Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
VICTORIA Chitepo Provincial Hospital recorded 30 deliveries between December 21 and 27 – which spans the Christmas holiday week – hospital authorities have confirmed.
The hospital’s matron, Sister Sheila Chimbetete, confirmed the steady maternity activity at the provincial referral health institution during the festive period.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, she said the births were evenly split between normal deliveries and caesarean sections – with 15 cases recorded in each category.
“From December 21 to 27, we recorded a total of 30 deliveries. Fifteen were normal deliveries and the remainder were caesarean sections, which shows a fairly balanced outcome for the period,” said Sister Chimbetete.
According to the breakdown she provided, eight girls and seven boys were delivered through normal vaginal births, while six girls and nine boys were delivered via caesarean section.
Sister Chimbetete said the figures were consistent with what the hospital typically records during busy holiday periods, when expectant mothers continue to seek maternity services despite travel and festive activities.
“Childbirth does not take a holiday. Our maternity ward remained operational throughout the festive season, with staff on duty to ensure safe deliveries,” she said.
She confirmed that all babies born alive during the period are currently stable and healthy, with mothers receiving routine postnatal care.
“All the babies who were delivered alive are doing well, and the mothers are also stable. They are under observation and receiving the necessary postnatal support,” said Sister Chimbetete, also noting that Christmas Day itself recorded five deliveries, comprising three girls and two boys.
“We had five deliveries on that day alone, which shows how important it is to keep services fully functional at all times. We had five deliveries on Christmas Day, three girls and two boys, while on Boxing Day, we received two girls, one through normal deliveries and the other through caesarean section at the hospital,” she said.
However, the hospital also recorded two cases of fresh stillbirths during the same period, which Sister Chimbetete described as unfortunate, but unavoidable given the medical circumstances.
In the first case, the baby had congenital abnormalities, including hydrocephalus and spina bifida, and had a birth weight of 5,12 kilogrammes.
The second case involved a mother who was admitted with a history of antepartum haemorrhage and intrauterine death, and an emergency caesarean section was performed. The baby weighed 3,08kg,” she said.
Sister Chimbetete said the hospital followed all clinical protocols in managing the cases, and provided counselling and support to the affected families.
Fathers whose children were born during the festive week described overwhelming joy and excitement, saying the arrival of their babies turned the Christmas period into a deeply personal and unforgettable celebration.
Mr Tinashe Muranda, whose baby boy was delivered via caesarean section on Christmas eve, said the birth marked a life-changing moment for him and his family, coming at a time traditionally associated with reflection and togetherness.
“Getting a child just before Christmas is something I will never forget. When I first heard my son cry, it felt like the entire year suddenly made sense.
“Christmas came early for us,” said Mr Muranda, adding that becoming a father for the first time filled him with mixed emotions, ranging from excitement to disbelief.
“You think you are prepared, but when the baby actually arrives, everything changes.
“Holding my son for the first time was emotional. I kept telling myself, ‘I am now responsible for a life.’ It is both exciting and humbling,” he said, adding that the timing of the birth made the festive season even more meaningful for his family.
“This Christmas will always be different from all the others. Every year when Christmas comes, we will remember that this is the season our son joined the family,” he said.
Another father, Mr Farai Chiurungo, whose wife delivered a baby girl through normal delivery during the Christmas week, described the birth as the most precious gift his family could have received.
“Christmas will never be the same for us. This time, it was not about food or celebrations, but about welcoming our daughter into the world,” he said.
Mr Chiurungo said the arrival of his baby girl brought a sense of fulfilment and renewed purpose and that the festive season amplified the joy within the family, as relatives gathered to celebrate both Christmas and the new arrival.
“There was happiness everywhere. It felt like our family had been given a double blessing, the festive season and a new life at the same time,” he said.
Both fathers said the birth of their children during the Christmas week added special meaning to the holiday period, turning it into a lasting family milestone marked by joy, hope and new beginnings.
