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She wasn't due to open her eyes to the world until August 23. But after eight months in the womb, Ariana Louis Dziuba couldn't wait any longer. So, on Sunday August 3 at 6.08pm, she decided to enjoy the first caresses of her mom Daphnée and dad Lovenson. It was a moment of intense joy for the parents, aged 28 and 29 respectively and welcoming their first child, but also for the nursing staff at the Irénée de Bruyn hospital. For it was indeed at the Saint-Barthélemy hospital that little Ariana was born, prematurely. She is the first baby to be delivered at the island's health facility in three years.
"I was supposed to leave for Saint-Martin at the beginning of the week," says Daphnée Dziuba (Magras). So three weeks before giving birth, as is generally recommended for mothers-to-be in Saint-Barth, since the hospital has no maternity ward. But on Sunday August 3, Daphnée felt her usual contractions becoming more pronounced.
"I had to go au naturel! "
Her partner and I decided to rush to the hospital. "I went in at around 4 p.m. and was taken care of by Doctor Patricia (Wagner), who told me after an initial examination that my cervix was already five centimetres open. It was too late to go to Saint-Martin. "Two hours later, Daphnée gave birth to Ariana, a perfectly healthy 2.4-kg baby girl.
In reality, all the work had been done during the day," laughs the mother. Everyone was surprised by the speed of the birth. "But that didn't stop it from being "very painful at the time", confides Daphnée. I had booked an anaesthetist, but she stayed on Saint-Martin," she explains. So I had to go au naturel! I had no choice. In fact, stitching up the sixteen stitches in my cervix took longer than the delivery. There was a lot of work to do..." Care provided with the utmost professionalism by Dr Patricia Wagner, nurse Thaïs Le Moan and care assistant Jessica Questel. "Everything went very well," enthuses the young mother, who is now discovering "a whole new world".
A baptism of air
Nevertheless, Ariana's premature birth made it necessary to fly to Saint-Martin on Monday August 4 to monitor the baby's condition.
Daphnée, Lovenson and Ariana were flown to Saint-Barth Commuter as part of a medical evacuation. Ariana's maiden flight was her first "diploma". In this case, her first flight certificate issued by the captain himself, Mathias Quesada, at the end of the return trip on August 7. It moved us," confides Daphnée. The welcome was warm and we thank the company. "
The happy parents would also like to thank the nursing staff at Saint-Barthélemy hospital, the pharmacy in Gustavia and the maternity ward in Saint-Martin. Not forgetting the midwife who accompanied Daphnée throughout her pregnancy, Marion Mallet.
Family roots in Saint-Barth
For the mother, the emotion also comes from the fact that the birth of her daughter perpetuates her family's roots in Saint-Barthélemy. I was born in Guadeloupe, but I grew up in Saint-Barth and my mother was born on the island," says Daphnée. It's a great joy for the family that Ariana was born in Saint-Barth. "As for Lovenson, although he is originally from Saint-Martin, he lives in Saint-Barth, like his parents. He is a gardener, while Daphnée is a micro-entrepreneur. "I'm originally from Flanders, but today we live in Vitet," says the mother, who continues to be amazed: "It all happened so quickly, it's a shock! "As for Ariana, who never ceases to amaze her dad, all is going well. Thanks to the responsiveness and professionalism of the nursing staff at Bruyn hospital. Even if they're not in the business of delivering babies.
Relief and pride
It can happen unexpectedly," says Dr Patricia Wagner. She (Daphnée Dziuba) was due to leave for Saint-Martin the next day. We had very little time. We were twenty days away from the due date, so the baby is not considered premature. But transportation was contraindicated because labor had begun. We had given ourselves three or four hours to labor. It was much quicker. These are very special moments. The nurse (Thaïs Le Moan) stayed on after her shift. Childbirth is a mixture of fear, because it's a situation that's neither trivial nor frequent, and contentment. Afterwards, you feel relieved, and a little proud too. "
Not a hospital designed for childbirth
When he arrived at the hospital on the morning of Monday August 4, Director Eric Djamakorzian detected an atmosphere he described as "relaxed" and "smiling". He smiles: "We felt that something special and positive had happened. "But the director points out that the Irénée de Bruyn center is not a hospital where patients can give birth. Lacking a maternity ward and the specialized staff who make up such a service, it is unable to guarantee the safety of expectant mothers in the event of complications. Fortunately, the August 3 delivery went off without a hitch. To the great satisfaction of Jessica Questel, a nurse's aide since 2015, and Thaïs Le Moan.
The nurse recounts: "There was a bit of stress because we arrived at the end of the day and knew that the delivery would take place here. And as we don't have a lot of resources... It's magical. It's crazy to think that this could never happen in a hospital. I'm especially happy for the parents. "
Back on Saint-Barthélemy, Daphnée Dziuba, Lovenson Louis and little Ariana begin a new adventure. Less hectic than that of August 3, but even more exciting. The happiest family life imaginable.
