Susan A., 19

Susan is the third-born child in her family and lives with her mother, grandmother, and two cousins in a two-roomed mud-walled house. She recently completed school but has not been able to join a tertiary institution due to financial constraints. Susan relies on her mother, who works as a casual laborer, to support her, her grandmother, and her cousins. She aspires to become a nurse in the future. Susan began feeling unwell and shared her symptoms with her grandmother, who suggested that she might be pregnant and encouraged her to visit a health center for confirmation. The pregnancy was confirmed, and Susan started attending antenatal clinic (ANC). However, the clinic visits were inconsistent, as she had to walk for an hour to reach the facility and could not always attend due to the distance and financial limitations. Over time, Susan began experiencing severe throbbing headaches, dizziness during activities, and episodes of vomiting. Unable to afford medical care, her condition worsened. On the day of the incident, she does not remember much; she only recalls waking up in the hospital after undergoing a cesarean section. Her grandmother later explained that Susan had started convulsing, which left her feeling confused and unsure of what to do. She went to a local chemist seeking help, where she was advised to take Susan to the hospital immediately. Though she worried about where to get the money for transportation leave alone treatment, she was reassured that she should ask her friends around for funds to hire a motorcycle taxi, and that an organization at the hospital assists sick, underprivileged patients so she should not worry about cost of treatment. At the hospital, Susan’s blood pressure was found to be dangerously high, and a cesarean section was performed to save her and the baby.

Susan was taken for an emergency caesarean surgery, the surgery was a success and she was taken to the post -op ward. While in the ward she was administered ceftriaxone,flagyl, morphine, among other drugs. Her catheter was removed after 2 days, and ambulation encouraged. The dressing on her surgical site was removed after 72 hrs. She was able to respond well to medication, her blood pressure became stable and she was eventually discharged on orals. A follow up clinic was booked for her to ensure her blood pressure was still stable and she was healing well.

Susan presented with severe preeclampsia complicated by eclampsia (high blood pressure and convulsions during pregnancy), which necessitated an emergency cesarean section to prevent maternal and fetal complications. She also experienced symptoms of headache, dizziness, and vomiting, consistent with hypertensive crisis in pregnancy. Timely surgical intervention likely prevented life-threatening complications such as maternal stroke, organ damage, or fetal compromise. With the timely caeseran section and proper postpartum monitoring, blood pressure management, and supportive care, Susan is expected to recover well. The baby’s health depends on gestational age is likely to be stable.