A slimly-built 25-year-old woman who gave birth to her first baby at a regional hospital on Easter Monday is lucky to be alive after a sanitary pad, plugged into her presumably to reduce bleeding, remained in her and went unnoticed for seven days.

The mother and her baby were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, and the young wife and her husband were overjoyed to welcome a baby boy into their family; but their euphoria was soon interrupted by the crying need to investigate suspicions that arose as to whether something radical had gone amiss after she began experiencing great discomfort and severe pains.

The young woman’s mother said that as her daughter’s pains became more unbearable, she eventually began giving off an offensive odour; at which stage the elder woman personally took on the job of cleaning her daughter.

The baby’s grandmother was petrified when, one day, she noticed what appeared like the end of a pad protruding from within her daughter’s limp and fragile body, which by then was too weak and shaking to be left unattended.

The woman said she rushed her daughter back to the hospital on Sunday, and explained to the staff what was happening to her daughter for the last five days since being discharged. She confessed that the mood at the hospital was instantly transformed into one of complete professionalism, and her daughter was showered with tender care.

The young mother was immediately whisked into the treatment room, where the pad was removed and disposed of. She was also injected with antibiotics, and given blood transfusion and saline, among other treatments; and, to date, remains warded at the institution, where she is well taken care of.

The elder mother wishes to make it clear that she is in no way castigating personnel at the hospital concerned, but wishes to highlight this misdemeanor so that young medical staff would be on their guard and not make the same mistake, which could have resulted in the death of her daughter.

She thinks it fortunate that she had returned her daughter to the hospital in the nick of time.

Staff at all health care institutions, would you please remember this article as you discharge your duties on a daily basis?

(By Shirley Thomas)