Malvern Dad helps deliver baby at home
When she felt a second gush of water, Navlene Pandaram knew that they were not going to make it to the hospital.
BRINGING a baby into the world is a precious and cherished memory for women, but it can be a nerve wrecking experience as there are so many thoughts that go through one’s mind when expecting a baby.
After giving birth at her home with the help of her husband, Malvern resident, Navlene Pandaram hopes to inspire all first time moms.
She said there is nothing to fear, birth is a natural process and bodies are made perfectly for this process.
Navlene spoke to the Queensburgh News about the day her third child was born, a baby girl Alovah.
“It was Friday, 3 March and in the morning, I got my eldest daughter ready for school. That day was different, I was very happy on the inside.
Navlene said she was expecting to deliver her baby on 1 March so she was prepared and waiting to experience labour signs before going to the hospital.
“They say a woman should be stress free before going into labour. Even my daughter was happy on that day, we she got back from school, we were singing and I even plaited her hair.”
That afternoon, Navlene and her husband, Sumen were invited for supper by her in-laws in Isipingo.
“The plan was to fetch my 15-month-old son from my mom’s house in Isipingo then go to my in-laws for supper. When we arrived at my mom’s house, we spent some time taking pics as my daughter, son and I were wearing matching clothes,” said Navlene.
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‘My water just broke’
Navlene said she sat on the sofa and felt a gush of hot water being released. “I did not want to scare the children so I called my sister and told her that I think my water just broke. My mom got me a towel and I sat on a chair. At my home, we usually pray around supper time and that’s what we did. I had supper because on that day I did not eat anything and I needed my strength.
Navlene and her husband drove back to their home in Malvern to get all the things for her stay at the hospital. She said she started feeling contractions at about 7.20pm after they arrived at the house.
“In my mind I was not panicking because my gynaecologist told me during my last visit that the baby is in a posterior position and I must expect a longer and more difficult labour.”
“Since the pain was manageable, I decided to stay at home for a while, I did not want to rush as I was not expecting the baby to come any sooner.
After taking off her jewellery, she got into the shower to get some hot water to fall on her tummy and back just to ease the pain.
“My husband was timing the contractions, they were three minutes apart and lasted for one minute.”
“At about 7.50pm, we noticed that they were coming closer and that is when we decided to go to the hospital. I just put on a night dress when I felt another rush of water. I told my husband that we were not going to make it to the hospital, we should call an ambulance,” said Navlene.
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Baby Alovah arrives
“I told my husband to get cushions and towels and in a blink of an eye I felt an urge to push and my husband delivered the baby. I asked my husband to put his finger in the baby’s mouth and clear any fluid she could have swallowed and to make sure she is breathing. He then put her on my chest. It was a peaceful birthing experience.
She said they was no screaming, stress or trauma. “My husband was very calm which was what made me very calm also.”
“We received a call from paramedics who were on their way and we told them the baby had arrived. They advised us not to cut the cord, they would do it and they would deliver the placenta.”
Paramedics arrived and cut the cord and gave the baby to my husband with a silver blanket to keep her warm. They gave us some time to absorb this and they transported us to hospital,” added Navlene.
The baby was 100 per cent healthy, she weighed 2,9kg and the next day they were discharged from hospital.
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