TEEN MOM DIES - Grassy Park ouma claims her daughter died after hospital spread her legs too wide during childbirth
Sibahle Mbina, 14, passed away at Groote Schuur Hospital on 5 February.
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TEEN MOM DIES - Grassy Park ouma claims her daughter died after hospital spread her legs too wide during childbirth
A HEARTBROKEN Grassy Park grandmother is demanding answers after her 14-year-old daughter died just weeks after giving birth, allegedly from an infection that spread through her body following delivery.
Yvonne Mbina, from Phumlani Village, told the Daily Voice that her daughter, Sibahle Mbina, had given natural birth to her child on 11 January at the Midwife Obstetrics Unit (MOU) of the Retreat Day Hospital and was discharged the same day.
She explained: “After she was discharged, she was always complaining about her hip. I helped her and the baby to make sure they were washed.
“A few days after being discharged, she went back to the Retreat for a check-up. After that, she walked back home, and one Sunday, she was complaining, saying that she was in a lot of pain, and she went back to Retreat.
“They then transferred her to Groote Schuur due to her being under trauma, as they say. On Monday, 2 February, they said she was brain-dead. I didn’t understand.”
It is alleged that her daughter had an infection in her hips, which spread to her brain and kidneys, causing failure of both organs.
Mbina added: “They did an operation on her hip to drain the infection, but both of her kidneys failed. They said that the infection spread all over her body, apparently due to the birth, because the Retreat people spread her legs so wide during birth.”
The daughter sadly passed away on 5 February and is survived by her baby and mother.
The heartbroken mom said it’s not fair what happened, due to her now caring for her grandchild without her daughter being there to experience motherhood.
Mbina added: “I am happy that I still have something to remember Sibahle, but I am not happy that I am not going to see my child anymore and that she is not going to go to school anymore.
“Whoever helped her give birth needs to give answers.”
While the Daily Voice made enquiries to the Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness, which oversees both Retreat Day Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital, about the allegations, it said that due to patient confidentiality requirements, no further information regarding Sibahle’s diagnosis or treatment could be provided.
Spokesperson Esethu Madlwabinga said: “Groote Schuur Hospital can confirm that the patient received medical care in the Intensive Care Unit, where she sadly passed away.
“In accordance with standard protocol, all cases in which the cause of death is not immediately known are referred for a forensic post-mortem examination. This case was therefore referred for a post-mortem.
“As part of best practice, all maternal-related deaths are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team, after which the relevant documentation is submitted to the National Committee for Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths.”