November is World Prematurity Month. To honour and support the moms of preemies, we are sharing stories of moms who’ve been there and who can offer support from the other side of a long road. This is Kabelo’s story.
Tell us about the day your baby was born.
The day I was in labour, I thought it was just a running stomach until i was going to the toilet but not releasing anything but still felt the urge to go to use the bathroom. When I told my granny she said, ‘You are in labour !’ I laughed at her and said I still have two months to go, how is that possible. Early hours of that Saturday, I was hit by strong hunger pangs and that, to my granny, satisfied that indeed am in labour. It did not stop me from laughing and asking, ‘Why am I not feeling those pains you always told me I will feel?’
Since I wanted her to be at ease, we did go to hospital. When I told the receptionists of my symptoms she immediately sent me to labour ward. I started to be uneasy and scared. When we got to the labour ward, the matron looked at me and told me I should go stand in the queue and wait for black pills. I asked what they were for and she said they reverse early alarms of birth and she said, ‘See you in two months!’ as she smiled. After some time, a male student doctor came and asked the staff why I was in line. He asked me when I started feeling the labour pains and I told him that I am not having pains, am having nje a running tummy. He laughed and told me to lay on the bed so he could examine me… He looked astonished and scared because my child’s head was big and she weighed 2.4kg. He started shouting, ‘This child is over weight but you’re sending the mother back – why?’ I gave birth that same Saturday. On Sunday, I went home with a healthy premature baby who till to date never got sick still chubby as ever!
Can you describe some of the emotions you experienced during the early days and weeks with your baby?
Do you have any words of encouragement for a mom who is currently waiting for her baby to come home?
When the time is right God makes it happen.
Read more stories like this one.
Image credit: Shelly Shell on Unsplash