I did not care what was happening around. The story of Christine & 2 kg baby Martha
March 2d. Kyiv, Ukraine
The story of Christine is about a fight for her baby daughter's survival, born only 2100 grams weighing. Before the war, this woman was a nutritionist, helping others during the planning, pregnancy, and delivery. She was planning a home birth. The whole family did not believe the war could happen until the last moment.
"My husband joked pregnant women are from the other planet. So focused on the baby bearing, they don't care about what happens around them. I was very calm."
The war came later to the Vinohradar district, where Christine and her husband lived. People continued to walk outside; children made fun on playgrounds, and the sun was shining friendly and warming. At this very moment, russian troops attacked Melitopol and came closer to Kharkiv and Chernihiv; the battle for Irpin and Hostomel started. The biggest amount of war crimes committed against the civilians by russian warriors would be unleashed in a month from this area to the whole world.
"There was no war feeling. This came later, not from the beginning.”
“Our parents called us one day and asked us to move. We saw traffic jams outwards Kyiv city, where we live, and decided to stay at home. We felt more tranquil at home. One day, there were explosions nearby, and we were hiding at the bomb shelter. When we returned home, I told my husband we would stay at home, in the corridor or bathroom, or wherever. The atmosphere at the bomb shelter was too depressive for me: it's so dark, dusty, many people, small kids - it's difficult to stay there."
Water breaking happened on the first spring day 1st of March, at 7 am, when Christine was 36 weeks pregnant. Noone expected delivery so early. Future parents know they will have a very small baby, a hereditary feature. Their midwife has left the town. Lightweight and early delivery term meant possible complications to the baby. So they have decided to give birth at the maternity clinic nearby - 7 minutes walking distance. They spent this day at home; Christine was focused on the contractions, and her husband was packing hospital bags and reconnaissance.
"I did not care what was happening around."
Since the war started, every city under attack has had a curfew - to protect civilians, so the couple needed to get to the hospital before the X-hour at 8 pm.
15 minutes before the curfew started, they moved toward the hospital.
They were moving slowly and making stops for the contractions. It was dark, and there were now people on the streets. Only teroborona - armed volunteers who were helping to patrol the city at night. When Christine recalls the trip to the hospital, she laughs; she says she felt funny at that very moment.
The doctors were for the fourth shift in a row at the hospital - tension and stress were in the air. Mom-to-be was afraid it might affect the labor activity. She wanted to deliver the baby naturally. The opening of the cervix was only 2 cm, but none have pushed women to speed up the process:
"It's your labor. You can live it in a way you want and do whatever you want. This is your midwife; she will pass time after time. If you need something, just ask."
Parents-to-be turned off the light and made jokes. Christine ate peanuts, and dried figs, drank homemade tea. The relaxed atmosphere lasted till the first air raid alert when everyone moved to the basement. The couple settled down on the couch to fill in all medical documents. The alert was very short, and the contractions became stronger, so they moved upstairs to the maternity ward.
"I feel sorry for those who gave birth in the bomb shelters. It's really tough; even just being there is a challenge."
Cardiotocography was made at 11 pm, the opening exceeded 7 cm, and in two hours, at 1.11 am, small baby Martha was born.
She was only 2 100 grams and 45 cm in height.
The baby girl could breathe independently despite the early term and light weight. Her first wrap was made from Dad's t-shirt, and her first cradle was on Mom's breasts.
"It's a mix of feelings. Sacred moments, unbelievable to verbalize. She is so small, and she is my baby. I felt everything was just like I wanted, in a natural way. The daughter is fine; she is breathing, so wet". Childbirth was very positive; complications have started later."
The baby girl was called Martha at home.
The first two hours young parents spend in contact with a baby in a maternity ward. And moved to the basement shelter because of the air raid alert. The next morning at 11 am, the family moved to their apartment by taxi. They wanted to avoid the atmosphere of fear in the hospital shelters and endless migration to the basement.
Doctors were worried: could the baby eat, does she have enough formula, are parents capable of managing newborn staff.
Martha met her first complications at home - she was so small and had no strength to suck breast milk. The baby girl was crying and nervous.
Her weight dropped to 1895 grams - which is below the safety norm for a kid of her age.
Sounds of the regular explosions from Hostomel and Bucha side have got Christine district. They were almost unheard from inside due to the windows closed and the location of the apartment. Each time husband left to buy some food or medicines at the pharmacy one hour walking from home (all others were closed), the wife heard explosions while talking to him on mobile. Their parents persuade them to move to Zakarpattia.
When Martha was nine days old, antiaircraft warfare shot down two russian missiles close to the place where they lived. It was an earsplitting sound.
"My daughter trembled while she was sleeping. I started to cry - how can it be, such a small baby, and she awoke because of missiles shut down. We need to do something.”
“We have called parents; we were ready to move."
The family was lucky. In 30 minutes, their parent's friend has moved to Vinnytsia, halfway to the safest part of Ukraine in the west. He has seats on a bus. They packed for half of an hour and took everything they could - wraps for the baby (she was too small for the normal cloth), sweatpants, t-shirts, and miraculously found a breast pump. Echoes of an explosion have reached a couple with a baby just near the entrance. Since that, the danger came to their district as well.
The road to Vinnytsia was about the cold coach, endless breast pumping, and the baby crying because of thirst, wrapped in tons of blankets in case of missiles hit or draft.
The overnight stay with strangers. Fourteen hours more till they have reached Uzhorod.
"The baby was crying a lot. I was crying because we had left. My daughter was so calm when she was born, and she did not want to eat even from the pipette."
Upon arrival, the first week was a cycle of weighing, pumping, and feeding. The next few days calmness and silence of the small town affected the baby. Marthe gained weight and started to suck the breast milk independently. Christine and her family live in someone else house for two months. They have cold and hot water and a cooker, but there is now a washing machine. Mom dreams of returning to her home. She misses the nest winded with love for her daughter.
"Such a small baby needs to sleep in someone else's bed; it was too much for me initially. We had to accept what we had: there are three wraps only, and we have nowhere to wash them. It's awkward".
Christine was depressed by their inability to make the first weeks of their daughter's life in a more delightful way. Her husband suggested being grateful instead of demanding and cooking herself constantly.
"You are always by her side, holding her, breastfeeding, despite its hard."
Even during the war, when no one knows what will be next, Moms continue to be in touch with their kids and breastfeed. It's not a whim, but the possibility to always have food regardless of the circumstances.
When Christine focused on good things done, it became much easier. While fighting for her daughter's life, her husband was working and housekeeping.
"I appreciate his support - I could be in touch with a daughter 24/7".
When I write this story, baby Martha is six weeks old, and her 3370 grams weight no longer worries parents and doctors. Christine celebrates skin folds, soft butt, and legs.
"Our story is very sunny at the end of the day."
Our interview is almost done, and Martha wakes up from her day nap and joins the conversation with a gentle cooing.
Word to a daughter
To bear plenty of love inside, so it could guide her through the life in everything she does. We try to put as much love as we can into her childhood.
