Miracle baby, Stonei, gets baptised
Every day was stressful and all she had in her mind, was the negative report she received from the GP.
SECUNDA – Ms Shakira Naidoo (31) was not sure that she would see her baby girl after a bumpy pregnancy ride, but it all came together at Stonei’s baptism on Sunday, 10 March.
Ms Naidoo was in Durban on a recruitment trip in May last year, when she realised she was having morning sickness.
Having had two boys, aged six and 11, she just knew something was not right.
Although Ms Naidoo and her partner Mr Neil Conway (30) were not planning on having another baby, the news came as a shock, but a pleasant surprise for the both of them, as well as their family and friends.
She returned to Secunda a few days later and her first priority was to see a doctor to confirmher pregnancy and also to know how far along she was.
She visited the doctor and he confirmed that she was eight weeks pregnant.
“The doctor gave me the most negative news I could have heard at that time. He said that my placenta was sitting in front of my womb and that I did not have enough amniotic fluid to carry my baby. I was at a dangerous age to fall pregnant. He said that my baby might be born prematurely,” said Ms Naidoo.
What at first was excitement, soon became a constant fear for her little one’s life.
“I didn’t know how to feel. I was emotional,” she said.
Ms Naidoo’s worry began to grow.
She had no medical aid, so she had to take extra precautions by ensuring that she did not do any heavy lifting and stretching.
Every day was stressful and all she had in her mind, was the negative report she received from the doctor.
“Everything changed when I began to see Dr Bahadur, my gynaecologist, from around the six-month mark. I began enjoying my pregnancy and I was very positive,” said Ms Naidoo.
She expressed that no matter what was happening, Dr Bahadur always gave her hope.
Ms Naidoo received news that her father died of a heart attack at the end of October when she was reaching her seven-month mark in her pregnancy.
Once Ms Naidoo reached the 35-week mark in her pregnancy, Dr Bahadur referred her to the High-Risk Clinic at Bethal Hospital. He told her that it was best for her to be admitted as it was around the last few weeks of her pregnancy.
She arrived at the High-Risk Clinic in Bethal during which they did her normal check-up and scan.
The nurse told her that her fluid was low, but she could go home.
Ms Naidoo returned to Dr Bahadur, emotional and in pain, and he referred her back to Bethal Hospital, where she was told that she had no amniotic fluid in her womb and had to immediately have a caesarian section.
“My partner had just left for Durban, because we thought I’d be fine. My due date was only 31 December. He had to fetch his mother, who was coming to Secunda to assist us after I gave birth,” said Ms Naidoo.
But Mr Conway had run into some car trouble.
Ms Naidoo’s friends, Ms Sherelle and Mr Sherwin Nair, came to her rescue and took her to Bethal Hospital.
“Dr Bahadur was going on holiday that day but he had already prepared my delivery. He went the extra mile and spoke to the gynaecologist at Bethal, but later nudged Mr Nair to immediately take me to Ermelo Hospital,” said Ms Naidoo.
She could not understand why he ‘nudged’ them to go to Ermelo until she was told that Bethal Hospital did not have a resuscitation machine at the time.
In the midst of Ms Naidoo’s ordeal and pain, all she wanted was Nando’s giblets and a roll, and the driver had to immediately comply, before embarking on the road trip to Ermelo.
When they arrived in Ermelo, she was told that she had gone into labour seven days prior, and that there was no amniotic fluid left in her womb.
She rested, and they prepped her for a caesarian section the next morning.
“Many negative thoughts of giving birth to a still-born baby were running through my mind. I was scared. I was so far from home, asking myself, what if I die?” said Ms Naidoo.
Ms Sherelle and Mr Sherwin Nair stayed by her side the entire evening.
Ms Naidoo gave birth to a premature little girl who just weighed 1,6kg.
“When I gained my strength, I saw her in the incubator, she was perfect. All her vitals were perfect,” said Ms Naidoo.
After Ms Naidoo was discharged, she had three episodes of haemorrhaging.
Now, just over three months later, Ms Naidoo and Stonei-Leigh are thriving and healing.
“I feel so relieved, I could not have done it without Dr Bahadur, the hospitals and the supportive friends and family. Baptising Stonei-Leigh at the New Apostolic Church was the most important thing for me to continue with my year,” said Ms Naidoo
“I have so much to be thankful for.”
