So we have been in Uganda for one month, which is hard to believe. Between the four of us we have caught 99 babies. We have experienced:
-8 sets of twins, one face presentation, one shoulder presentation and seven breeches (not to mention lots of post-partum hemorrhages, shoulder dystocias and resuscitations)
-babies with cleft lip and palate, ambiguous genitalia, spina bifida and polydactyl (more than 10 fingers and toes)
-moms who seized from high blood pressure
-and mostly, we have had moms who have birthed their babies without ANY complications
Our favorite moments have been (besides talking with our families):
-a mom with a baby with cleft palate who we worried wouldn’t bond with her baby and she loved that baby so much
-when Grace (our preceptor) had her finger sucked by a baby in utero (inside the mom) which made her scream
-working for 2.5 hours and delivering 12 babies in that time
-walking into a room to catch a baby, deliver a placenta and chart (while standing up, holding a b.p. cuff and other supplies) without even thinking about it
Our hardest moments (besides missing our families):
-unnecessary episiotomies (cuts to the woman’s perineum) for 4 out of 5 births in one day (not done by us of course)
- being unable to get the arms down for a breech baby that when he was finally born never had a heartbeat and wouldn’t come around no matter what we tried
-a 15 year old GIRL labouring in a blue flowered dress, scared and alone
- anytime I found a baby who didn’t make it (or a row of them on a cart)
- every mom trying to get through childbirth with malaria and/ or HIV
Our funniest moments:
-almost missing the plane in London because we needed “one last glass of wine”
-loading 11 bags, 5 carry-ons and 6 people into one “rickety van”
-discovering a breech by the preceptor pointing out the meconium (baby pooh) on my glove
-a breech that literally “flew out”
Favorite food:
-the first night of buffet at the Zebra
Worst food:
- the last night of the buffet at the Zebra
... see you in 2 weeks... xoxoxox
Carole, Jody, Sarah and Tina
Last day in the Netherlands
14 years ago
Loving every minute you can share with us.
ReplyDeleteEllen (sarah's bud')
Two weeks left! Enjoy every moment. Will love to hear the stories first hand when you get home!
ReplyDeleteHey Mom (and Lovely Ladies):
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to frequently share these amazing stories with us! Mom, from your six kids, one son-in-law, one nephew, one niece, and a plethora of animals: WE MISS YOU!!! Two weeks - hard to believe that you're two thirds of the way through this incredible (and presumably life changing) experience.
We all laugh when we read your funny stories and posts, and can't help but nearly cry when you share others. We are all so proud of you!! Thank you for helping to change the world, one birth at a time.
See you in two weeks!! Much love xoxoxo
Bre
Pff that and only you guys would almost miss a plane over WINE. Jeez! Love it!
ReplyDelete