Yet another mother has died after giving birth to a child via C-Section surgery.
Charlene Kowlessar, 35, died on Saturday, 24 days after giving birth to a baby boy, her second child.
Kowlessar delivered the child on March 31 at 5.51 am at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). The baby, named Isaac, weighed 3.03 kilograms but was hospitalised for observation and subsequently discharged last April 4.
Kowlessar’s death came three days after first-time mother Keisha Ayres, 24, was laid to rest days after she gave birth via C-section.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Kowlessar’s sister, Deanne, explained that it was Kowlessar's first C-section. She said for her first child, Kowlessar delivered her naturally. That daughter is now 16.
Kowlessar lived at Mc Bean Village, Couva, near the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre.
“When it was time for Charlene to deliver, she began vomiting and had a very high fever. She complained of her legs locking up and the doctors and them had to clip her water bag because the baby like it didn’t want to come,” Deanne said.
She said after the C-section Charlene was discharged from hospital but from then on she was “in and out” of both the SFGH and the Couva District Hospital after her stitches were removed on April 9.
“This was because she was bleeding heavy and every time we took her to the hospital they would check on her and then send her back home. This went on for a few days.
“Saturday morning was no different. The bleeding continued and by the time we took her to the hospital she was pronounced dead on arrival,” Deanne said.
When asked if Kowlessar was able to bond with baby Isaac, Deanne replied: “Yes. Although she was weak she tried her best to take care of him. He was breastfed and bottlefed by her.”
Head doctor stunned
Contacted yesterday, Medical Chief of Staff at the SFGH, Dr Anand Chattergoon, said he was shocked to hear that Kowlessar had died. He added that he knew about her case since she had gone to him for help.
“When she came I arranged for her to see the head of obstetrics and gynaecology Dr Krishna Rampersadsingh and he did see her. That was maybe about two weeks ago,” Chattergoon said.
“She was oozing from the wound. That day she had to wait a while in casualty but that same night she was seen by a doctor who dressed the wound but when she returned home the bleeding continued. As far as I know, she was okay and she looked okay to me,” he added.
An autopsy was scheduled for yesterday but it could not be performed as officials at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, failed to get a police report/note from the Couva Police Station.
The autopsy has been rescheduled for today.