Iveren, a 40 year-old woman, waited five long years after marriage for the fruit of the womb. She and her 45-year old husband, Adamu, had prayed and fasted, yet no baby. The doctors could not explain why they were unable to conceive. They were both healthy.

Iveren woke up one morning a year ago feeling unwell. This continued throughout the week. Adamu was worried about her and so took her to their family doctor. The doctor ran some tests and, what wonderful news for the couple… THEY WERE PREGNANT!

Their joy was overwhelming and contagious. They could not wait to see this bundle of joy.

Iveren had antenatal care and all seemed to be going well. But it appeared the baby too was in a hurry and was delivered at 33 weeks. Iveren and Adamu did not worry much. This is 2019 they thought and they were aware that even babies born earlier than 33 weeks survive.  Iveren and their bundle of joy were kept for treatment in the neonatal unit for a few weeks before they were discharged home.

The baby was named Precious, for she was indeed precious (five years no be joke). Precious grew in leaps and bounds. However, the mother noticed she did not maintain eye contact during breastfeeding. Her friend, Sewuese, a mother of two, told her this was not normal and advised her to take Precious to the eye doctor. The following week, the family was at the eye clinic to see what the problem could be.

The pretty doctor received them warmly and proceeded to listen to their concerns and examine the healthy, three-month old Precious. She regretfully informed them that she had a complication in the “camera” of the eye from prematurity. She called it “Retinopathy of Prematurity”. She asked if Precious had her eyes examined at birth.

It was then Iveren recalled that her baby’s neonatologist had told her the eye doctors would examine her baby’s eyes before discharge. The eye doctors had come as promised on her third week post-delivery but she had not allowed them to examine her baby. She had been afraid that their bright light would hurt her baby’s "young" eyes.

If only she understood the implications of her refusal. If only she had been counselled better.

Now Precious would never see her parents’ loving smiles. She was blind from Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).

• ROP affects babies born premature
• An eye exam of your premature bundle of joy within four weeks of birth changes the narrative.
• #Be Smart #Be ROP Aware

November 17 is World Prematurity Day.

“Born Too Soon: Providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”

#ROP #worldprematurityday #Retinopathyofprematurity #blindnessprevention #childeyehealth

Dr Mary Ugalahi

Nov. 17, 2019