Brava: Young woman accuses Health Department of negligence during childbirth

A 30-year-old woman, Dilma dos Reis, today accused the Brava Health Department of “negligence and neglect” during the birth of her lifeless daughter.

Speaking to the press, she said that she had already completed the nine months of pregnancy, during which she had medical follow-up along with the island's obstetric nurse, and all routine appointments went smoothly and without any complications during that period.

The young woman said that, on the 18th of June, she had her last ultrasound and the doctor told her that everything was fine with the baby.

“On the 21st of July I felt pain and went to the hospital at night and was attended to by the nurses on duty, who diagnosed high blood pressure and it was not possible to find the fetal focus”, said the young woman.

Therefore, the nurses called the health delegate and the obstetric nurse who also confirmed the absence of the focus.

After this observation, the patient advanced that the doctor informed her that if she stayed until the next day without the baby being born, she would have to be evacuated.

“My indignation was the suffering I went through and the effort I made until dawn, knowing that the baby was already dead. An immediate evacuation would not bring the baby to life, but perhaps they would do a cesarean section and the suffering would be less”, said the source, recalling that it is common knowledge that the island does not have the conditions to carry out a cesarean section or another exam. .

Despite the suffering, the young woman stressed that she had no explanation for the reasons that led the child to die while still in the womb.

She also pointed out that that day the hospital was without water and, having given birth around 07:30, she had to wait until the end of the day without doing personal hygiene.

Contacted by Inforpress, the health delegate, Júlio Barros, confirmed the arrival of the pregnant woman on the night of the 21st of July, with pelvic pain and no fetal focus.

The doctor added that the pregnant woman reported that since dawn she had not felt the fetus move and, due to the length of time taken, the fetus no longer had intrauterine life.

According to the Health Officer, the patient was assisted by the nurses on duty who called him, and the obstetric nurse, for the assessment of the case.

The doctor reinforced that when they did not detect the fetal focus, the gynecologist on the island of Fogo was informed about his evacuation, but the doctor explained that by the time it took her home, the fetus no longer had intrauterine life and would be given its evolution to expel the normal fetus.

“We followed the same gynecological indications and at dawn it ended up expelling the stillborn baby”, said the doctor.

According to the same source, they have already spoken with the patient, even in the midst of pain and anguish due to the loss of the baby and have given all the necessary assistance.