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General News of Wednesday, 10 June 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Nigerians share experience with hospitals switching babies at birth

Descriptive purpose only (brookings institute) Descriptive purpose only (brookings institute)

Nigerians have taken to social media to share instances where hospitals switch babies at birth due to error or done intentionally by corrupt doctors and nurses.

This was after a Twitter user, @Sisi_Yemmie gave women tips on how to avoid such when they want to deliver their baby at a hospital.

"Please always have someone with you in the hospital while giving birth. The person must be alert; must follow your baby. Some corrupt nurses/dr switch sick/dead babies with healthy ones if they've been paid. So pay attention!", she tweeted.

In response, some Nigerians recalled instances where babies where switched at birth. Some also revealed how they ensured they never fell victims of such.

Below are some comments gathered from Twitter by MyNigeria.com.

Akintunde_Felix wrote: "The same thing almost happened at my birth, My dad told us the story when we were older. How the nurse brought someone else baby, a female, claiming to be my dad's. Dad stood his ground that, his baby can't look like that, because we have this distinct family look at birth. Next thing, they brought me out, and my dad said, that's my baby. The nurses all laughed at it as nothing happened. Sad, things like this still go on".

@Chilife6 wrote: "It happened to my mum's cousin twice in Lagos way back 1984 or thereabout. Though she later had other children, she never recovered. Gave birth to a vibrant child and woke up to see a dead child and they insisted it was hers. After the second time, she stopped using the hospital".

@Aibeefash wrote: "Reason Number 1256 why I insisted on having my baby in a private hospital, not one hospital where 300 babies are delivered daily. Even then, my eyes followed him all through while they were cleaning him. Las las, they finished cleaning him before they finished stitching me up."

@Onyijudith wrote: "was away for a bit, the mother said she had a baby boy but when the baby was returned it was a girl. When asked 'how manage?', was told the girl must have been to too weak to notice. Very important".

@smaar4real wrote: "You are right - I had a cs during my 2nd birth he was fair but I noticed a birthmark on his tight. When I saw him the next day he looked darker I simply checked d mark if not I would have accused someone falsely. I guess it was fatigue".

@TweetKhalifa wrote: "I was there when my baby was born. I held her and she was a carbon copy of me. We were woke, everyone too should be. If you don't have your husband or family with you, friends (vigilant ones) & neighbours (incorruptible ones) should be there with you".

@ope_debss wrote: "The truth in this! I remember when I had my son. Immediately they brought him out my eyes were glued to him.I ordered one of the nurses to take a pic on my phone all these while I was still being cleaned, face with tears of joy, I kept asking where's my baby? Let me see him.pls you're blocking my view".

@bebeimmy01 wrote: "Gave birth to my babies with my mum right there, the nurses cleaned them up in the same room, gave them to me and I give to my mum. Nobody leaving that room until we're through sleepy face".