Mothers were waiting for their antenatal appointments in the outpatient's clinic of the hospital, whilst doctors and midwives paraded up and down, with notebooks, calling the different patients’ names in slow-motion rhythm. Dozens of heartbeats created a symphony of eagerness as if they were rehearsing one of Mozart’s symphonies. Unfortunately, for a small number of mothers, a dramatic reality was about to start. Their pregnancies would have a hasty, unexpected ending. All plans for a perfect normal delivery – the baby shower party and baby room decorations in tones of light blue and pink – would come to a sudden end. Their babies would be born prematurely.

For some women, their destiny is high blood pressure; pre-eclampsia; gestational diabetes; severe placental, womb or cervix problems; multiple pregnancies – these and other indicators of a premature birth.

I was 35 weeks when I was admitted onto the labour ward, after the doctors diagnosed me with a high stage of pre-eclampsia which meant I had a disorder in my placenta, detected by the high blood pressure, and protein in the urine. I didn't have any symptoms, but in less than 24 hours everything changed. My liver function levels were sky high, my kidneys weren’t responding and my placenta was no longer working properly. Suddenly my baby stopped growing inside me.

The doctor told me the disturbing news that she needed to take the baby out, to avoid a stillbirth, and that the only cure for the pre-eclampsia was removing the placenta by an elective C-section. Along with absorbing this news, I couldn’t stop thinking about my three-year-old child throughout my stay at the hospital – the only solution was for her father to quit his job and look after her.