Nurses failed to pick up baby had died days earlier

Sizeka Mbandezeli was turned away from the Delft South MOU, but when she was rushed to hospital a few hours later it was discovered that her baby had died inside her.

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Cape Town - Sizeka Mbandezeli was turned away from the Delft South MOU Clinic when she thought she was in labour, only to be rushed to hospital hours later and discover her baby had died inside her.

She gave birth to her dead baby and now the City is investigating her claims that staff at the clinic did not pick up that all was not well with her pregnancy.

Mbandezeli, 23, said on day she went to the Delft South clinic on May 10 in pain and anxious, as she had not felt her baby moving.

Nurses examined her and told her she was not in labour, her baby was fine and she should go home. She was eight months’ pregnant.

The pain continued and a few hours later Mbandezeli was rushed to the Delft day hospital by her sister Funeka.

She was transferred to Karl Bremer Hospital, where they discovered her baby had died about five days previously.

“On my arrival there doctors examined me and told me that my baby was long dead. He died five days ago,” she said.

Sizeka said she had been left distraught.

“I was looking forward to giving birth to my first child. I was over the moon. I went to the clinic for regular check-ups.

“They should have picked up that something was wrong with my baby,” she said.

Health Department spokesperson Emerantia Cupido said they will be thoroughly investigating the allegations.

“The department, together with role players and NGOs, have embarked on a programme that encourages health and wellness in pregnancy, termed the First 1 000 Days, which refers to the time from conception until two years of a baby’s life,” she said.

“We regret the negative experience that she underwent. The department always encourages effective, dignified and respectful treatment by its entire health-care staff.”

Funeka said she had been looking forward to welcoming the baby.

“Instead I saw an image I will never forget. My sister is lucky to be alive. She gave birth to a decomposing child.

“You can tell by the colour of an infant. It was not a normal colour of a human being. Not to mention its smell that filled the ward,” she said.

Sizeka claimed the doctors at Karl Bremer were surprised that nurses at Delft South Clinic failed to detect the child was dead.

“Doctors told me first time that my child died a long time ago and that it was my heart that was beating fast, which nurses confused with that of the baby,” she said.

The City’s health mayco member, Siyabulela Mamkeli, said the health directorate was saddened by the death of Sizeka’s baby and sent sincere condolences to her and the family.

“We view the allegations in a very serious light and we are investigating the matter.

“We therefore reserve comment until the facts of the case have been established,” Mamkeli said.

michael.nkalane@inl.co.za

@siyaks

Cape Times