Day 14: Clinic/Swing Shift

Clinic full-out started at 9 am. Our "Super" (supervisor) asked Jordan & I to work together as a team, & take turns off and on, which was fun. When we had any questions, or everything wasn't totally normal, our Super was there to help, which was really nice!! In all, there were over 70 clients there for prenatals, 13 of which Jordan & I did. We got thru with Clinic at 12:45pm.

Makayla with a client

Of the prenatals that we did, here are the most interesting cases/findings:

Most of them were Anemic, many struggled with UTI's, & many couldn't afford or forgot to get their labs done since their last prenatal.

One gal had a recurring UTI, & so we advised her to try water therapy for 1 week, & if that didn't help, we would refer her to the doctor.

Another gal had very high blood pressure (145/100), was very anemic (84-norm is 120+), & edema. Her baby's HT (heart tones) were within normal ranges, but very low. MMC referred her to the doctor for further examination, & with the request that he let us know if she can deliver at MMC or not.

Another client's baby was doing somersaults (literally!!): At the beginning, the baby was in breech position, but by the time I had gotten the Doppler on him, I was getting HT under the mama's right rib. The baby moved around so much though, that I couldn't get him to stay in one place long enough to get an accurate FHT (fetal heart tone), so I waited a minute, re-palpated, & got my final count over the mama's left hip!! It was amazing, because you could seriously see the baby doing flips in there, through her skin....poor girl!!

The saddest case by far though that we have experienced while here, was of a gal who was 29 weeks along. At the client's last Prenatal (a month before), the FHT was normal, & everything seemed good. Since then, she'd still had contractions, but hadn't felt movement. Her FH (fundal height) was 25 (last prenatal was 26), & I was pretty sure she had miscarried.

We tried for 15 minutes to get HT, tried 3 different dopplers, used different techniques, & even had our Super come try, but couldn't find them. Our Super had us bring her to the Birth Room, where another Midwife put her on Oxygen, & tried again, but to no avail. That was really sad....

At 2 pm, our Swing Shift started. Day endorsed an Isla Verde client to us, & as with most Tribes (as I stated a few posts ago), this client couldn't speak Visayan, didn't know her age, or when she might possibly have gotten pregnant, so no one knew when she might give birth.

Thus, besides doing Vitals/discharging a client who had given birth on Day's shift, our shift was dead until:

7:30 pm, our client started going into harder labor, & so I went in & started charting. At 7:57 pm, she brought forth a beautiful little boy with no complications. Unfortunately, the mama was completely infested with worms....poor girl!! She also had an interesting eye problem: one of her eyes looks to be covered with a bloodshot film, with a milky substance around her pupil/iris area....not like cataracts though...

Tomorrow I work Night Shift.

Day 13: Day Shift

I arrived for my Shift at 5:45 am, & was immediately integrated into an already ongoing labor (C1), as a Charter (my first as an 'Official'). Jordan just made it to the 'Assisting' Status, & so was the official 'Assistant', which was a really good experience for her...

They had a little girl....isn't she beautiful? Jordan & I bathed her while Makayla sutured the mommy, which was fun...

Another gal (C2) came in at 2 cm dilated & only 30% effaced, & not at all ready. Fonda (her midwife) wanted to send her home to relax & eat, but C2 begged to stay, as she was 'afraid'. Fonda took pity on her, & let her stay--as the clinic was 'dead'--with instructions to go get some breakfast. Guess what? C2 never came back!!! LOL :D Oh well!! Hopefully she'll come in when she's ready!!! (UPDATE: She came back later tonight, & had her baby.)
I was able to conduct a Postpartum Checkup as Primary under Supervision, which was pretty neat, & help with another one.

Last night, the girls found a HUGE Spider (approx. 4"--no kidding!!) on the wall, & they were BEGGING for someone to kill it...I didn't want to, because I'm sure it's helping with the nasty bug population, & besides, as long as it stays outside (& doesn't charge me!!), I'm okay with it!!! I did get some pictures of it though....

I'm working Clinic & Swing Shift tomorrow.

Day 12: Night Shift

Night Shift went well, with 2 gals in Stage 1 labor when we got on shift. I started charting for C1's labor. When she needed to rest for a while, I was asked to accompany Claire--a young Filipina midwife--transfer C2 to the hospital, because of complications.
The weather at midnight was no less then 70-75`F, with an occasional trickle of rain & slight breeze...still very nice & warm weather. :D It was pretty sweet, because on going outside, Claire shivered & exclaimed "Cold!!" I kind of laughed, & said incredulously, "Cold!?!"
Once we got the C2 to the hospital & had settled back down, I brought back up the subject of weather, & explained to her, how to me, the weather was still quite warm, compared to where I'm from, where "cold" is around 32 degrees in the winter, etc. Upon which she asked where I was from, & then shivering, said, "I don't want to live there!!!" Whereupon, we both laughed. :)
When we got back, Jordan had taken over charting C1's labor, freeing me up to get whatever items were needed, & watch the whole birth.

I have now officially finished the first 5 births I needed for the 'Observation' Stage. Of course, I didn't really 'just observe' at all the births.....but am officially in the 'Charting' Stage (as of next birth)... :D

Day 11: Shopping

I got up at 11:15 am (woohoo!). It felt nice to sleep in. Got to Skype my family as a whole, which was lots of fun, as a few of them (Mama, Papa, Samuel, & Rebekah) have been in Wash. D.C. at the National Spelling Bee that Rebekah competed in. She tied for 61st place, & made a total of 3 rounds. Rebekah's competition was really tough, as the Bee had to get the odd 300 competitors down to 60 competitors by the 4th round, for ESPN, etc. I'm really proud of her.

While in DC, they went to check out an English Springer Spaniel we had placed a deposit on. Homer was born & bred in Wales, UK, & was professionally trained as a hunting dog. He is about 5 years old, & has won awards. Unlike US bred E.S. Spaniels, Homer is short-haired, & is very calm, except when he's on the job.

This afternoon, Jordan, Lydia, Stephanie, & I went shopping at the G-Mall. We found a Dental/Ortho clinic right across from it, which is good to keep in remembrance, a bank we can get money changed in, as well as a little fabric store we plan to check out.

View from KFC

At the G-Mall, we ate at KFC (their food is MUCH better than the States, & the Chicken is REAL!! :D),did a little clothes shopping, where some of the girls found some beautiful things, & then did the grocery shopping for the week. We were packed full of groceries when we came out at 3:45pm, & lo and behold, it was raining cats & dogs!!

We wanted to get a taxi, but since there was such a huge line, & our arms were getting VERY tired, we decided to hire a Tricee (a motorcycle/vehicle). We wanted to hire 2 Tricees, because of our HUGE loads, but the drivers started arguing up a storm, & finally, we all got packed into 1 Tricee--us 4 PLUS 2 other passengers PLUS the driver!! (Tricees are made to comfortably fit 6 people, so this was ... fun.) I guess, since it was almost closing time, they try to fit as many people as possible into a Tricee to conserve space.

The best part though, was when we were almost home, he ran over a speed bump kind of fast, & almost everyone hit their heads on the ceiling, except me, since I'm so short!!!! LOL

Tonight, we work night shift, so I'm going to go take a nap....

Day 10: Swing Shift

Slept in until 8:30 am, & then got up & around. At 12:15 pm, Kamerie, Jordan & I went to the market to get some more food stocks, & got back just in time to go to Swing Shift, at 1:45 pm.

There was a gal (C1) in active/pushing labor when I got there, but since all the Day Shifters were in there, I didn't see the birth (at 1:57 pm :D), though Chantal & Annie (who were on shift) did!!

Dead Shift!!!

Since C1's birth was all over & done with by the time my shift actually started, the shift was dead until about 5 pm, when another gal (C2) came in in mid-labor. She had just turned 19. I helped with vitals, charting, etc. for a while, until I wasn't needed.

At around 8:15 pm, another gal (C3) came in, that I did vitals on & charted, but she was discharged/sent home, as she was in the early stages of labor. C3 is part of one of tribes here in Mindanao.

A couple interesting facts about the Tribal People:

1) Often, they don't even speak Visayan, & so they are asked that they bring a translator with them for delivery.

2) Many of the tribes don't keep track of time, so most don't know how old they are, how far along they are in their pregnancy, or when their last LMP was, which makes it very interesting during labor & birth. (For instance, yesterday, we had a tribal gal come in, & she was at the clinic all day with her translator, because there was not telling when she'd give birth!)

Every week/month, MMC does Prenatal Outreaches to different areas/tribes, & then do complete Charity cases for the tribal communities. Since the Government does not recognize the Tribes, they are handled a little differently & with a little more grace than the usual clientele (for instance, they'll allow gals with no previous Prenatal History into their birthing clinic.)

At 9:13 pm, after hours of hard labor, C2 birthed a baby boy. The pushing part wasn't very productive, as she kept 'sucking' the baby's head back in, & then there was a slight shoulder dystocia (which only lasted 45 seconds), that I was able to help with a little bit (moving legs around, to try to get the baby down & out). The baby was very blue/purple when he came out, & it took a minute or 2 for him to cry, but he was sort of alert, after a little more than a bit of oxygen, he came around alright, & then cried pitifully. :D

Right after C2 birthed, another laborer (C4) came into the clinic, & since everyone was busy with the baby, I admitted her in, & started vitals on her, per my Supervisor's askance. She was one of the MMC Student's "Conts" or Continuitys, & so the student was txted, & after she came, she took over. C4 was discharged as well, as she was only 2 cms.

A guard making old flour sacks into cloths, by tearing out the stitches.

Elsa/"AteElse" repainting the birthing stools. (Told you she can do anything!!)

My last care of the night (9:30 pm), was of C1, who needed her vitals checked & her diaper changed. Her baby ended up being transported, as he wasn't wanting to nurse, & was still pretty gray.

The girls had a Soda/Icecream Party while Jord & I were in Clinic, so when we got home at 10:15 pm, we had some.

Tomorrow I work Night Shift.

Day 9: Day Shift

This morning, we (Jordan & I) did Day Shift. Night Shift had been totally dead, so they got a lot of sleep. :D We had a gal come in, & 7 minutes after that, she had her baby-a little boy. I charted it.

We had 2 girls come in which we sent back home, as they were only in early labor, & we had 2 girls in labor who we endorsed to the next shift.

I had a blast with our Supervisor: Susan, or AteSuse (Ate means big sister). I have given her a nickname of "Captain" (you can see why in the below picture). :D

She is going to teach me how to make Filipino Rice next time we're on shift together. So as well as learning how to deliver babies, I'm going to learn how to make Rice as well!!!

This afternoon, Kamerie, Chantal, Jordan & I went to Victoria Mall, to get some makings for tonight's dinner & look around.

At 7 pm, we are going to finish Orientation with Krys (the director).

I forgot to post the pictures yesterday of Jordan....we were having a stare-down.

Clinic Configurations

There are 3 floors to the clinic: 1st floor is the Birthing Center; 2nd floor is the Prenatal Clinic; 3rd floor is the Filipina midwive's living quarters.

Here is the pictorial of the 1st floor:

Mercy Maternity Center (our "house" is to the left of it.)

Their 'ambulance' is in front of it.) The guards are stationed inside the door.

Entrance to Mercy Maternity (looking down from the end of the hallway--entrance is at the very end--door to rest of the Center is on the left hand side).
Far Left is Postpartum Domain, Stairs lead up to the Prenatal Clinic, Far Right is the Birth Center

Entrance to Birthing Center-Willow (student) in the Staff area straight ahead

Jordan in the kitchen part of the Birthing Center (staff area can be seen on the far right)

Adminstration area of the Birthing Center (far left - edge of the kitchen area, & far right - staff area. Straight ahead is the birthing 'rooms'.)

Administration Area: Willow, Estefanie & Lydia

View of the birthing rooms (6 partitions). Entrance ins on the left.

Lydia, Stephanie & Jenna walking in to check on the new mama (Jenny & Zylene)

Staff/Break Room (off of Postpartum area) a midwife & a guard

Postpartum Domain

Postpartum Domain again

Day 8: Night Shift

Night Shift went really well...the Swing Shift had 5 babies born!!!! (Lucky girls!!) I guess one of them was a dreaded Shoulder Dystocia, & that the baby was stuck for 1.5 minutes before they were able to get it delivered (Praise the Lord!!)

When we got on shift, they had a gal (Jenny) who was in early labor. I was asked to shadow/help Ruth (one of the students), & as she was the Primary Midwife for the Jenny, I got to help her with it. Jenny had a baby girl--Zylene--at 4:13 am (6/3/2011), weighing in at 6.12 lbs.

We had another gal come in around 3 that was in early labor as well, but she was endorsed to the next Shift at 6 am.

Jordan & I with Jenny & Zylene

Most of our Night Shift team: me, Joy (our Shift supervisor), Ruth (holding Zylene), Jordan & Terry

Joy & Ruth with Zylene

Stephanie & Lydia in for Day Shift

The Beautiful Jordan :D

Day 8: Rest/Hair Cuts!

Today was a day of relaxation.... I got up at 9 am, to a very quiet household. I think it was just me & Jordan there!! (I guess a bunch of the girls were scheduled for Outreach today, & then there were girls on Day Shift & Clinic as well.)

The other day, Annie had a bag of granola bars, & other snacks in her closet, & the ants found it!! A bunch of the stuff, she had to throw out, but since the ants didn't get in the actual bars, she took care of each one, & then hung them up on the line to dry!! :D (It was pretty funny seeing the faces of different people who saw it. :D)

This afternoon, I cut/trimmed Stephanie & Jordan's hair. That was a lot of fun (especially since I have more observation experience, then actually doing it!!! LOL) Thankfully, they liked the outcome of it (up-to-date :D). Thanks girls for allowing me to experiment/bless on your hair!!

Tonight I'm doing Night Shift (10pm-6am) with Jordan.

Day 7: Clinical/Swing Shift

Well, I slept like a log last night, & had a relaxing morning, as I didn't have to go to work until 7:45 am!!! MUCH better than 6 am (Day Shifts)! LOL :D I would have to admit that so far, my favorite is the Night Shifts, because there are less people, to take the less jobs, making more experience for me!! :D It's been neat though, as Jordan (who is always on the same shift as me) & I have been able to trade off births, in the ways we get stuff done....

So, today, we had Clinic in the morning. After worship service & teaching, we started Prenatals (9 am). I got to work with Sylvette (a really sweet 24 yr. old Filipino, that I worked with yesterday in Day Shift, who is just precious). From the beginning, we took turns seeing patients, & by the time everyone had been seen (there were at least 6 Prenatal beds going at once) around 11:30 am, we had seen 11-12 gals between us (I was Primary under Supervision on 6, doing EVERYTHING!!).

The last gal I worked on as Primary, was a total Muslim (dressed in Burka, leggings, socks, & all). It was really interesting, because of course I had to get to her belly, & for those of you who may be wondering, Muslim women look exactly like everyone else, & really are sweet (at least so far. All I really could do is feel compassion for her, because they are SO deceived!!

We have the option to pray with our girls before they go. Some girls just don't, some girls ask if they can, & others just do it. Well, at the first Prenatal here, my 'leader' had just prayed over her, so w/o thinking, that's what I did for all them. LOL

While doing her the Muslim gal's Prenatal, I mulled over what I should do, but seeing that on the previous Prenatals, she had been prayed over, I went ahead & prayed for her. She had a funny look on her face afterwards, but I don't think she minded it.

Part of the Prenatal Clinic upstairs

Jordan & I get back to the Green House at 12pm, & had 1.75 hrs. to relax, eat lunch, & chat with the few girls that were there.

We then headed back to Clinic to do the Swing Shift. Day Shift had 5 births (between 7:30 am & 2 pm!!) The last birth (at 1:45 pm) was that of Jaycho, who weighed 4:14 lbs. I was assigned to shadow/assist Michaela (or Kai as the Filipinos affectionately call her) for the whole of the Postpartum/Newborn checkup, & was able to give both the Vit. K & Hep B shots to Jaycho, as well as chart, do vitals, etc.

Jaycho's mom (who speaks English amazingly well) REALLY opened up to Kai & I about her past, struggles, fears, etc. which was really neat & eye-opening...so from 2-5:30 pm, that is what I was preoccupied with.

Once I got done, I found that there was a gal in labor, that Jordan was involved in charting, etc. with. Since Jordan had it all handled (of course the midwife was doing all the major stuff), I didn't really do that much with this girl (except observe), though I did do some vitals, get/hand things, & be moral encouragement, etc.

She had a beautiful, little girl at 6:42 pm, & had a 1st degree tear as well, which need suturing. I'm not sure exactly what they named her, but it was long & beautiful, & I think it started with an "I". :D

I got a chance to talk to our inside guard, who is actually hired by MMC. His name is Felix, & is really sweet. Actually, both the outside guards are precious too. They all have a lot of guts to be able to be there, outside a thin-walled Birthing Clinic most of 24/7...

It was really interesting hearing how he got his job at MMC (it's more than guarding....he admits the Clinicals/Laboring gals, gets their charts, & helps however else). I guess his wife had twins more than 7 years ago, that were delivered by MMC, & then he got the opportunity to work there at MMC, & has been ever since!!

We had another gal come in that was in early labor, & after helping to conduct the physical on her (got to do vitals & charting on her), we admitted her for the night. By this time, it was already 8:30 pm, & since she didn't give birth by 10 pm, she was endorsed to the Night Shift team. It was interesting though, as she was also Muslim, but was more of a modern Muslim.

This is something that I am just realizing as I write, & I'm not sure what or where God is leading in this, but in the past few months especially, God has been opening more & more doors for me to hear/find out more about the Islamic Cult. Slowly, I think He is giving me a heart to minister to these lost people. I don't know where He will take this, but please pray for me as I minister & serve to these lost women.

To give you an idea of what we are dealing with, here in the clinic (something I am just starting to grasp):

- Approximately 80-90% of the women we are serving here, are unmarried women/girls.

- Homosexuality is also rampant here in the Philippines. (e.g. One of the gals we worked today, revealed to us that she was a Lesbian in her late teens, but that every time she went to church she felt 'guilty', & so stopped, & doesn't have those 'feelings' any more. She still feels guilty though, because she now has a baby out of wedlock, & she knows that that is not right either.

- The main religions here are "Christian", Catholic, & Muslim.

- More than a few of the unmarried mothers we serve are 5 years older than their "husbands/boyfriends". Also, the guys are VERY involved in the births, & if you didn't know they weren't married, you would totally think they were.

Okay, before I go, I just have to say something that most of you will probably laugh at, but it has been bothering me all night. The Balut biker has been past our place at least 7 times tonight!!! & it's midnight here, & he just passed AGAIN!!!! What is wrong with him???? :D LOL

PS> As I finish this post at past midnight, I saw my first rat!!! It ran next to our porch, but I think it sensed me & ran off....then, it ran by again, on the opposite side. It's body was a white/tan color, & it was about 4-5" long, with at least a 5" tail. Now I know that they're real, & why we make sure our doors are closed!!!

I'm doing Night Shift tomorrow (my favorite!!)

Day 6: Day Shift

Well, as a few of you have probably figured out, I'm catching up on blogging... Unfortunately, my shifts the last couple days, have made it such that fitting in room for blogging has been hard....especially when you're trying to skype your family too. :D On top of that, our internet has been out most of the last 2 days, due to rain storms, & other unknown causes, which has been VERY frustrating in some ways...but then, who cares.....

I just think back to when my mom went to the Philppines 30 years ago, & how though she & her family wrote letters back & forth the 7 weeks she was there, neither parties received the letters before she got home, so she has zilch contact with her family!!!! I am so blessed...& spoiled!!!

Me & Annie in the Birth Clinic (she was coming off of Night Shift)

We did Day Shift (6am-2 pm): Jordan & I. There were no actual births on our shift, though there were 2 gals that ended up being transported to the hospital. :( Also, 1 labor was endorsed to the Swing Shift. We also did some well-baby/postpartum check-ups, etc. though I was very involved in one of the gal's labor (one who was transported).

I was able to go in the MMC Ambulance with her, & was in charge of making sure her IV fluids didn't fly around too much, & that she didn't fall off her seat (her hubby was across from her, holding one side, & I was seated next to her.). :D (It was definitely an "Ambulance Ride"....imagine, the vehicle's horn is going off constantly, there are a lot of quick starts/stops, & sometimes you're in the oncoming traffic's lane!!!

I don't remember much of what I did the rest of the day....I think I slept a good bit, & read some books, mostly midwifery & biographies (my favorite). Then, when Lydia & Stephanie got off shift at 10 pm, I had just finished reading another book, & we 3 felt like celebrating, so we had some leftover Spaghetti from dinner (Annie makes the BEST Spaghetti--from scratch too--EVER!!!!), & Coffee Icecream (the best ever!! It has a bunch of other stuff in it too....)

Day 5: Dinner, Balut, Shopping

In the excitement of last night's Night Shift, I forgot to post pictures of Kamerie's & my adventure at the G-Mall! We asked the driver to take us to 'Victoria Mall', but somehow, he took us to the G-Mall (which we didn't end up finding out, until this afternoon, when all of us girls & Heidi went to the 'real' Victoria Mall!!).

G-Mall is gigantic...comparable to the Spokane North Town Mall, possibly bigger!! In some parts, it is 5 stories tall!!! The had a "Back to School" sale in one part of it, & it literally looked like a hive of bees at first glance!! (Kinda sounded like it too!)

Kamerie & I ate at McDonald's or "McDo" as they call it here. (The "o" is very soft....kinda French). I know, it was a crazy place to eat, but we thought we might as well try it, & see how it differs from USA! Kami got Spaghetti & I got a hamburger (with lettuce...)

It was definitely better than American McDo, but it still was terrible in my opinion. :D It would have been 10 times better, if I had tomatoes & TONS of onions, but alas, I might a huge amount of work for them, to ask for lettuce on a cheeseburger (they said it was cheddar, but it was definitely NOT!!) In fact, they had to go up to the Manager in a panic, which was pretty funny!!
So, when Kami & I got back to our "house", we found Lydia & Stephanie out on the porch eating dinner, & just then, a cockroach (the first seen) appeared!! Stephanie screamed, & here is what she did next. LOL It was adorable!!! Needless to say, we're trying to scare her to much, but they've been showing up all over the place now.....
Here it is compared to a certain Peso amount (size of a quarter).

Okay, back to today!! This afternoon, a bunch of us girls & Heidi (one of the 1 yr students) went shopping at Victoria mall, which is where we'll get most of our groceries (minus fresh stuff, which we'll get at market). That was a lot of fun...

Then, while I took a nap, a few of the girls went to the Market to get some fresh stuff.

Tonight, a few of us girls went out to dinner at "Boodels", which is an outdoor restaurant, within walking distance of MMC! I ordered rice, & then had a couple bowls of their amazing broth.

As some of you know, I have a pet peeve of LOVING fresh onions-green & regular (& lots of veggies on my burgers :D). It was kinda funny, asking for more for my soup (as the refill didn't have any in it), & seeing their confused faces & partial panic, in trying to understand what I was asking for.... I guess I should learn the Visayan word for "Onion"!!! :D

All 6 of us girls (L-R): Me, Lydia, Stephanie, Jordan, Heidi, & Ashton

I've been staying in constant contact with my family thru Skype & email, & sometimes even through phone!! In the middle of skyping my parents (who are in Washington DC with Samuel & Rebekah for the National Spelling Bee, which Rebekah is competing in this week), one of the Students came over & invited us to a Balut (1/2 hatched duck eggs) party!!

Lydia, Stephanie, & I went over to WATCH. (Remember the word 'watch'...that was ALL it was. :D As most people can attest, most things don't faze me: blood, guts, feces, urine, vomit, etc. But, I gagged at least 3 times, of which, I could of easily thrown up (totally NOT normal!!).

Though I have inherited the trait of serious egg allergies (all kinds, not just chicken eggs), I love them a ton, & so before I came, I had reasoned with myself, that if I got the opportunity, "why not just try it??" Well, now I have 3 REASONS, why I absolutely cannot try it:

1) Egg Allergies

2) I couldn't quit from gagging while just watching others eating them!

3) ....Seriously, I know there was another reason....hmm.....will have to try to remember it! :D

So, I guess I can add Balut to my "Absolutely Disgusting" list, along with Maggots (absolutely disgusting!!), & Mold (which I am also extremely allergic too)...

Heidi with her Balut...
This duckling was ready to hatch!!! That is inhumanely cruel!! LOL :D

I have Day Shift (6 am-2 pm) tomorrow...

Day 5: Night Shift-Baby!!

Well, I just got back from Night Shift, & this time, I didn't sleep a wink!!! There were 5 gals there (Elsa & our shift's Supervisor-Estef--both Filipino, Jacquie (a 1 yr student), Jordan & me.

When we got on duty (10 pm), there was a client (C1) already in labor. For the next few hours, Jordan & I observed the labor, & got to help take b/p, temp, & pulse, & check the FHT (fetal heart tones). C1 had constant back pain with contractions, & once I got to take on the 'doula role', of massaging her back thru a contraction.

NOTE: Until Elsa (& later Estef) were needed with C3, Jacquie was in charge pretty much, while they rested.

About that time, another gal (C2) in labor came in (she was my age!). Because she was only 1 cm dilated, we (Elsa) sent her home, with instructions to rest & keep hydrated/fed.

NOTE: I left C1 to admit C2, & then woke up the midwives to alert them. From then out, I was completely working with Elsa & C2/3, while Jordan stayed with Jacquie & C1.

After dismissing C2, we (Elsa & I) found C3 waiting for us outside the little curtained cubicle (2 am). She was obviously in pain & getting close, & after Elsa commenced an IE, we found that she was almost fully dilated & effaced. At that time, the baby's FHT was a little bit low, & when we next checked it, a few minutes later, we found that it had plummeted. At that time, Estef came & there was a little bit of organized chaos, getting C3 hooked up to oxygen, bringing in the birthing trays, & starting fetal stimulation, & constant FHT monitoring.

NOTE: From the very beginning of C3's admittance, I did all the charting of her labor, & throughout it, she & I really connected on a more emotional/mental level, I guess you could say... I also conducted some FHT monitoring, blood pressure, & helped as possible, which was fun...

C3's labor slowed down some, & since baby's FHT was doing well, we asked her to rest for a while, to regain strength & energy. She did this for almost an 1.5 hrs. Every time she changed positions (from back to side/side to back), she would make faces & groan, but labor did not gotten any harder.

Back to C1: hours had passed of hard labor, & nothing had really happened. That was okay, until baby's FHT plummeted. That turned the tables, & "Super" (supervisor) decided to transfer. So, after completing the necessary paperwork, & inserting an IV, Jacquie & Jordan transferred her in the MMC Ambulance to the Hospital.

At 4:29 am, nothing had visibly changed, & C3 was happily resting. She was lying on her side, & decided to go on her back all of a sudden (which she had done many times in the last 1.5 hrs), & all of a sudden starting crowning!!!

Funny thing was, during this whole time, I was almost always in there alone (except to get something, check in with the "Super", etc.) with C3 & her husband (the midwives were either with C1 or out chatting). :D

No one had called for Elsa to come in right then or anything, but C3 had barely changed positions when Elsa rushed in there (& Estef shortly after her), & in 3 minutes, the baby was born!!! Talk about fast!! :D

Baby had a 7 &8 1/5 minute APGAR (which is good), & though he was quite purple (yes, it was a boy :D), he had no problem breathing or screaming (& boy was he angry sounding!!) It was really sweet too, because C3 was very responsive after the baby was born & handed to her. She kept saying over & over again: "Baby, Baby (Pro: Ba-BEE, Ba-BEE), Praise the Lord, Thank you Jesus!!"

Of course, being that C3 transitioned so fast, there was no time to get her in a better position, & so she ended up with a 2nd degree laceration :(, which had to be sutured.

This next part was really interesting, because not only was I charting everything, but I also had keep track of the time (so we could get APGARs & Vitals every few minutes), hand suturing supplies to Elsa (& watch the whole process), but I also helped take some vitals during that time as well.

Unfortunately, the Ambulance drove up just as C3 was crowning, & so Jordan missed the actual birth!

They named him 'Reyvir', & after I took a shower, I came back & talked to them a little bit, & her husband took a picture of us. Praise the Lord, he accidentally took a short video as well, which I have included below:

I am working Day Shift tomorrow: 6am-2pm.