Zara Ishfaq, 31, suffered a life-altering injury after a 3cm fistula went undetected for nearly four years following the birth of her first son. Despite reporting chronic pain, she only received corrective surgery in May 2025, which left her with a permanent stoma.
The 3cm fistula that remained hidden for four years
Zara Ishfaq’s medical ordeal centered on a 3cm fistula—a hole connecting the bowel and the vagina—that went undetected for nearly four years. According to the report, this severe vaginal tear occurred during the birth of her first child but was not identified despite the patient repeatedly reporting gut problems and severe pain.
The failure to diagnose this injury meant that Ms. Ishfaq spent years dealing with the physical and psychological fallout of a condition that healthcare professionals later admitted could have been spared. The delay in treatment transformed a treatable birth injury into a chronic disability .
Forceps delivery and the decision against a C-section
The complications began when Zara Ishfaq was induced to deliver a baby that was significantly larger than average. As reported ,midwives used forceps to extract the infant after the baby's shoulders became stuck during delivery, yet Ms. Ishfaq was not offered a Caesarean section to mitigate the risks associated with a larger infant.
Following the delivery, Ms. Ishfaq experienced rapid blood loss and severe swelling.. Despite these red flags, she was discharged from the hospital only two days later, with her concerns dismissed by staff who advised her to perform pelvic floor exercises rather than investigating the source of her pain.
Hyperemesis gravidarum and the toll on a second pregnancy
The physical trauma of the undiagnosed fistula extended into Zara Ishfaq's second pregnancy with her daughter, Elayna. During this period, Ms. Ishfaq suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of nausea and vomiting that required hospital treatment, further compounding the strain on her body.
This secondary health crisis highlights the cumulative effect of untreated birth injuries. The psychological toll of navigating a second pregnancy while suffering from an undetected internal hole underscores the urgency of the maternity care reforms Ms. Ishfaq is now campaigning for.
The May 2025 surgery and the resulting stoma
Corrective action only arrived in May 2025, when a barrage of tests finally revealed that the damage caused by the birth injury had been severely underestimated. Doctors informed Zara Ishfaq that she required major surgery to repair the fistula.
The surgery was performed in May 2025, but the delay in treatment meant the procedure left Ms. Ishfaq with a stoma—a bag worn outside the body to divert bowel waste.. This outcome serves as a permanent reminder of the medical oversight that occurred during her first delivery.
Who ignored the reports of severe blood loss?
Several critical details remain missing from the account of Zara Ishfaq's care. Specifically, the report does not name the medical facility where the birth occurred or identify the specific clinicians who authorized the discharge of Ms. Ishfaq two days after birth despite her experiencing severe swelling and blood loss.
Furthermore, it remains unclear why the medical team prioritized pelvic floor exercises over diagnostic imaging when the patient reported severe gut problems. The source provides the perspective of the victim and the general admission of fault by professionals, but does not include a statement from the specific hospital administration involved.
Comments 0