By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Nigerian reality TV star Bamike Olawunmi, popularly known as Bambam, recently shared a deeply personal and harrowing account of the childbirth experience that nearly cost her and her daughter, Zendaya, their lives.
During a recent episode of the ‘Me & My Grils’ podcast, Bambam opened up about how, during labor, her kidney failed, her liver began shutting down, and other vital organs were at risk due to complications in childbirth.
Bambam’s experience highlights a glaring issue in the healthcare system, especially in Nigeria, where many women face preventable dangers during childbirth.
As she explained, “A lot of stillbirths are due to negligence. It’s either the doctor was not sound or the nurse didn’t do her job on time or they arrived at the hospital late.”
Bambam’s ordeal was compounded by the fact that her daughter’s placenta detached, putting her at immediate risk. “If I was a second late [to the hospital], she would have lost oxygen and I would have had a stillbirth,” she said, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Her emotional distress after the birth, haunted by constant “what ifs,” is relatable to many women who go through traumatic childbirth experiences.
“Every time I look at her, I just say, ‘What if…?’ The what ifs have tormented me,” she admitted. This part of her story truly resonated with me—it’s not just about surviving childbirth, but the lasting emotional toll it takes on a mother.
Bambam’s testimony is a stark reminder of the human side of healthcare, it is not just about statistics or procedures but about lives and the heavy, often overlooked emotional consequences that follow.
Her journey is not just a personal battle but an urgent reminder that better care, timely medical intervention, and proper healthcare infrastructure are critical, especially in Nigeria, where many mothers still face these dangers.
It also emphasizes the importance of addressing emotional health after such traumatic experiences, something that is often neglected in the aftermath of childbirth.
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