Where is my baby, mom asks after beating Covid-19 in ICU
C-section delivery while she was sedated
THIRTY-SIX weeks pregnant when she developed severe Covid-19 complications requiring weeks in intensive care, an eManzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, mother has beaten the odds to be discharged from Netcare Kingsway Hospital and be with her newborn baby.
Sedated and on a ventilator, Nokuthula Gumede fought for her life in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) for three weeks, during which time her baby boy had to be delivered by caesarean section on July 17. Even though she had no memory of her time under sedation, or of the birth of her baby, Gumede’s very first words when she came around from sedation were, “Where is my baby?”
Netcare Kingsway Hospital general manager Anna Demetriou said: “Ms Gumede was in a serious condition and developed several complications, including a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in her right leg, during her weeks in ICU, so she made a truly remarkable recovery which the staff at the hospital are all celebrating. Her partner, who says that he would sometimes sit in his car outside the hospital and send her thoughts of strength and courage, considers her survival nothing short of a miracle.
“When Ms Gumede was taken off ventilation and was brought round, she felt so overwhelmed with everything that had happened that she was extremely emotional and crying uncontrollably.
“I think that thoughts of her little baby boy motivated her to recover, and it was indeed special to witness her meeting her precious baby in hospital for the first time after almost a month,” Demetriou said.
Being pregnant and feeling unwell, Gumede went to Netcare Kingsway Hospital on July 13, 2020 and was immediately admitted for a suspected Covid-19 infection, a diagnosis that was confirmed the following day.
Her treating pulmonologist, Dr Sabeer Abdool Gaffar, says she was coughing and suffering from shortness of breath.
X-rays revealed Covid-19-related pneumonia in both lungs and she was admitted to the hospital’s ICU and placed on a ventilator to support her breathing.
Gumede’s condition deteriorated rapidly over the next couple of days.
Dr Gaffar, gynaecologist Dr Nitasha Magan, and nephrologist Dr Priyesh Mody consulted and together concluded that the baby would have to
be delivered immediately via caesarean section in order to save the mother’s life.
“Even though delivered four weeks early, the little boy thrived under the care of the dedicated maternity and neonatal ICU staff and was showered with love and encouragement until such time as he was discharged from the unit,” Demetriou said.
“Ms Gumede’s eldest daughter, Anele Samkelisiwe, committed to keeping her little brother well and took him under her wing while her mother was ill. She spent many hours with him in hospital, bonding and getting to know his intricate habits. Confident that her mother would beat the virus, she showed the most wonderful and inspiring commitment to her mother and her little brother.”
Gumede was discharged home from hospital on August 21, and although she is still weak and undergoing physiotherapy to assist her to walk once more and using a walking stick, she continues to recover strongly. She will remain on a blood-thinning medication for the next six months in order to reduce the risk of her suffering any further blood clots.
“The medical and nursing team of the neonatal and adult intensive care units and the maternity unit were absolutely amazing and extremely professional.
“Their support to me was outstanding and I would like to thank them all for this,” Gumede’s partner said.