Maternal Wealth Podcast - Own Your Birth

From New York to Ghana: Vanessa Gyan's Journey Through Motherhood and Maternal Health Advocacy

• Stephanie Theriault • Season 1 • Episode 25

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Meet Vanessa Gyan, a media professional who founded Modern Day Mom Ghana and is the CEO of The Sincerely Vee Foundation. Her life took an unexpected turn when a brief holiday visit to Ghana in 2012 became a permanent relocation. Now, eleven years later, Vanessa shares the powerful birth stories that shaped her journey as a mother of three and launched her mission as a maternal health advocate.

Vanessa's maternal journey spans continents, with her three children's births taking place in New York City, even though she resides in Ghana. While her first two deliveries went relatively smoothly, her third pregnancy revealed the fragility of maternal health when she experienced bleeding at two months and learned she had initially been carrying twins. Complications mounted as her pregnancy progressed, requiring a medical procedure in Ghana before traveling to New York City, where her water broke at just 28 weeks. After weeks of hospitalization on strict bed rest, Vanessa delivered her daughter via emergency C-section at nearly 32 weeks, followed by a month-long NICU stay and significant recovery complications.

These experiences gave Vanessa profound insight into maternal healthcare systems across two countries, but a disturbing reality in Ghanaian hospitals truly transformed her purpose. She discovered that mothers who cannot pay their medical bills are detained in hospitals after giving birth, unable to leave with their babies. Even more heartbreaking, women who have lost their babies during childbirth may be detained in rooms with mothers who have healthy newborns until they can pay their bills.

For nearly eight years, Vanessa's NGO has worked tirelessly to discharge these detained mothers by paying their hospital bills, providing educational resources, hosting free baby showers, and supporting both mothers and fathers through the transition to parenthood. Working primarily with a small team and through community fundraising, she has maintained this vital work consistently, becoming a lifeline for vulnerable mothers.

If Vanessa's story and mission move you, connect with her on Instagram at @vanessa_gyan or  Vanessa_Gyan to learn how you can support her maternal health initiatives in Ghana. 


Music Credit

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/catching-up-the-future

https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/all-seasons

https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/sunny-stroll


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Stephanie Theriault:

Welcome to the Maternal Wealth Podcast, a space for all things related to maternal health, pregnancy and beyond. I'm your host, stephanie Terrio. I'm a labor and delivery nurse and a mother to three beautiful boys. Each week, we dive into inspiring stories and expert insights to remind us of the power that you hold in childbirth and motherhood. We're here to explore the joys, the challenges and the complexities of maternal health. Every mother's journey is unique and every story deserves to be told.

Stephanie Theriault:

Please note that this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for medical guidance that is tailored to your specific needs. Are you ready? Let's get into it. Today we welcome Vanessa Jan, a mother of three and a postpartum transition coach. Vanessa is here to share her three birth stories and discuss the birth experience for women in Ghana. She helps women who find themselves in difficult circumstances after giving birth in the hospital. Vanessa and I connected through family and friends when I lived and worked in New York City. I am excited and grateful that Vanessa has taken the time out of her busy schedule to sit down and chat with me about her personal experiences with pregnancy and childbirth, and the childbirth experiences of women in Ghana. Vanessa, welcome to the show.

Vanessa Gyan:

Hi, stephanie, thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much for having me Thank you so?

Stephanie Theriault:

much for being here. I was reading your article in About Her Culture, titled From NYC to Ghana why Vanessa Jan Knows she Made the Right Move. I like to begin our episodes with a backstory so our listeners can learn about you before you became a mother and the person you are today. Can you share with us who Vanessa Jan was before you became a mom of three and what motivated you to move from your childhood home, NYC, to Ghana?

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay, so before I was a mom of three, I was living in New York with my family. My mom, my sisters, my bonus dad Went to school in New York. I studied TV radio communications at Brooklyn College and I was a working, growing, blossoming woman. I've worked at everywhere, from pharmacies and, as I got older, like Century 21 Macy's I was. I enjoyed working, I've always enjoyed working, so that's that's always been number one. I love making my money. I love making my own money, so I've always enjoyed working, so that's always been number one, I love making my money.

Vanessa Gyan:

I love making my own money. So I was always working, even while I was in school. But I always envisioned, even where I am right now in life. I envisioned it from a very young age. I wouldn't say it was going to be in Ghana, but everything that I am doing from when I was very young, it was already what I wanted it to be. I am a go-getter, I love giving back. I love my family, I love my tribe. I love on them really hard. But yeah, I'm a New York girl. I wasn't born in New York but I was raised in New York from the age of eight. So I say I'm a full New Yorker.

Stephanie Theriault:

Yes, Tell us a little bit about the decision, why you decided to move to Ghana.

Vanessa Gyan:

So it's so interesting because it was never on any of my vision boards. It was never a thought in mind. The last time I had been to Ghana, I was about seven years old and it was for seven, eight years old, my grandmother's funeral, and I hadn't been back to Ghana throughout my childhood, and it was 2012. It was this hype like come to Ghana, Ghana in December, it's the time, like you're going to enjoy it. It's like a party central and I was like, okay, let me just go there. It was supposed to just be a holiday Came for about a couple of weeks I think it was three weeks, four weeks and I really enjoyed myself At that time.

Vanessa Gyan:

I had already gotten my degree, obviously, at Brooklyn College. I was already working in the media space in New York, so I had the knowledge, I had the education when it comes to the media space, the knowledge, I had the education when it comes to the media space. So when I got to Ghana, you know they're like oh, you know, Vanessa, why don't you see if you can get a job here? Like, why don't you try to make that transition here? And I didn't even hesitate. I was like you know what? It's a cool idea. I felt like the media space was booming. It was now evolving in Ghana. With my experience, why not try? And if it didn't work, I could always go back to New York. That was never an issue. So, yeah, that Christmas I was like, okay, I was introduced to the owner of a TV station who promised me a job. Now, obviously, when someone promises you a job, you're still shaky. Promised me a job Now, obviously, when someone promises you a job, you're still shaky. It's like no contracts were signed. But I had faith because it was a family friend and that was it. I went back to New York and my stuff was packed up and I was on my way to Ghana to see what life was going to look like.

Vanessa Gyan:

And almost 11 years later, I am still here Loving life. Yes, New York is me, but Accra, I think it's something where you it's 11 years. I wouldn't say it gets. I don't know how to. I'm still. I love the fast paced life. That's something that here here's very slow, Like everything is dragged, so I try to keep a balance. You know, I feel like when it comes to, let's say, my workers, I try to let them pick up their speed, Because for me, I think about what if you decide to transition out of Ghana, you can't have this like slower mentality. You're going to have to, like you know, get things going and be on the go and really you know it's slow here, but even in the slowness there's some type of like peace. I don't it's like weird to explain the balance, but there is this peace in it now transitioning our conversation into motherhood.

Stephanie Theriault:

Did you know you always wanted to be a mom so I always knew I wanted to be a mom.

Vanessa Gyan:

Now, did I know I was gonna be? Did I think, a mom of three? No, and all my cousins can testify to this. I always said I would have one child. You know, one child. It'll be a girl and she'll be just a mini version of me, that's you know. I'm fine with that, but know that God had other plans and I'm grateful because my three children are amazing and they've they've helped me grow into the woman I am today talking to you.

Stephanie Theriault:

Tell us about the first time you found out you were pregnant. What did that look like for you?

Vanessa Gyan:

I was like whoa, okay. But at the same time I was at an age where I didn't feel like I cannot take on this opportunity like this changing my life. You know, I knew that it was the right time. It was the right time for me and, yeah, so I was very happy. You know, I always had this mindset that once I get to a certain age and a certain point in my career, the kids will come and I would be very joyful, it wouldn't be a regret, I wouldn't feel like my child is coming and now my career is over. I feel like it fell into place really well.

Stephanie Theriault:

So I was happy, yeah, when I found out, so for your first child during your pregnancy, did you receive the prenatal care in Ghana or in New York city?

Vanessa Gyan:

No. So I did my seven months in Ghana and then I traveled out to New York. So the seven months I was in Accra it was at a private facility. But even in the private facility I saw like little gaps in the system. And that's because when I was doing my many jobs in New York there was a time when I actually worked at a hospital, so I had, you know, firsthand experience of how the maternal health sector was.

Vanessa Gyan:

Nowhere is perfect, obviously, but I feel like just little things, like showing compassion, more compassion. It shouldn't be. You're just a number. When you go and see your doctor, you know you should be able to sit and have a conversation and feel comfortable. It could have been just a one-off for me for that first situation, but even like a pamphlet, you know something to read little like samples of, like diapers, you know those things. Little like samples of like diapers. You know those things. It excites you, it gives you like this joy. You know, I just found it to be so like cold, like there was no emotion between myself and my healthcare practitioner, even though she was recommended as like one of the best in Accra and I guess the service itself, her check-in, making sure everything is good, okay, but I felt like there could have been more compassion. You know, from my first to my second, the compassion did change. So I guess, maybe, if that's just maybe, that was her personality, I don't know.

Stephanie Theriault:

So seven months come along and then you travel to New York. Okay, and then, while you're in New York, are you staying with family?

Vanessa Gyan:

GYN there, I think I like Googled, I can't even remember but someone recommended I don't remember, but it turned out he he's from Ghana and you know, when you go at seven months, a lot of facilities do not want to accept you because you're late into your pregnancy. They usually like you to be a part of the facility for, like you know, long-term. But because he was Ghanaian and you know, you know he saw me as like, uh, like a daughter. He was like, okay, you know, we'll take you in. As long as you have like all your files up to date, we'll take you, and I did the last couple of months of my prenatal care there.

Stephanie Theriault:

For your delivery? Did you wait to go into labor or were you induced For your delivery?

Vanessa Gyan:

did you wait to go into labor or were you induced? So first time around I waited and went into labor. Naturally, I started contracting, went to the hospital. They're like, oh, you're one centimeter, Please go back home. It got worse throughout the day. I was like I'm going back again, Went back and they're like you're still one centimeter, but you're still in the system, Like they. They hadn't checked me out, so you might as well like you can stay, like whatever, like go let's get her a bed because obviously she's going to keep coming back every hour on the hour.

Vanessa Gyan:

But also, my mom works at downstate hospital. That's where I gave birth, you know. Obviously they knew her, so they made sure I was like comfortable, but not only me, cause when I see other moms from the past over the past years who are there, they make every woman feel very comfortable. So, yeah, I was admitted and yeah, I've pushed through. It was because we haven't gotten to the other two, but this was like the mildest experience of childbirth for me. It was. Even the whole pregnancy was very easy. Obviously, that was almost eight years ago. I was much younger, but it was a very smooth pregnancy and a smooth delivery.

Stephanie Theriault:

Who was with you when you delivered.

Vanessa Gyan:

So it was my sister was with me. So my mom was there for the early portions, but then she went home to rest and then my sister came. She was there. She cut the umbilical cord of my first son.

Stephanie Theriault:

I love when I have patients and sisters and mothers. I love when there's like that feminine energy in the room. It's magical, it really really is, it really is Okay. So you had a nice, smooth first delivery. Did you have an epidural?

Vanessa Gyan:

I did. I got an epidural at seven centimeters, Just couldn't go anymore. I was like, ah, just just I, whatever it is you need to do, to like let me calm down, just do it. So yes, I did have an epidural at around seven centimeters. Do you remember how long you pushed? For I pushed, it wasn't long, Okay, Well, I don't know what. What would you say is long?

Stephanie Theriault:

I would say like three hours is a long time.

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay, no, it was way less. Maybe it was like from when they said, okay, let's go, it had to be like an hour or less. Maybe it was like from when they said, okay, let's go, it had to be like an hour or less.

Stephanie Theriault:

Okay, yeah, do you remember if you were intact or you had any tearing?

Vanessa Gyan:

I did rip. I think they gave me two stitches. Okay, not bad, yeah, two stitches.

Stephanie Theriault:

So did you have a boy or a girl?

Vanessa Gyan:

A boy, aaron. How much did he weigh? So did you have a boy or a girl? A boy, aaron. How much did he weigh? He was seven pounds eight ounces.

Stephanie Theriault:

Okay, that's a good, nice, healthy baby. And then, how was your recovery? How long did you stay?

Vanessa Gyan:

in the hospital, I think it was. I think it was two days, and then I went home and recovery was smooth sailing, in the sense of like I was up as if I hadn't given birth. It was really smooth sailing for me the first time around, yeah.

Stephanie Theriault:

Giving birth over here in New York. Did you miss Ghana, like were you ready to get back, or were you like I want to stay here for a little bit?

Vanessa Gyan:

You know, in general when I'm in New York I love being in New York. I know eventually I have to come back, but I'm not rushing to come back. I soak in all that I can and with the baby I waited three months so I made sure we did like all the appointments up until three months before we came back to Ghana.

Stephanie Theriault:

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Vanessa Gyan:

I want another baby a long time it was well. Aaron is seven and my middle is going to be two. So there's a gap. There was a huge gap. And that was more because, you know, I was a single mom after I had Aaron. So you know, I wasn't dating, I was just. It was just me and Aaron. It was literally just. I always thought that it would just be me and him for the rest of our lives and I was very okay with that. But again, you know, the universe had other plans and yeah, then I met someone and then we have our two youngest now.

Stephanie Theriault:

When you got pregnant with your second child, did you already like envision you going back to New York city for the delivery?

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay, so yes going back to New York City for the delivery. Yes, okay. So yes, yes, there was no doubt about that. I knew I would go back. Yeah, there was no question about that at all.

Stephanie Theriault:

How was your second pregnancy? Was it similar to your first?

Vanessa Gyan:

So the majority of it was very smooth sailing. When I got to New York I did spot a bit which made me very nervous, but when I went for my checkup they didn't see anything wrong. They said I was fine. But then obviously now there's anxiety, like you know, you're checking every like minute, like is everything okay down there, like you know. But that was the only hiccup during my second pregnancy was the spotting, which it was only one day and it was very light. It was like a speck. But I'm one of those people. A speck to me is massive.

Vanessa Gyan:

So I need to go and make sure everything is okay, even though my uncle, who is a doctor, when we called him he was like I shouldn't worry, I shouldn't go to the hospital, don't waste my time. But I did, I went and luckily everything, everything was fine. But for him they did scrape me. I was really tired. At like 36, 37 weeks I was literally like I am tired, like this is too much, and my doctor kept saying don't worry, we'll do the I don't know the what's the term, I forgot what the where they scrape your membranes. A membrane sweep, yes. The membrane sweep, yes. So he did that at I think it was 38 weeks and literally I think it was like three days later I went into labor.

Stephanie Theriault:

I wanted to say, for anyone who's listening to the podcast and how you mentioned, even a little bit of blood is a lot. Always. Just go get checked right. Yes, don't put it off, because you just never know and you much rather go to the hospital, go to your midwife and have them check you out and say you're okay, as opposed to waiting and then you can't take it back if something was genuinely wrong.

Vanessa Gyan:

Exactly, I absolutely agree.

Stephanie Theriault:

All right, so you go into labor with your second. Are you going back to the same hospital or did you go back to the same?

Vanessa Gyan:

hospital Downstate hospital Because my first experience there was lovely and you know my mom working there, I knew I would get, you know, a nice room. You know they give you some VIP care when you work at the hospital and my mom's been there for I think like 20 years Could be even more. Yes, so I go there. They admit me. I'm trying to remember it was literally the same. Like it's so weird, because my first and my second it mirrored each other a lot, even the time of birth. They're both like four something. Even their dates are like weird. One is like not weird, but my eldest is July 7th 2017. And then the middle is July 5th 2023. Cause, what are we in 25? Yes, but um, yeah, I went into labor and natural I don't remember if I ripped this time around, I can't remember. But um, yeah, I went into labor and natural, I don't remember if I ripped this time around, I can't remember. But yeah, it was smooth sailing also, yeah, a bouncing baby boy. He was also about seven pounds, like eight ounces, seven ounces, yeah.

Stephanie Theriault:

And then who was with you for this delivery, so that one was, I think, my mom.

Vanessa Gyan:

Yes, because I remember Dr Nichols. He was incredible. Like he was so incredible Because my OBGYN he doesn't come in to deliver but he has other doctors that come in to deliver. So he recommended Dr Nichols who was like incredible and I remember like my mom talking to him and I remember her being scared to cut the umbilical cord. Yeah, so my partner at the time was in Ghana.

Stephanie Theriault:

Was your son with your partner at the time or was he with you in New York?

Vanessa Gyan:

He was in New York. So I'm that mom, that my kids are everywhere with me. Yeah, they're like on my hip, so like if I'm going to deliver, we're going to take you out of school a little early, you're going to do your school work in New York, like they'll email it and we'll get back when we get back. That's, that's me. Yeah, I have to. My eyes have to be on them 24 seven.

Stephanie Theriault:

So you had a nice smooth delivery with baby number two. How long did you stay in New York?

Vanessa Gyan:

City. For him also, it was three months. Yes, yes, made sure he got all his other shots that he needed and everything, and then we headed back to Ghana.

Stephanie Theriault:

You know I have three kids and I'm just envisioning you on the plane with a three month old and a toddler. Did you have some help or were you by?

Vanessa Gyan:

yourself. I was solo. But you wait till the third story. That's when you're going to be like whoa. But yeah, no, it was just myself, aaron and Amir. My eldest has always been a little mature, so he wasn't like any struggle at that time. My middle was very calm at that time. Traveling with the both of them back solo, it wasn't difficult okay, good, yes, that that helps when the oldest.

Stephanie Theriault:

They's a little interesting.

Vanessa Gyan:

Interesting is definitely the word to use.

Stephanie Theriault:

How old was your middle child when you got pregnant with your third?

Vanessa Gyan:

He was only three months. We had like literally just gotten back to Ghana, basically Maybe a month after July, August OK, four months. And then we found that we're expecting again.

Stephanie Theriault:

How was that for you to realize that you were expecting so soon after delivery?

Vanessa Gyan:

We had spoken about back to back, but I didn't know it would be like back to back, like I didn't even get time to really breathe, yeah and yeah. So it was like whoa. But at the same time it was like, okay, we can get it over with, and then I'm done. You know, there was like both ends of the stick.

Stephanie Theriault:

I hear that that, like you think, okay, back to back is overwhelming, but I like how you say that Just do it, have the two kids and then you're good. Yes, how was your pregnancy with your third?

Vanessa Gyan:

Very tough, okay. So what I forgot to mention with the first, because of my age, they automatically had me on like progesterone, on the progesterone shots. I forgot to add that as just like a safety precaution. Going into my third, so the OBGYN that took care of me my second in Ghana is who I went to for my third. Okay, because they are a fertility clinic. They deal with older, mature women and I felt like, you know, as someone who was in her late thirties that was very important.

Vanessa Gyan:

Someone who specialized in that so found out I was pregnant and my OBGYN was just like laughing her head off and but the first thing she said was let's put you on the progesterone again, just to be safe. So she started that on me. We were fine, everything was like quite smooth, didn't have hiccups, until one day in January. So two days before this, one day in January, I had a doctor's appointment and everything was fine. I went to an event. I came back, my mom was in town still because she comes the holiday season and we were in my room just like chatting we're chatting, like laughing gisting each other and I kept saying I feel like I need to do number two, I feel like it and she's like okay, and then I'm like okay. But then when I got up, there was spotting on the bed and I was like okay, I started to just have super anxiety.

Stephanie Theriault:

Can I ask you how many weeks were you at this point?

Vanessa Gyan:

At this point, I this point I was December, january, okay, so I was probably just about two and a half months, very early. So I'm like, oh, spotting, oh my God. So then I'm like I don't even know what to think. So, as I'm getting up fully and I stand, like it's just clots coming out and I'm like, oh, my God. And my mom is like, oh, my goodness. So I'm just standing there because I don't know what to do, you know. So I call my doctor and she's like this is odd, because I literally just saw you but I need you to get to the hospital. And it was around 8 PM and, honestly, if you are in Ghana and you know our health facilities, saying you're going anywhere to go get checked up at 8 PM, it's like non-existent. Like you can go to a health facility and they won't have there's no one there to take care of you.

Vanessa Gyan:

Luckily, where I was going that evening, the doctor who was on call, he knew how to scan. There's even doctors that don't know how to like properly scan. They have someone else come and scan. That's a whole nother story. So I'm standing there and at the same time I'm like talking to her, but then I'm Googling pictures to see, oh my God, is this a miscarriage? And the pictures look exactly like what's coming out, like clots, and I'm like holy shit. So my partner luckily he came home that same time he rushes me to the hospital and obviously I'm like destroyed. I'm like, oh my God, we've miscarried. How could this be? I don't understand how this could be.

Vanessa Gyan:

We get to the facility and the nurses are just like you know, don't worry, like let's just check first, you know. So the doctor comes, like within like two minutes, we go into the room, he starts to scan and the sack is still there. So I'm like, let me breathe. So now he's like we're putting you on extra progesterone. As it is, the progesterone makes you very nauseous, it makes you very lethargic. But now they're putting me on extra and he's putting me on strict bed rest until further notice. But a week later I would have to head back to the facility to get another scan. So now I'm on strict bed rest with what? That time he was like five month old my six year old at the time and I'm just like I have work to do and I'm just like super stressed out. Like what is happening, god, please, like what is happening.

Vanessa Gyan:

A week later I head to the facility, my OBGYN does a scan and she sees like a sack that's half empty. There's one full sack and a sack that's half empty and she's like the only thing this could be was that it was twins and one didn't, you know, didn't stick. And as weeks went on and I had to go every week at that point to get scanned, the other sack just kept getting smaller and smaller. So I was still spotting a bit, but the other sack was fine, like she was just chilling over there. But yeah, so basically it was a twin pregnancy and one didn't make it. But we didn't know that prior to this whole thing. I think she said also at that time we were doing, I think, the vaginal scans and sometimes it doesn't pick up on everything. But then it came to a point where she was like your cervix seems to be wide, like it wasn't like this the last time.

Vanessa Gyan:

So I'm suggesting a circlage oh my God, what a circlage. Getting that done in Ghana. Like everything to me was just like this is. This is not real Like in Ghana, me get like you know, like because I work in I do like maternal health work. There's things that I just for me personally. I just I'm like in Ghana'm like should I risk it, you know, because I feel like it's still very risky. I spoke to my partner, I spoke to my mom, I spoke to my uncle, who's the doctor, who's in New York, and he was like, you know, it's a very simple procedure and if they're suggesting it, you know recommending it, then go ahead. And so, yeah, we went ahead and I got the circlage done in Ghana.

Stephanie Theriault:

Did you have pain management for the circlage?

Vanessa Gyan:

Yes, I did so. I didn't feel anything for many hours. So I was like in the hospital for so long because I tried to get up and my legs, like I almost like fell on my face because I was rushing, Like I'm just like I want to go home, the kids are home. But yeah, I stayed for quite a while I think it was like eight, nine hours before like, yeah, everything like wore off and we, we, we headed home.

Stephanie Theriault:

Once you were home, were you still on bedrest.

Vanessa Gyan:

I was still on bedrest until so. The bedrest started in January. They took me off bed rest. It was like sometime in February, but even that it was like still be calm. She kept saying, like V, I know you're a hard worker, but you're going to have to just relax, don't overwork, don't overwork, just try to like relax. So I tried, I tried.

Stephanie Theriault:

Yeah, it's hard.

Vanessa Gyan:

It really is, it really is.

Stephanie Theriault:

So after you had the sarcoge placed, did you have any more spotting or bleeding?

Vanessa Gyan:

No, everything else was like smooth sailing. But of course this anxiety was just still in me, because it's like every day, you just don't know. There was a point where I was like, should I go to New York earlier? Literally ended up making it to New York just in time.

Stephanie Theriault:

All right. So how many weeks were you more or less when you came to New York?

Vanessa Gyan:

So I got to New York at 28 weeks.

Stephanie Theriault:

Talk to us about why you decided to come at 27 weeks and then like what was the trip like for you with everything that's going on with your body and the pregnancy and having your kids, how was that for you?

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay. So my sister actually flew to Ghana to fly back with me to New York, cause obviously I'm taking the boys with me also. And on the flight I thought I saw spotting and I asked my sister she's like girl, there's nothing like relax, like relax. But we get to New York, everything is fine. And at 29 weeks, or just ending 28 weeks, I was home and I just felt water and I'm like this can like I'm just like this is not real, like am I in a movie? Like what this is? Like this is too much for like one pregnancy. And it's go to the bathroom and the water's just gushing out and I'm like, oh my gosh. So I'm at my mom's house, but I like call her on the phone because now I'm scared to like get up and I'm like, oh, can you please come to the bathroom, because I didn't want to like give her anxiety as soon as she's woken up.

Vanessa Gyan:

Yeah, um, and this was around I don't want to like give her anxiety as soon as she's woken up. Yeah, and this was around, I don't even know, maybe like 4 am. So she comes and she's and I'm like, oh my God, like it's like there's water I don't know if my water broke so she like wakes up my stepfather, and she's like, take her to the hospital. You know she has to go to the hospital now. Luckily, the hospital was literally it's literally two minutes from the house, so we didn't have to go far. And so we get there and they're like, oh, you've ruptured, we need you to do like a scan. So I go do the scan. I'm trying to like so much happened. I do the scan and they're like the water around the baby was very low, so they're going to have to admit me. And I'm like, oh my goodness, like I came to enjoy, like the next few weeks in New York I'm having a baby sprinkle, like that's so much. And now I'm admitted and when they admit you, 99% of the time they will not discharge you till you give birth. Like downstate is very, very it's like a lockdown. Oh wait, my second, sorry, my second.

Vanessa Gyan:

I was admitted for like okay, because I went in for the spotting. I was wait, was it the spotting? No, this is what happened, sorry For my second. It gave me a shot, a steroid shot. It slowed down his movement and I got very scared. Yeah, so I went to the hospital and I don't, like, I did my research after the fact of like it could slow it down, like you have to give like 48 hours and the baby just starts to, you know, start moving around it. But I was nervous and because of that, because he slowed down, it triggered, you know them, and they admitted me for because of that, because he slowed down, it triggered, you know them, and they admitted me for like no, like three or four days and my OBGYN called, tried to get me out because he was like the baby everything will start to pick up. You know the steroid shot is strong, but they literally were not letting me out. Eventually I had to like advocate for myself for them to let me out because he was moving again. Like you know, your body when you're pregnant, like you know, like I knew he was fine, yes, so eventually they let me out, but obviously they let you sign like a waiver that if anything happens to you, you know you wanted to leave. So, yeah, that was my second.

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay, back to the third. So I get admitted, they scan, they say the water around the baby is very low. They admit me and from when they and the doctors entered, they basically let me know like you're here until you give birth. So just prepare your mind, body and soul. Obviously I was devastated, I was like crying. And then they also had the NICU team come in, because at 28 weeks you're early. If you deliver, you know 28, 29, 30, 31, your baby's going to be in the NICU. Like this cannot be real. Like this cannot be real.

Vanessa Gyan:

But the staff was amazing, as I keep saying, very encouraging For me. It was like you know to be on bed rest there, where you know they have to come and like clean you up. Like you like, literally I wasn't even allowed to go to the bathroom Like I had to like have like the little, like what do you call it? The little like potty type of thing, call the nurse, and like they would lift me to sit on. That's the strict bed rest they had me on because they wanted baby girl to stay in as long as she could. They wanted at least to pass the 30 week mark.

Vanessa Gyan:

So, yeah, I was, I was just there. Every single day my sister would come, my mom would come, like they didn't allow kids to come. So, you know the boys, I would FaceTime them, I was talking to my partner, but it was like just the wildest time of my life, like I could not believe it was happening, and scary, because I'm literally like, all right, you hear all these stories like you hear incredible stories, you know. So, yeah, every day you hear all these stories, you hear incredible stories Every day. You're just nervous. Every day, when they would come in, they would check the water, they're just like, yeah, the water around her is still very low. Yeah, you're just here, you're just here. I'm like, yeah, I'm just here. They gave me the shots that would help her lungs, just in case she did deliver early.

Vanessa Gyan:

And then, at almost 32 weeks, I was just there. I was actually with my sister and one of my good friends and I could feel some contractions, but I wasn't seen on the monitor. At this point, like I knew how to read the monitor and everything. Like I felt like I was. I was a nurse, but I could feel the contractions but they weren't showing up. So when I would tell the nurse. They were like we don't see it, but I feel something. Fine. My sister leaves, my friend leaves, it's about 6 pm and I'm like, nah, these are definitely contractions. Sorry.

Vanessa Gyan:

Three days, four days before that, they took out my circlage, which was the most painful thing ever, because they don't medicate you for that. Yeah, they literally open your legs wide and take the, take it out and you literally feel every single thing. Luckily, the surplus, I think, was just one stitch, so it wasn't a lot, but like it was it really hurt? It was it really hurt. So, yeah, I went into, I felt the contractions, I spoke to the nurse and I she said that she shifted the monitor on my stomach because obviously I'm being monitored 24 seven, and they realized that oh, there are contractions and they're coming. They're coming, you know.

Vanessa Gyan:

And so my doctors called in and the doctor that was like well, you know, when you're admitted, there's like three different doctors on rotation. So the doctor that was on call that evening she came in and she was like you know, I think you should call, like whoever you would want, you know, in the delivery room with me. Mind you, she had been breached from when I was admitted A day before she was head down. And the morning that I delivered, that morning, before my sisters and them came, she was back to being breached. So I knew most likely I would have my first C-section. So they're like call whoever.

Vanessa Gyan:

And so I call my mom and she's like well, the boys, like I can't leave the boys, and you're, you know, your stepdad's not home. I call my sister. She's like okay, I'm actually going to the bar, like she was going out with her friends. She was like so, when it's like closer in time, just call me, because the bar is literally up the road from the hospital. And I was like okay, cool, so they start to just prep everything. You know, prep, prep, prep. I was one centimeter. And then I called my sister again. I was like you need to like just make your way here, because I don't know when I'm going to deliver. She did make her way to the hospital in time and by the time they knew I was 10 centimeters.

Vanessa Gyan:

And now it's like get her into the OR. And now I'm like oh my God, like I, you know, like, because my first two pregnancies were so I just didn't know. Like. I was just like what, I don't know how I felt in that moment. There was like, no emotion but emotions. It was just like, god please. Like, just get me out of this safely, get my child out of this safely. Like, like, just get me out of this safely, get my child out of this safely. Because you could hear the panic and see it in my doctor's face the baby's breached, she's a preemie, she's 10 centimeters. We need to get this baby out.

Vanessa Gyan:

They rushed me to the OR and the anesthesiologist comes and I felt the two first cuts when they started, because obviously you know they're rushing, they have to start, and the medicine it hadn't gotten anywhere in my body. I felt the two first and I was like oh my God, I feel it. And then I hear the anesthesiologist saying you have to keep going because you got to get the baby out, and then the doctor saying like but she can feel it, he's like just keep going. So he's just pumping me.

Vanessa Gyan:

And all I remember next is that I was awake and my first question was like oh my God, how's my daughter? And they're like oh my gosh, she's fine and she's at 30, almost 32 weeks. She's breathing on her own, she's on the lowest oxygen in the NICU, the lowest, and that's only proportionary measure. And I was like, oh, my God, how is she? Is she cute, you know? You start to like how is she cute, you know? And they're like she's so pretty. And I was like, okay, where's my sister? And they're like, oh, she wasn't allowed in because it became like they had to get the baby out. We don't have time to call your sister. And I was like, okay, but everything is fine. They're like, yeah. And then they, they were just stitching me back up and I was just lying there and, yeah, eventually they rolled me back into my room Did you have general anesthesia.

Stephanie Theriault:

They put you to sleep.

Vanessa Gyan:

They put me to sleep. I think at first they were trying to like, not knock me out, but because of the circumstances they were, they were like yeah, we got to get this girl asleep and let's just get things done and she made it to.

Stephanie Theriault:

You said 32 weeks she made it to.

Vanessa Gyan:

Yes, just about 32 weeks, 31 and five days, and she was just under five pounds. Yeah, so she was kind, she was quite hefty. So they kept asking like are you sure the timeline? Because they felt like she was a little bigger for her age and I was like, well, I'm going, based on Ghana, the one prenatal appointment I had here.

Stephanie Theriault:

How was your recovery? Having that kind of experience as opposed to two vaginal deliveries that kind of were like smooth sailing. How was that for you?

Vanessa Gyan:

so okay, so I it was. I don't even know, because shortly after even going home, my c-section area like basically there was like fluids leaking from the incision. Yes, so this was about just like a week after I went home, because I had already I had seen my doctor and he said everything looked fine. But I well, they told me I could shower and I could go to the bathroom, but I think I showered too early, like a day after the C-section. I think I should have waited it out a bit and just done a wipe down for some time. That's what we are thinking happened. But yeah, I oh my God, that was a nut I got home and obviously at that time I'm going back and forth to the hospital also because baby girl is in the NICU and I remember this specific day.

Vanessa Gyan:

It was like walking was was like tiring for me, and even when I went to the NICU, one of the nurses was like like is everything okay? And I was like, oh, yeah, she's like, cause you seem a bit slower today? And I was like, oh, everything is fine. You know, not knowing there was a lot going on in my body. And that evening I was like on the bed and I just also feel like like water coming from there, and it was like. It was like. I was like, like what is happening? So again rushed to rush back to the hospital and, um, one of the doctors that was there throughout the time I was there, he was like let me check and see what's going on. And he's like yeah, it's almost an infection, but it's not yet. So we have to. You're going to have to come for wound care every single day. And I'm like so now I have to be going to wound care going to NICU this is like insane. To wound care going to NICU this is like insane. Wound care was like that night that he had to even take out. He took the bandaid off, take out the gauze, pads, clean and put. It was painful. It was painful and I was like so now I have to do this. For how long? He was like it could be like six weeks, Like it depends on the healing process. And I'm thinking, oh, my goodness, Okay, All right, Fine, so. So then at that point I'm like, okay, I'm just going to go to stay at downstate, stay at their clinic, for them to do everything for me, Like the wound care, the baby's.

Vanessa Gyan:

Upstairs, I met this incredible Nigerian OBGYN. Even up until today, like I chat with her, she is incredible. So she realized that day that I went that I was not going to be able to handle that pain every day of cleaning. I would not be able to. And she was like, well, there's something new that she saw one of her colleagues use and with that I would have to come once a week for them to change it out. And she was like, do you want me to try it on you? She's like girl, basically you're my guinea pig, but trust me, because I wouldn't do anything that I know would not work. And I was like I am trusting you and if it doesn't work, honey, I don't know what I'll do to you.

Vanessa Gyan:

So I then started going once a week for her to like clean it out. And it was a different type of gauze pad that she would insert and she would clean it. And then she would, you know, and every every week it would. Just, it got better and better and better and it literally took about eight weeks. Yeah, so even after, like baby girl was discharged because she only stayed for 30 days in the NICU, I still had to go, you know, for wound care. At the end she used like a match stick to just make sure it sealed, like at the like properly. Oh my gosh gosh. But that took about eight weeks of wound care.

Vanessa Gyan:

The doctor that delivered me, she claims when she saw me that, oh, when you rupture and you do a C-section, this can happen at times.

Vanessa Gyan:

But I still feel like it was the fact that I was bathing too early and water got inside and, funny enough, I was talking about this the other day in the sense of like I didn't show suffering in my face or of like what I was going through.

Vanessa Gyan:

And I say this because even when I was going to the NICU, um, and the nurses they actually were like, they loved the fact that, like I always went in there with like positive energy, I would always have like mascara and lip gloss on, gloss on because I felt like if I looked good, I could feel good and I can give good energy in the space that I was in, Because what I was experiencing was not easy. It was very traumatic, but I knew that I had a newborn to take care of, the boys, to get them back into they hadn't seen me for so long also making sure they enjoy the rest of their trip. So I never allowed it to show, like no one would be able to see me and say you've been through this, even till today. So when I even talk about this journey, people are quite surprised because they're like, but you don't look like what you've been through. And I said I actually do like that because there's probably people who wish I did look like what I've been through, but I refuse, I refuse.

Stephanie Theriault:

But it was a traumatic experience it's a lot when you think about this. Is your third child, who you had pretty close to your second. Then you're going through an admission antepartum. You're in the hospital for weeks, yes, and you're away from your partner. You have an emergency c-section and then you're having these, you're in pain, you have a child in the NICU. That's a lot on your plate.

Vanessa Gyan:

It was, it was a lot. And I think also you know from day one her name is Amari Rose. Her prognosis was always so positive, um, from you know, she was breathing on her own and every day, every milestone she had to meet. Every single day she met it, which was like it just like warmed my heart and like I would call in the mornings before I would go morning and evening. But then when I started the wound care I was like, okay, I have to at least just go once a day. So I would like call in the morning, speak to a nurse, make sure she's good, and then afternoon, because this was the only time out of my three pregnancies that for the first two months milk was coming. Like I was lactating. I'd never my boys I had the hardest time breastfeeding.

Vanessa Gyan:

So they were both formula babies like from the beginning.

Vanessa Gyan:

But baby girl was able to get strictly breast milk for the first two months, which made me very happy because that was very vital being in the NICU, and so that I was like okay, the body just knew like, okay, you're going to have to do this for her because she needs it.

Vanessa Gyan:

Like, at least because the doctors were saying at least the first couple of months and literally it was the first couple of months After that, it was like okay, nothing was coming. Like nothing was coming, so she went on formula. But the formula was fine also because if I was able to breastfeed they were still going to put her on extra formula because she was a preemie, yeah. So she ended up two and a half months she started formula and yeah, she's now, I guess you could say, a formula baby like her brothers. But the first two months I was actually able to pump enough for her to be fed every single day while she was in the NICU For the first month. And then when she came home, yeah, you know, we continued a bit until I couldn't anymore.

Stephanie Theriault:

It's amazing to hear how our bodies just do what needs to be done. You know, everybody knew that this is what she needed.

Vanessa Gyan:

Yes, yes, it was like wow. And I also think the nurse was very patient with me when it came to teaching me, you know, how to get the colostrum. Yes, even though the first days were like little drops, she was like that's fine, you know, just keep going, it's not pumping, like just. She taught me how to massage the boob and then like squeeze, like very patient with me, and that really helped a lot the whole NICU journey.

Vanessa Gyan:

I praise the nurses so much because they made, they made it a bit easier. You know, like on days they saw I was tired, they're like it's okay, like you could have just called and you know we would have updated you throughout the day. You know, mommy, you need to rest. You know you do need to take care of yourself. You know she's safe with us. You know she is, you know, but they just conversations with them, like they made, they made it a bit easier. The support that they were giving, yeah, and that's why I keep in contact with most of the nurses that took care of her. You know, send pictures and updates so they can see that. You know, thanks to them, you know, being a huge role she's, she's thriving beautifully. You, when you look at her, you wouldn't even think she was a preemie, and she's 10 months.

Stephanie Theriault:

Yeah, were you ready to get back home after all of this?

Vanessa Gyan:

I wanted to enjoy a bit more. I wanted to enjoy New York a bit more, which I did, and we came back in October. So what it was was she was supposed to be born in August, and my plan was actually, this time around, to just be in New York for two months after I deliver, cause I felt like I've had enough, like I can come back two months. It's fine, but obviously she was born in June. So we were there, you know, but we stayed until October.

Vanessa Gyan:

So I still got to enjoy a bit and, you know, have time with, like, my best friends. But, yeah, I still got to enjoy New York outside of being a mother that's what I should say. I got to still enjoy some solo time with my best friends. I'm going for dinner, going for brunch and like, with my sister and my mom, and then still do things as a family with the kids. And then my partner was in New York at a point too. So, yes, yes, he was able to fly out. So, you know, I still got to enjoy New York to some capacity. And it was summertime too, so you know.

Stephanie Theriault:

Yes, summer in the city is awesome.

Vanessa Gyan:

It's so amazing. It's so amazing, yes, and then we came back and I flew back with the kids all three solo.

Vanessa Gyan:

Oh my gosh, you are a saint, you know, and the thing is that. So I didn't know, I would have to buy my under no, he was one at the time a ticket, because now I had my daughter who would be the lap baby. So, yeah, we ended up having to buy him a ticket. But I had her in the sling, I had the Duna stroller, so I had her in the sling, I had him in the Duna, obviously my almost eight-year-old he's fine. And then on the flight the Duna stroller turns into a car seat, so I had it on the chair and he sat. My son, the one-year-old, sat in the Duna car seat and then I had baby girl, but where we sat there was also the bassinet where I could put her in at times also.

Vanessa Gyan:

And at that time, like I said, he was calm, he was, he was calm. It wasn't too hectic. Until almost landing it was like everyone wanted me to hold them, like she wanted me, he wanted me. I was like, oh my God, let me hold you both. But it wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be. But once we landed I was just like, thank you, jesus. Where's the nanny? I don't even want to see kids at this moment. Let me just give the nanny, the kids. Let me just breathe. I can't even imagine. Oh, it was wow, but I made it and yeah, we're here.

Stephanie Theriault:

I want to hear about your work as a postpartum transition coach and how you got into that, and then how you're helping women in Ghana who've delivered in the hospital, and how you got into that, and then how you're helping women in Ghana who've delivered in the hospital and how you help them to be discharged.

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay. So I became a postpartum transition coach. Literally when my daughter was discharged from the hospital is when I took the courses online. When she would nap, I would go online, do all my reading, take all my tests, like 3 am feeds. That's when I was still reading, doing my tests, and I felt like this was the right time because I was already doing the work. I was already doing the coaching for the past seven years through my NGO, but I wanted to become certified. I wanted it to be more on paper. So that was just recent. That was last year, but it stems from almost eight years ago.

Vanessa Gyan:

You know my prenatal here, what I saw the gap in the system and wanting to do something more for mothers in Ghana. And when my son was three months and we came back while I was away, I was contacting different moms and mommy groups like their experience of giving birth in Ghana. These are moms that were like born and raised in Ghana and I was like I was taken aback and I was like, yes, definitely need to do something. I don't know what I want to do, but I just want to give back, I want to. I want like speakers, like I just had this whole vision of what I wanted, but I didn't know exactly what it would look like. I bought a lot of like beauty products. I knew I wanted to give gift bags and I knew there was going to be an event. So, while away, after I had my first, I set up. This whole event was in contact with hospitals. After I had my first, I set up this whole event was in contact with hospitals. People connected me to hospitals and so we ended up connecting with Ridge Hospital, which is in Accra, and that's where we held our first event. We had speakers from moms to health workers speaking to the moms and the importance of prenatal, postnatal care, you know, taking care of yourself, taking care of baby. We gave them gifts and that was my first experience of like a mom coming and saying, you know, I'm admitted upstairs and I don't have money to go home with my baby. And I was like what? Like I've read it briefly, but like, so, this is like, like it's real. So we gathered funds right there myself and the speakers and we paid her bill and she went home. And that's when I started asking like so are there more moms? And they're like yeah, there's a, there's a lot more moms. This is like a normal thing. And I'm like, no, this is not normal. Like it is not normal for you know, and some of the moms is like six moms in a room there's no beds, like there'll be like three beds, and the other moms are like on the floor with their babies, and so it was like no, we, we got to do our best. Like, obviously we can't save the whole of Ghana, but whatever we can do, we will do so year round. You know, we raise funds and we discharge patients from various hospitals. Now, social workers have my number so they do call me when they need the assistance.

Vanessa Gyan:

We hold baby showers for free, and that was something also that was very like oh my God, baby shower, because our culture is very like hide your pregnancy, do not celebrate your pregnancy until after. But you know, I grew up outside, I grew up in the Western world and we love to celebrate. You know, we love baby showers. When I threw the first baby shower, the moms were just so excited. Then they were like we're going to keep getting pregnant so you can have more baby showers for us, and I was like, no, no, no, no. But yeah, we host baby showers, we host educational sessions. We pay for the bills of the moms who you know are financially, you know, distressed, and we also host the fathers in the sense of educating them. Also, we don't leave the dads out, find it very important that they are right there, because there are circumstances where the mom is there and the man has just disappeared and she, like, literally never sees him again, you know. But then we also try to lend our support to those women also, and this all stems from, yeah, my first pregnancy and being in a private facility and seeing the gaps, I was like, what about a public facility, like the government facilities must be, like, if I'm getting this privately and I'm paying so much? Imagine, you know. And yeah, so this year will be eight years.

Vanessa Gyan:

We have a huge event in July that I'm excited about. You know, last year we had to slow things down because I was pregnant. The year before we had to slow things down because I was pregnant. The year before we had to slow things down because I was pregnant. So we are coming back bigger and better and, yeah, so July, we have a clinic that we've been working with for the past three years and this is the last shebang, because we have to move.

Vanessa Gyan:

Usually we choose a different clinic every year, but they've needed our help and I just couldn't say no. But now, july, we're going to have a massive event for them with food music. An NGO from the States has come on board. We're going to be doing health screenings for them. Everything is for free and I've been trying to raise funds to get a few medical devices for them, and that's been quite difficult because they're very expensive. But this clinic specifically, they provide excellent care for the community. If they have these devices that they need, they can do so much more. So I'm still working on that for them.

Stephanie Theriault:

What devices are you trying to get for them, so like an?

Vanessa Gyan:

incubator. So they have a makeshift incubator that one of the nurses made with like a lamp, and that's what they've still been using for the past three years. I don't know how they do it, but I did promise them an incubator.

Vanessa Gyan:

I have to, even if it's not like in July. I definitely have to make sure you know I get it for them because, like, like I said, the staff they're well equipped but without you know the equipment, like, the staff themselves are very good at what they do, but the lack of equipment doesn't allow them to work at their full capacity.

Stephanie Theriault:

I see.

Vanessa Gyan:

Yeah, yeah, we've been doing it for almost eight years. I say we as if it's like a big team. It's literally myself and I have a friend called Kojo. He comes on board when it's almost time for the events and, yeah, I just reach out. In the beginning I was financing it myself with my family and, as time has gone on, I do the GoFund or I go on social media like Twitter and I'll you know this is what's happening, who can help? And then some of the like Malcolm is one of our biggest neighborhood grocery stores. They've come on board before Gandoor Cosmetics. They come on board every year with like tons of products, baby products and mommy products. So, yeah, we're just. You know, we're always seeking support because it's not easy and I'm honestly when I not to like brag, but I think we are the only NGO that has been doing this consistently. People get up and do it, maybe for their birthdays, like okay, let me go and pay hospital bills, which is like incredible, but we have been doing it consistently for October November will be eight years.

Stephanie Theriault:

Wow, yeah, yeah. For those who are listening to the episode and if they want to support you and your cause, how can they find you and get more information?

Vanessa Gyan:

Okay, so I'm on social media Twitter, facebook, instagram Vanessa Jan. So if it's Instagram is at Vanessa V-A-N-E-S-S-A, underscore G-Y-A-N. Instagram would be best because I see the messages right away and I can give all the info that is needed. Supporting my maternal health awareness initiative.

Stephanie Theriault:

We will have all your social media when it's released and if anyone wants to reach out and help for a good cause, this is one to support. I can't even imagine being in that situation and not being able to go home with your child and, I think, or not being able to go home period.

Vanessa Gyan:

And even sorry to cut you, there's been circumstances where a mom has lost her baby during delivery and you know she's detained. They don't let her go home and they place her in a room with other moms who have delivered safely and with their babies. I remember that day when we saw it the first time. I was like this is like who can, who can, even like. I didn't even understand, I couldn't, the pain. I I'm even speechless. I was just like so she was. When we saw that she was like on the top of the list, like even if she was the only one we would have discharged that day, depending on the cost, I would have made sure she went home.

Stephanie Theriault:

You're right, there's no words. I just he went home. You're right, there's no words, I just it really hearing that heart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, thank you for doing what you do and thank you for helping these women, and personally, from one mom to another. I want to thank you for taking your time to come and chat with me and to share your story, to bring more awareness of what is going on with the woman, and it's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you.

Vanessa Gyan:

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I'm really excited to hear the final edits and, of course, to my cousin-in-law for introducing us. I'm so grateful. It's funny because top of the year one of the things on my list was to speak on what I do on an international platform and specifically an international podcast. So I get to check that off the list for this year already. So I'm just really grateful. I enjoy I think you can tell I just enjoy talking about, you know, being a mom and my experience and you know, relocating and all of it. It's a pleasure being able to speak to you.

Stephanie Theriault:

Thank you so much. I will be in touch. You should send me the dates when you're in New York City so we can get like a little family meetup oh that would be really fun, definitely will.

Stephanie Theriault:

Thank you for listening. Be sure to check out our social media. All links are provided in the episode description. We're excited to have you here. Please give us a follow If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the show. Reach out to us via email at info at maternalwealthcom. And remember stay healthy, embrace your power, and you got this.