First Day at the Clinic

Hello!
I woke up at 5:00 this morning to walk to the clinic and make it there by 6. It wasn't completely humid yet so I was satisfied with the walk. When I arrived the night shift gave us report and then our day began. We first discharged a family who had stayed through the night. Then throughout the day we probably had at least 15 mothers bring their babies in for check ups. The babies were so cute! I will take pictures next time for all of you to see. We did have one birth today. Births have been low over the last week but the students told me they usually have one every shift, sometimes more. The birth today was very quick and I almost missed it. I saw the mother come out of the backroom, aka the CR for comfort room, and she grimaced once on her way back to bed. Keep in mind she was our only patient so about five of us were sitting in the room next to her on the couch talking quite loud. One midwife apparently heard her push and rushed in. I'm not sure how she heard that because most patients make no noise at all and this woman was definitely silent..it was probably a small grunt. As we all rush in behind her one midwife said "oh, head" as the other midwife went to get gloves but as she walked about two feet we heard "oh, baby out" and just like that I saw the midwife holding the baby. I then stayed in the room as we waited for the placenta to deliver.

The couple were very silent during the entire process which was different from those in the states. I did not see the mother make any sounds or even grimace during the quick delivery of the baby or the placenta. The couple also did not talk to the baby but I am sure they were probably waiting to be alone. Every mother is required to come to the clinic with a bantay which is a helper. This can be the husband or anyone she chooses. It is their job to take the rubber covering and the sheets off the bed and wash them while the mother recovers. This is how the clinic keeps blood born diseases from spreading. Clients are then required to stay at the clinic for 7 hrs for postpartum observation. Hemorrhaging is more come in Asians so they are looked after carefully. The placenta also has to leave the clinic with the family. We tell them to bury it but it probably gets thrown in the trash or the ocean.

I don't have to work tomorrow so I may go explore and take some pictures.

Fun Fact for the day: McDonalds delivers and has rice instead of french fries. I haven't eaten there yet but I will let you know when I do.

Love you all!
-Kelsey