Big Girl Panties

On Monday Tina and I put on our “big girl panties” and made our way to the hospital for the start of our time without preceptors. It was a tough experience with 4 out of 5 births including unnecessary episiotomies (cuts to the woman’s perineum) done by the hospital staff (not us!). We were worried to say the least. But by the end of the week we are pleased to be conducting the births on our own and even managing problems like post partum haemorrhage and shoulder dystocia.

We’ve been asked to talk to the staff about how we chart and why – the head Midwife likes what we’ve been taught (thanks UBC and our various preceptors). They are also interested in us demonstrating sterile water injections for women with back labour (I’m injecting Tina of course). We’ve moved from the role of students to colleagues. The midwives are even calling us “Sister” – a term of respect. We are both very excited about our final week here in the hospital and in Kampala.

We are much more comfortable in the city, on the streets and at the markets. We’ve even found our own short cuts and have walked at least half of the city. We even bargained for a pineapple from a guy on the road with a wheelbarrow full (saved twenty cents at least). Now we are counting down - 9 sleeps (and who knows how many babies) until we are home.

Jody and Tina