Embu: Grieving Mother Seeks Justice After Newborn Dies In Hospital Over Suspected Negligence

• A 23-year-old woman painfully narrated how doctors watched her struggle to deliver her daughter at an Embu hospital
• Claire Nyambura claimed that her attempts to seek assistance from the attending medics failed as they urged her to relax, yet the baby had started emerging
• The mother sought justice for her daughter, whose life was tragically cut short at birth

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Embu - Amidst tears and a voice filled with sorrow, a 23-year-old mother sorting through her newborn's clothes and baby essentials is desperately seeking justice for her newborn daughter.

The infant tragically passed away at a hospital in Embu shortly after birth, and the mother, Claire Nyambura, alleges negligence played a role in the devastating loss.

What preceded the death of the baby?

Like every expectant woman in labour, Claire Nyambura held onto optimism, expecting prompt assistance from the doctors for the delivery of her precious baby girl.

According to NTV, her hopes were dashed as she struggled to push while the doctor observed.

With a breech birth, she sought help from the doctor, only to be declined. Nyambura recounted that her efforts were not in vain, but the absence of any sound from the child indicated potential health challenges.

According to American Pregnancy, breech presentation refers to the baby's bottoms, feet, or both being positioned to come out first during birth. During normal birth, the head presents first.

"As the baby emerged, I promptly notified the attending doctor about the unusual presentation with her legs first. Despite urging them to assist in pushing out the head, I was told to relax, as it wasn't my responsibility. After a five-minute delay, the baby was born without crying and placed on oxygen," she lamented.

Moments later, the troubled mother went to check on her newborn only to realise that her legs had started turning blue.

The doctors assured her that there was no cause for alarm but also admitted that the baby's chances of survival were limited.

"Upon later inspection, I discovered her legs had turned bluish. Despite my concerns, the doctors assured me there was no cause for alarm but conceded that the baby faced limited chances of survival due to multiple complications, potentially leading to cerebral palsy," she cried.

Despite giving birth at 32 weeks, the lady says her newborn had attained the required weight and could survive if the doctors heeded her request.

Nyambura lost her baby girl on Saturday, December 16, and is now pleading for justice for the innocent infant.

Woman, newborn twins die during birth

In September, a woman and newborn twins died at Mwingi Level 4 hospital during birth.

The woman had been in the hospital for four days before delivering her first child through stillbirth. The doctors were 'unaware' that she was expecting twins.

When the woman complained of an intense stomachache, she was taken through an ultrasound, and another baby was detected. However, it was too late to rescue the two, as they had both died.