighty and Eternal Lord, Father of the world to come, your goodness is beyond what our spirit can touch and your strength is more than what the mind can bear. Lead us to seek beyond our reach and give us the courage to stand before the truth..AMEN”
I repeated that prayer so many times. As we arrived at the ER, my head was running with thoughts.
If anyone could hear my thoughts it was, “take vital signs, FBP, blood grouping and crossmatching, ultrasound, oxytocin, misoprostol, tranexamic acid, fluids, evacuation, massage” 😂
If anyone could hear my thoughts it was, “take vital signs, FBP, blood grouping and crossmatching, ultrasound, oxytocin, misoprostol, tranexamic acid, fluids, evacuation, massage” 😂
It’s funny now, it wasn’t funny then. For those who don’t understand the medical language, I was thinking of every possible thing that could be done and given to me to treat PPH. There’s really nothing funny with being a patient of something which first thing in management is to
CALL FOR HELP.
After all the initial management later I was laying on bed waiting to go to the theatre for evacuation under anaesthesia. The nurse brought my baby several times for breastfeeding and took care of her afterwards; changed diapers, bathed her as I laid on bed waiting
After all the initial management later I was laying on bed waiting to go to the theatre for evacuation under anaesthesia. The nurse brought my baby several times for breastfeeding and took care of her afterwards; changed diapers, bathed her as I laid on bed waiting
When it was time to go to the theatre; I was so afraid. I had taken that short journey to the theatre so many times, but as a medical student and then a doctor; NEVER AS A PATIENT.
I have held hands of my patients several times, listened to their prayers and duah as I responded
I have held hands of my patients several times, listened to their prayers and duah as I responded
AMIIIN.
That day, it was me saying the prayers and the nurse responding AMEN.
I got on the operating table, the lights were bright; maybe brighter than how I thought they would be. I laid there in Adam’s suit. It was cold. I felt vulnerable. I felt exposed. I felt exactly how so
That day, it was me saying the prayers and the nurse responding AMEN.
I got on the operating table, the lights were bright; maybe brighter than how I thought they would be. I laid there in Adam’s suit. It was cold. I felt vulnerable. I felt exposed. I felt exactly how so
many patients feel when they lay on that table. As the anesthesiologist prepared his drugs, they tried to clean me and it was painful, so painful that I was shaking. He advised to wait until I was under anesthesia to proceed.
As he pushed Propofol in my vein, I counted after him
As he pushed Propofol in my vein, I counted after him
“One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Sev…..”
I was out. When I came to, I was shifted to another bed back to the ward. Evacuation under anesthesia was done. And I thought about so many women who have done evacuation for
I was out. When I came to, I was shifted to another bed back to the ward. Evacuation under anesthesia was done. And I thought about so many women who have done evacuation for
many reasons; how painful it was, and I wished they got it while sedated.
Later the nurse bathed me, with hot water and it felt so good, so relaxing. I just stood there feeling the hot water thinking that this is what every woman deserves after delivery. I thought if public
Later the nurse bathed me, with hot water and it felt so good, so relaxing. I just stood there feeling the hot water thinking that this is what every woman deserves after delivery. I thought if public
hospitals adopt having biogas and/or solar systems, and build a hot water system like Mazinde Juu (except this is run by biogas/solar); then every mother can get that relaxing hot water shower in addition to the hot tea provided after delivery. It’s the bare minimum I think. 🙂
I got the bed and laid there beside my baby, thanking the healthcare workers and God for surviving postpartum haemorrhage.
See, this was a very big deal for me because Postpartum haemorrhage(PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality contributing 25% of all maternal deaths.
See, this was a very big deal for me because Postpartum haemorrhage(PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality contributing 25% of all maternal deaths.
In summary, postpartum hemorrhage(PPH) can be caused by several things including retained products of conception, trauma(cervical/perineal tears), uterine atony, infection etc.
It may occur immediately after delivery, within 24hrs or even several days after delivery.
It may occur immediately after delivery, within 24hrs or even several days after delivery.
To survive that is a testimony. Deep down I know so many women would survive PPH only if they had access to the care I received, if they understood what PPH was so that they would go to the hospital the moment they begin bleeding and if they could afford. Accessibility, Awareness
and Affordability. I believe these 3 can save so many women’s lives.
Mothers who experience PPH are also major consumers of blood and blood products; so here is a reminder to anyone reading this to donate blood to the nearest hospital as @ChangiaDamuTz encourages to save lives.
Mothers who experience PPH are also major consumers of blood and blood products; so here is a reminder to anyone reading this to donate blood to the nearest hospital as @ChangiaDamuTz encourages to save lives.
It is also a reminder about #HealthInsuranceForAll #BimaYaAfyaKwaWote as we are eagerly waiting to hear more about what the ministry is cooking for us. Health insurance really does help.
Again also a reminder to equip healthcare centers with the right manpower, equipments and
Again also a reminder to equip healthcare centers with the right manpower, equipments and
drugs to manage such conditions. Building new centers alone is not enough. Provision of services matters more.
And a reminder to MoH and other stakeholders including the media to raise awareness about Postpartum Hemorrhage, in order to create awareness to mothers and their
And a reminder to MoH and other stakeholders including the media to raise awareness about Postpartum Hemorrhage, in order to create awareness to mothers and their
caretakers to understand what PPH is and what to do when experiencing the condition.
After being discharged, I gifted myself a camera of my dreams for surviving PPH. I wondered, if not now then when? For not being a statistic, I surely deserved a lil’ congrats.
After being discharged, I gifted myself a camera of my dreams for surviving PPH. I wondered, if not now then when? For not being a statistic, I surely deserved a lil’ congrats.
Looking back today, so many lessons were learnt.
As a patient and as a doctor.
May the souls of those we lost because of PPH rest in peace.
Today, our focus is to reduce maternal mortality and to do that we have to fight Postpartum Hemorrhage.
Until next time🩸#DaktariMwandishi
As a patient and as a doctor.
May the souls of those we lost because of PPH rest in peace.
Today, our focus is to reduce maternal mortality and to do that we have to fight Postpartum Hemorrhage.
Until next time🩸#DaktariMwandishi
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