The list of side effects that can occur as a result of pregnancy and delivery is long. And every once in a while, a new story will materialize adding yet another condition to the list. Although many are common and women simply don't speak about them publicly all that often, there are some side effects that are extremely rare and even shocking.
This is the case for one London woman, who will likely live with her postpartum condition forever. Sylvia Chengo shared that after the birth of her two children she lost her eyesight and is now legally blind.
Chengo had problems with her eyes as a child.
Thirty-four-year-old Chengo suffered from an eye condition as a child, but it was stabilized. âI never thought anything drastic would happen to my vision again,â Chengo told Caters News Agency, per the New York Post.
When she gave birth to her son Kai in 2014, it flared up again. Chengo had a normal pregnancy but had to deliver via C-section. Days later, she started losing her vision.
She lost her eyesight quickly after her first child was born.
âWhen Kai was seven days old, I realized I couldnât see too well and things were blurry, but I blamed it on not getting enough sleep,â Chengo remembered. It was Chengoâs mother who helped her realize it was a bigger problem than just lack of sleep.
âShe told me she noticed I wasnât doing a thorough job of cleaning Kai after changing his diapers,â she said. âThen when I tried to bathe him with my mom helping me, I realized I couldnât see anything in front of me and my vision had gone.â
Medication helped her to regain most of her vision.
Doctors were confused by Chengoâs condition but gave her medication that eventually helped her regain most of her eyesight after three weeks. By that point, her newborn son had changed drastically.
âHe wasnât a newborn anymore. He had his eyes open and was looking straight at me,â Chengo said.
Four years later, the same thing happened when she gave birth to her daughter.
Today, Chengo is visually impaired with the occasional flare-up.
Her vision took some time to worsen, but eventually Chengo got to the point where she couldnât see her own hand in front of her face.
âIt was just a normal day I hadnât done anything out of the blue and I was just making myself a cup of tea, I thought to myself, this is it. My eyes have finally given up.â
Again, medication did help, but today Chengo canât see anything past 3 feet in front of her, and there are days when she experiences flare-ups that make her vision even worse.
Chengo now shares tips on social media about living as a blind mom.
Chengo is set on maintaining her independence. On Instagram, she shares different ways sheâs had to navigate motherhood with her unique condition. The accommodations she's made include using a white guide cane and buying a hi-visibility jacket for her daughter so she can easily spot her in a crowd.
âI want to help others understand blindness is a spectrum and having a disability doesnât mean you canât live your best life, there are adaptations that can be made,â she said.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
