Heartfelt gratitude – Kateryna Lanchynetska

Kateryna Lanchynetska

A midwife, gave birth in the Kyiv City Maternity Hospital No. 1

When the war started, I was seven months pregnant. Due to the threat of miscarriage, I was put in the maternity ward for safekeeping. And with the first siren, we were all taken down to the bomb shelter.

We have been living in the basement for three weeks, we haven’t even gone outside.

At the beginning of February, I went to the maternity ward to preserve the pregnancy. I was supposed to give birth in April. When the war started, everyone was confused: both us and the doctors. During the first air raid, we were gathered in the corridor and taken down  to the bomb shelter. Everyone had frightened eyes, even the medics. But, despite this, they assured us that they knew what they were doing.

The bomb shelter was still at the stage of preparation, doctors and interns promptly brought blankets, pillows, and benches to the shelter, making it more comfortable.

The first night in the basement was still very scary, the girls cried and trembled with fear. Only the next day we were allowed to go up for a few minutes to get our things. At first, we didn't even go outside. So, we have been living in a bomb shelter for three whole weeks. No one knew what was going to happen.

The maternity ward staff set up an examination room in the basement. All the equipment and all the necessary medicines were brought there. There were wards, a bathroom, we were fed.

We had our own world. And when in three weeks, in the middle of March, I finally went out of the basement for the first time, I was surprised.

The hospital is located in the very center of Kyiv, but the street was dead silent, only explosions were heard in the distance. In 10 minutes, the siren was turned on, and I returned to the premises. I knew for sure that I would be safe there, even if the bombs fell. And the medics were there instead of a sedative. They always said they had everything under control.

Due to the fact that I had to move a lot, I started having problems with pregnancy.

The placenta was detached. But lying all day on a hard bench was also dangerous for the child, because the nerve was pinched. So, I spent three days in bed in the intensive care unit. And in April, I had a planned caesarean section, and I gave birth to a healthy baby. I am very grateful to the doctors for this.

Before the war, my pregnancy was managed by one doctor.

Later, she could no longer get to work, but she was constantly in touch. Another specialist was assigned to me. All the doctors were with us on duty for almost a month, nearby – 24/7.