BHSc: Maternal Dilemma

Ms A is a 24 year old first time mother, her baby is 24 hours old. During her hospital stay Ms A’s blood pressure was very high and unstable, so did not get clearance from her midwife or the registrar in charge in the maternity ward to leave hospital. Ms A’s mother who had just arrived from out of town to visit took it into her hands to convince her daughter to leave hospital and therefore discharged her daughter from the hospital. Ms A’s mother’s decision to discharge her daughter was because she said “I would much rather look after my daughter and baby at home, where I can keep an eye on her myself, than to keep her in hospital”. Ms A’s partner (from a different country to Ms A) agreed with the health professionals to keep her in hospital, however this was overlooked. On the midwife’s first postnatal check-up with Ms A at home, the day after she left hospital, her blood pressure was still very high and needed to return to the ward for observation. There could be an infection from the caesarean operation or some other underlying complication. Ms A’s mother is still adamant that Ms A does not need to go to hospital, her cultural understanding is to surround her daughter in an environment which is nurturing rather than a medical facility which is uncaring and cold. Ms A’s partner agreed with the midwife that she should return to hospital, Ms A became distressed with her dilemma and was unsure what to do. During this time Ms A’s mother got upset and said Ms A is definitely not leaving and the midwife should leave.