Maureen Achieng W., 20

Maurine is the second-born of three siblings and a total orphan. She dropped out of Form Three in 2024 after losing her parents and currently lives with her paternal aunt, a peasant farmer, in a one-roomed mud-walled house. She is training in hairdressing after financial hardship interrupted her dream of becoming a police officer. During pregnancy, Maurine attended four ANC visits, often walking over an hour to the facility. She later developed labour pains and experienced prolonged labour with poor progress despite monitoring. At Siaya County Referral Hospital, assessment revealed a persistent occipito-posterior fetal position, contributing to obstructed progress and maternal exhaustion. An emergency Caesarean section was therefore recommended for safe delivery. After surgery, Maurine became increasingly worried about the hospital bill and feared burdening her aunt and siblings, even considering discharge against medical advice. The ward in-charge referred her to the social work office, where she was introduced to Helpster Charity for assistance.

Maurine experienced prolonged labour secondary to persistent occipito-posterior position, with poor labour progress and increasing maternal exhaustion. Continuing unsuccessful labour could have resulted in obstructed labour, fetal distress, birth asphyxia, maternal infection, haemorrhage or uterine injury. Emergency Caesarean delivery was therefore medically appropriate. Following a successful emergency caesarean section, Maureen is set to recover well with appropriate postoperative care, including pain management, infection prevention, early mobilization, and close monitoring for bleeding and wound healing.