Cause of death of woman who delivered five babies revealed – Nairobi News

An autopsy report has revealed that Everline Namukhula, the woman gave birth to five babies in Kakamega County, died of heart failure occasioned by pregnancy complications.

According to Dr Benson Macharia, a pathologist at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Everline succumbed to weakness of the heart muscles, a condition known as peripartum cardiomyopathy.

According to the American Heart Association, Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth. Cardiomyopathy literally means heart muscle disease where the heart chambers enlarge and the muscle weakens.

MULTIPLE BIRTHS

Dr Macharia said the condition occurs to all mothers but is not always fatal, but Namukhula case was exceptional since she had multiple births.

“There were no blood clots as earlier reported, examination showed a lot of fluid was in her lungs around the heart and also her heart was slightly swollen,” Dr Macharia said.

Namukhula died on Sunday at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital after complaining of chest pains

A week earlier, she lost two of her five babies who were born on March 10 at Kakamega County Referral Hospital and later referred to MTRH for specialized care.