Esther A., 18

Esther is the second-born in her family and lives with her parents, her newborn son, and seven siblings in a two-roomed mud-walled house. She is currently a Form Three student. Esther and her child depend entirely on her father, who works as a casual laborer doing menial jobs to support the large household, as her mother is unemployed. Despite these challenges, Esther remains focused on her future and aspires to become a salonist. Esther realized she had missed her menstrual periods and sought medical attention at a nearby health facility, where she was confirmed to be pregnant. With encouragement from her teachers, she remained committed to both her education and her health. She consistently attended all eight recommended antenatal care (ANC) visits, often walking nearly three hours to and from the facility before returning to school. One Sunday evening, Esther began experiencing abdominal pain, which progressively worsened through the night. She was taken to the hospital at around 2:00 a.m., where she was admitted and monitored throughout that night and the following day. However, by the evening of the following day, further assessments revealed a non-reassuring fetal status. Due to the urgency of her condition, Esther was referred to Siaya County Referral Hospital for emergency surgical intervention to safeguard the lives of both mother and baby.

Esther 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, she was eventually discharged on orals. A follow up clinic was booked for her to ensure she was healing well.

The prognosis for an 18-year-old undergoing an emergency cesarean section (C-section) for non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS) is generally favorable for the mother, with a high likelihood of a quick recovery, although the risk of short-term complications is higher than a planned procedure. While the procedure is intended to prevent adverse outcomes, it is associated with increased risks for the neonate compared to elective deliveries.