The moment Merryn Hatchuel’s OB-GYN calmly said, “This baby needs to come out, tonight,” everything changed. What began as a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy for the Joburg-based physiotherapist suddenly became a rush of decisions, medical teams, and an emergency C-section at 34 weeks.Within hours, baby Adam arrived — small but strong — and was whisked off to the NICU. For Merryn, it was the beginning of a chaotic, emotional, and deeply transformative chapter that highlighted just how crucial the right medical aid support can be.
But to truly understand how much Profmed’s cover and care meant to her, we need to start at the beginning.
Merryn is a driven professional who has run her own physiotherapy practice, Physio at Merryn, since she was 28. That independence has always been important to her. It’s not just about the freedom to run her day her way, it’s about building a meaningful career on her terms. “I don’t have sick leave and I don’t have maternity leave,” she says. “If I don’t work, I don’t get paid, but I wouldn’t trade any of it. I love the flexibility of private practice and the relationships I’ve built with my patients over the years.” Her rooms are attached to the dental practice her husband runs, both conveniently located on the same property where they live — an arrangement that lets her juggle family life and her patient base with autonomy.
Pregnancy, for the most part, was joyful. “I really enjoyed being pregnant,” she reflects. “I had a healthy pregnancy with no complications and was excited to welcome our child into the world.” Between a wonderfully supportive OB-GYN at Sandton Mediclinic and Profmed’s Tums2Tots programme, Merryn felt fully cared for. “Tums2Tots was amazing,” she says. “They sent me a beautiful nappy bag, , even a breastfeeding workshop at the Houghton Hotel, all for free.” She appreciated the tailored advice, personal pregnancy tracking updates on the Profmed app, and the practical extras that helped her feel prepared and supported.
She continued working throughout her pregnancy, supported by loyal patients and locum physiotherapists she’d lined up to cover her maternity leave. Then, at 33 weeks, she felt a deep, persistent pelvic pain, one that, even as a physio, didn’t feel quite right. A small amount of spotting sent her straight to the labour ward. The tests looked reassuring — no distress, no contractions — but her body was already showing early signs of labour. It turned out to be a placental abruption, caused by the baby growing too large for Merryn’s womb, which led the placenta to begin detaching from the uterine wall. Her doctor made the call to admit her and start treatment to delay delivery, including corticosteroids to help Adam’s lungs develop. A few days later she was sent home on strict bed rest. However, the pains did not stop and Merryn returned to the Mediclinic for another check-up. “At that point, I would have happily continued to experience the pain if it meant Adam had longer in my womb, but my OB-GYN felt things were not right and made the decision: baby Adam needed to be delivered via C-section that evening.”
Everything moved quickly. Merryn was rushed home to pack, her husband attended a last-minute patient appointment, their dog was swiftly collected by her father, and three hours later, she was in the delivery room. Despite the rush and high stakes, the procedure itself was calm and reassuring. “I was surrounded by these nurturing, competent women,” she recalls. “It was so peaceful.” Adam was born at 2.34kg and immediately taken to NICU. He stayed there for 21 days.
Merryn’s postpartum experience was shaped by her own medical training and the immense support of the Sandton Mediclinic team. “Six hours after my C-section, the nurse woke me up and said, ‘Time to walk.’ I knew that protocol and happily got up and walked, but all I wanted was to see my baby.” They made an exception, wheeling her into the NICU at 2:30 a.m. so she could hold Adam’s hand. The next morning, she began expressing colostrum and continued to pump breastmilk throughout Adam’s NICU stay, delivering bottles daily.
Through every twist, Profmed was there. “Everything was covered. There were no issues, I didn’t need to think about anything but Adam, both pre- and post-birth,” Merryn says. From hospital admissions to the scans and dietary consultations during pregnancy, she never once felt unsupported. “Profmed just handled it all in the background.”
Her verdict? “I always recommend Profmed to my patients. They really understand professionals. You don’t always have a straightforward path, especially if you’re self-employed, but Profmed supports you through the unexpected.”
To find out how Profmed can support your personal wellness while you build your career, visit our website to review our benefit options.
