Crazy Morning

This morning was perhaps the craziest morning I've had since getting here.

Of course, the day was Wednesday, a busy prenatal morning, and of course I was exhausted from not getting much sleep because of births and postpartum check-ups the previous 2-3 nights so of course I slept in that morning.

I woke up at 8:30 and flew out of bed, feeling bad that I was supposed to have been at the birth center by then (the midwives like it if we're there around 8am...). I hurried through my morning routine and arrived at the birth center a few minutes before nine.

When I walked in, Ate Lyds said, "there's a lady pushing in Room Two. We thought you would be here by eight so we didn't text you." Oops.

I walked into Room Two and Ate Dina, the midwife for that birth, said, "Hurry! Get your gloves on!"

I hurried my gloves on and caught a baby two minutes later. It was a beautiful, uneventful birth. I left the birth room at 9:20, knowing that Kari was waiting for me to start the blood work/dietary counseling. I sat down and then noticed that there were several women who needed their blood pressure taken. Since Kari wasn't totally ready for me at the moment, I quickly jumped up and started doing blood pressure.

After a few minutes of that, Kari was ready for me to come do the dietary counseling so I told the rest of the ladies in line at the blood pressure station, "Sorry!" and raced back to Kari.

I had time to do one dietary counseling before it was time to check on my postpartum lady (we do postpartum checks every fifteen minutes for the first two hours after birth). Everything was well with her and I helped her start to breastfeed.

I walked out and saw that there was another labor who needed to be checked on so I took care of that.

Then it was back to Kari.

Repeat.

Then, to top it off, during the prenatal teaching, it was about baby care so Ate Helen was teaching how to bathe a baby with a live baby who was born here yesterday. All the women were crowded into the waiting room watching how to bathe a baby and the fan wasn't turned on.

A woman in her first trimester passed out.

I was (kind of) watching Ate Helen bathe the baby while (finally) getting to sit for a second and eat a little bit of breakfast when I heard a commotion and saw three women trying to hold up a fourth, limp woman. So they helped her into a chair while she regained consciousness while I raced for some water to give her.

The woman was ok but it was rather startling watching someone pass out.

About an hour later, things were starting to slow down when I had my last fifteen minute check on my postpartum lady. When I walked back to Room Two, I noticed that she was standing outside the CR (comfort room - bathroom) looking like she didn't feel well and her husband had his arms around her. Just as I asked her if she was ok, she collapsed and passed out and her husband did his best to lay her on the ground. Ate Bhel was called and the woman was helped back to bed. I ran for more water.

Thankfully, the postpartum woman was ok too. But still, rather startling to watch someone suddenly pass out.

So we had two women randomly pass out this morning. It was quite the morning. I didn't get to do a lot of sitting, but it was fun. I enjoy racing back and forth doing different things and helping different women.

Birth! :-D

WARNING: you might just want to skim part of this post if you are the squeamish type around body parts and birth. However, if you really don't care or want to read about it, you may proceed. :-D

So this afternoon while I was studying, a laboring woman walked into Shiphrah at 9cm. Karissa and I were up next, especially since Jennifer was at the mall, so we went into the birth room with her. Since I was the one assisting, Ate Larnie asked if I wanted to do the vaginal exam to check for dilation.

I gulped. Um...No? I've never done one before...

However, once the woman was situated on the birth stool, Ate Larnie gave me some sterile gloves and said, "stick your fingers in, you'll feel the head."

*Gulp* Yikes!

So I did. And I felt the head. And I was amazed at what it felt like.

Over the next hour, we sat and watched and felt the baby's head come closer and closer to the opening. The mom was strong and worked really hard.

As the head was finally starting to show, I was able to do something I've always wanted to do: reach out and touch the baby's hair as it is crowning (I think I've wanted to do that since the first birth I attended almost 2 years ago). Then, Ate Larnie showed me where to put my hands to slow the baby's head so as to protect the mother's perineum. It was amazing feeling that little soft head gradually be pushed into my hands. Its cheeks were so chubby as its face sat smushed as if there were a turtleneck around its chin! :-D

Then Ate Larnie took the head and pulled down and out to free the shoulders and the baby slid free.

It would have been totally beautiful, except I had been crouched on my knees in a hot room for the last 10-20 minutes. The last time I did that, I passed out. After the baby was out, I stood up since I felt like I was passing out. Then, in the flutter of activity after a birth, I quickly excused myself from the room. I made it into the study area before starting to black out in a chair. Thankfully, Jennifer had shown up by that point and she saw me and got me some water. I don't think I actually passed out, but it was close.

The whole time I was blacking out, I was thinking, "how do I explain to Ate Larnie that I'm not passing out because of the birth?!"

Anyway, they understood.

And in case you're wondering, I'm feeling better. :-D

And here's some pictures taken from today. Enjoy!

Karissa took this picture of me teaching Johannah how to crochet 

right inside Shiphrah 

outside Shiphrah 

outside our apartment 

please leave your shoes outside the door as we are now entering the apartment. :-D

inside the apartment. 

the room Karissa and I share 

outside Shiphrah, where prenatal classes are taught

the man on the far right saw me standing with a camera and suddenly shouted to the kids, "picture!"

random dog resting in the prenatal teaching area

adorable little girl playing outside

laundry

Martin

Karissa; people have asked her if she's a Catholic nun or Amish. The answer: neither. But it is kind of funny watching people's reactions to her. She's super respected out here. :-D

inside a birth room

popular mode of transportation out here

laundry hanging to "dry". Wet things take FOREVER to dry out here!

My little friend Johannah (on the left) and one of her friends