CHAPTER SIX

Priscilla had been going to the hospital from time to time due to the early signs of labour she was having. The midwife after checking her body would will always inform her it's not yet time.

A few days later, on a Saturday, Priscilla was in the kitchen as usual trying to prepare some food when she felt a trickle down her legs from her private part. She remembered it was one of the signs of true labour as she was taught during antenatal with other women she always meet there.

She called her husband immediately. He was in the living room he rushed to the kitchen.

"Honey! Please come!"

Her husband Kambili rushed to her and saw her state. He got his car key and gently led her to his car parked outside.

He brought her already packed bag and they left for the hospital.

Immediately they got to the hospital, the midwife came out to help her into the labour room.

She was immediately examined and asked to wait. She was then under the watch of the midwives for a little while.

She was grunting in pain and having contractions for someone.

They told her to notify them when the contraction become stronger.

She was watching her body even though she was in pain.

Her husband, Kambili was in the waiting room restless and panting. He was praying and hoping to hear good news.

In the labour room, Priscilla was examined again when the contraction was becoming unbearable for her. She was led to the delivery room.

The midwives helped her climb the delivery table. And position her body.

She laid on her back and opened her legs, her knees bent and hands held behind her knees for leverage. She was guided on how to push.

"You can only push when a contraction comes," one of the midwives told her.

"When asked to push, prop up, put your chin to your chest, look below your belly button, take a deep breath and push as if you are having a bowel movement," she continued.

She was trying to repeat herself when the contraction peaked.

"Push!!!"

"Mmmhhh nmmmhhh mhmhh," Priscilla was in serious pains grunted, putting her utmost strength into it but the baby didn't come out.

The contraction stopped.

The then midwife encouraged her and told her to try again when the contraction peaks.

A few seconds again, it came again.

"Push!!!!!"

Holding her knees and looking below her navel, she moaned with all her strength.

Still, the baby wasn't forthcoming yet. The midwives checked her uterus. They confirmed she could deliver normally.

During those periods they kept monitoring the baby's heartbeat.

She tried again and again but to no avail.

The midwife called her husband and informed him the situation of his wife. They suggested that she should be moved to the theatre for cesarean section immediately.

He came into the labour room and encouraged her.

One of the midwives was about to leave to call a doctor for the surgery when a contraction came again and Priscilla decided to give it another try. She was prepared like a woman in battle array.

"Push!!!!!!"

Drawing up all the remnants of her strength, she groaned.

Still, the baby didn't come forth. Suddenly she started screaming, then there was no contraction at all and she wasn't instructed to push either. She was looking in a particular direction and screaming, everyone was confused in the labour room.

"Help me! please help!!!"

Her husband held her. She started stuttering.

She was screaming and pointing in a particular direction when she suddenly lost consciousness.

"Baby! Baby!!" Kambili shouted as he shook her.

The nurses quickly rushed and checked her heartbeats.

It was beating slowly and with a little less force. They rushed to get the oxygen but before they could come back, the heart stopped beating. With their Doppler device, they checked the baby's heartbeat as well but it had stopped already too.

"What's happening nurse? Please what is the problem," he said looking terrified

" I'm sorry, she's dead," the nurse said slowly as she held him.

"What!!! No no no!!! Please tell me it's not true, please!!"

He rushed to where Priscilla was and wept uncontrollably as he kept shaking her lifeless body.

The midwives try to hold him.