Charmaine Boois
Windhoek, July 25, 2023, A heart breaking incident at Katutura State Hospital has left a young mother devastated after the loss of her new-born baby. Anna Timoteus, 24, a recent graduate and unemployed, is now sharing her heart breaking story, claiming that her baby’s life could have been saved if she had received timely assistance during labor.
The incident occurred on June 9th, when Anna gave birth to her baby boy, who tragically passed away after just four days due to Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain before or shortly after birth.
In a candid interview with the Namibian Daily News reporter, Anna Timoteus expressed her grief and recounted the events that unfolded during her time at the hospital. She stated, “There is no justice that will bring my baby back, but I felt mistreated during my time of labor, and I want people to hear my story.”
According to Timoteus testimonial, her water broke on the 7th of June, and she was rushed to Katatura State Hospital by ambulance. Upon arrival, she was taken to the maternity ward, where she was put on a machine to monitor her baby’s condition. The health workers informed her that she needed to wait until her cervix dilated between 8-10cm before giving birth. However, as the night wore on, Timoteus claimed that she was left waiting in agony without adequate attention.
Throughout the labor, Anna encountered multiple doctors and nurses, but she could not recall their names. She described how she was repeatedly asked to wait and allegedly faced neglectful treatment during her painful labor.
“Before I they sent me to the birthing room on the 8th of July a doctor came to and let me sign a permission form for a C-section since they saw the baby is struggling to come out but promise to provide me something for the pain “said the mother .
When she was eventually admitted to the birthing room, it was discovered that her baby’s head was swollen, making it difficult for the baby to be born naturally.
As the situation became critical, a male doctor asked Timoteus to sign again another form for a C-section, which she did promptly. However, she alleged that the female doctor who first came to provide her a form scolded her for having the strength to sign the form but not to push the baby out.
“You only have strength to sign papers but not strength to push the baby out ” claimed the mother.
After hours of agonizing labor, the baby was ultimately delivered in the early hours of June 9th, but due to his condition, he was put in an incubator almost away. Throughout his brief life, Anna was unable to touch her baby or share special moments with him.
Despite the doctors’ efforts, the baby’s health did not improve. He was placed on an oxygen machine and fed through a tube. Tragically, on June 12th, he stopped breathing, and despite resuscitation attempts, he passed away. The news shattered Timoteus who was then advised to seek emotional support from her family during this difficult time.
The bereaved mother is now looking for explanations and justice for the death of her child. She said, “All I want is for people to read and know my story,” and questioned why she had not been transported to the operating room for a C-section as it was obvious that a natural birth was impossible because the baby weighed 3.175 pounds, which is impossible to deliver naturally .
The case needs to draw attention to the need for improved maternal care and timely medical interventions during childbirth. Anna Timoteus hopes her story will raise awareness about the importance of providing compassionate care to expectant mothers, ensuring their well-being and that of their babies.
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