22-05-2025
Dilokong Hospital leaves mom traumatised after baby falls head first during birth
A woman in labor deserves compassion and support, yet a lack of both marked Karabo's birth experience.
It was a nightmare for then heavily pregnant Karabo Magabe (30) whose baby fell head-first onto the hospital floor during birth, she says nurses in Dilokong hospital must take responsibility for their negligent treatment.
During our visit to her home, she cradled her newborn while breastfeeding. In that tender moment, which should have filled her with joy and pride, she couldn't shake the memory of how close she came to losing her during childbirth.
when she speaks of the birth of her daughter, she recalls the indignity and humiliation of giving birth in the hospital passage in full view of patients. The terror of almost losing her child will be with her forever.
When Karabo started feeling labour pains on Thursday 8 May, her mother rushed her Dilokong hospital outside Burgersfort, Limpopo.
Karabo, traveled from Praktiseer segorong section, about half an hour away from the hospital. When she got to the hospital, she was in labour pains, bleeding and ready to give birth.
Her weight and vitals were taken and she was admitted to the maternity ward. When she started to cry for help, her pleas were unanswered. The nurses at the hospital told her it was false labour pains. she was then left alone unattended.
'I was in deep pain and bleeding as my water broke and I shouted for help telling the nurses that the baby is about to be born.'
'A rude nurse started to shout and insult me, she ordered me to stand up and follow her so she can help me deliver. My little baby came out while I was in the hospital passage following her,' Karabo says.
'She fell on her head first between my legs on the hospital floor in full view of nurses and other patients. I could see the umbilical cord attached to my baby girl dangling. My child sustained serious injuries on the face, her left eye was left with bruises, she started crying.'
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Her daughter was lucky to survive and be alive.
'We were admitted in unbearable inhumane conditions, sharing food with cats all over the hospital ward.'
'After the incident, my newborn shivers during the night and swallows as if she is eating something. I can't forget how I was shouted at on that fateful day. The nurse then asked me, 'What, are you trying to kill your own child?' and said, 'Look now.''
'They examined my child and told me to take her home'.
'Another nurse told me she is healthy.'
'When I think of that hospital my heart starts to bleed from the sad memories and the horror and pain I endured,' she says.
Karabo says, she never missed a single maternity appointment until her day of delivery. It was also not the first time she was giving birth. Her first born child is five years old.
When pressed for comment, Limpopo department of health spokesperson, Neil Shikwambane said 'We are aware of the issue and the hospital management is busy with an inquiry on the matter to establish all the facts so that proper and an informed action can be taken'.
Shikwambane promised 'We will be able to comment on the issue extensively once we have clear outcomes of the enquiry'.
