week twenty two

labour room
my second week in the labour started off much different then the time before. monday and tuesday were quite slow. there were even moments where we could take a seat and just rest for a moment. i was able to deliver two more baby boys in these days! i really do enjoy catching them babies!

the week really picked up wednesday and then by thursday it was utter chaos. thursday topped the entire first week all together. the morning started off as any other, i got to deliver a perfect baby girl! the first delivery for me that was a girl! i was very excited. excitement was short lived in that moment though because the mom was continually bleeding. there were huge clots coming out and she just kept bleeding. i called for one of the doctor’s and they came to inspect. there were no tears or anything that they could say was the reason. me and my partner continued praying over this new mom as they inserted an IV to help restore fluids lost. i thank the Lord because after she was checked again the bleeding had stopped! she was a little dizzy and tired but with the IV in and her resting she soon recovered and was able to breastfeed her little girl. what happened next was a little frightening. i was at the nurses desk telling my staff about the mom and how she was doing and the sound, so loud, of an airplane flew over head. i literally thought there was a bomb that would be dropped on us. it was so loud, the plane must have been just over the hospital. my staff thought the roof was going to cave in. we were all a little shaken up but the hospital staff didn’t seem phased, which gave some peace i suppose! i went back to checking the mom’s vitals when Celia entered the room saying that they needed partners on the other side because her and her partner were both delivering babies. i walked over to the other side and it was if that airplane had sent a rush of adrenaline into each women in labour and all of sudden we had everyone delivering at the same time. women from antenatal were being brought in and placed on the floor because we had no beds left. the two post-natal beds reserved the mom’s who had had there babies but are’t ready for the post natal ward yet were being cleared off for the women coming in busting to deliver. there were at least five babies coming all at the same time, one on the floor which Ash, one of us students caught just in the nick of time. i was with Emily labouring with a first time mom who was not understanding the concept of ‘pushing’, Celia was delivering all on her own for the first time, Rachel was delivering with Louise helping and Robyn, our staff, was running back and forth between all the students. the nurses were there also delivering babies and the mama’s were hollering and babies were crying..... mass chaos! but so much fun! as i had one arm under the mom’s head and shoulders helping her and trying to show her how to breathe and push i don’t think i’ve ever sweat so much in my life! Emily had to ask me to remove her glasses cuz the sweat was continually rolling down her face and getting in her eyes. the baby was born, perfect little boy. and it was my most favorite day so far! i loved the chaos, babies coming and all of praying and running around!

friday was much slower, i delivered another beautiful baby girl, but again the mom bled alot. the reason for so much women bleeding is a result of the poor health and nutrition. lots of anemia and most the mom’s i’ve delivered have been first time mom’s and have all been younger than me. on friday, she was twenty years old and the tiniest pregnant women i’ve ever seen. i was afraid her baby would be so tiny but she was perfect, yes she was small but perfectly healthy! and the mom did an amazing job. we had a good week as far as no deaths while we were there. there was morning we arrived to a set of twins that had been delivered just before but they were pre-mature. one was 300 grams and the other was 500 grams. (only one pound). he was so small. i’ve never seen anything like that in my life. one of the girls in the post natal ward met the mother who was devastated. its hard when those things happen but there are still lots of women needing our help. i’m thankful we can be there to pray and sit with those mom’s and comfort them as best as we can. the staff at the hospital usually don’t even take the time to explain that there baby has died let alone sit with them and offer some form of comfort. (the mom of the twins knew that one had for sure died but hadn’t heard about the second yet) i pray that God will continue to teach us how we can be a blessing for these women and the hospital staff.

friday night we had a bit of a get-a-way with some of our group. we reserved these tents on the nearest beach and brought food and spent the night hanging out and falling asleep to the wind and the waves! it was a great night! then the next day i went to the city and got on-line! woo hoo! haha! and was able to buy a few things that i’ve been needing for a while now, toothpaste, conditioner and of course some chocolate! this week has been a little bit rough with home sickness.... its not often i miss home but contact with home is hard and to not be living in a setting that ‘feels like home’ is also difficult. i like being busy in the hospital but sitting around the base gives me too much time to miss the familiarity of things of home. sitting in the living room hanging out with my family, going out for coffee with friends, driving my car, eating food thats ‘normal’ to me, not being sweaty and hot always, having a laundry machine to wash clothes and getting to wear jeans! just a few things i miss!

well i’m on base and in the clinic this next week. i also have the community profile project that is supposed to be finished. so hopefully it will be a restful week but also productive!

miss you all and wish i could be home to spend christmas with you!

till next time....