Last weekend I (Melanie) went in to help out in the labor and delivery ward at the Goroka hospital for the first time. Myself and another lady, who was showing me the ropes, went in to support the women who labor without the support of family or friends. The midwives and nurses often have their hands full with many women labouring at the same time and they aren't afforded much time to spend with each individual women. When we entered the ward (a single room with 7 beds) there where five ladies labouring and we quickly identified that one of the ladies was very close to delivering. I slipped out of the room just long enough to get a glass of water that was requested and upon my returning I discovered a new baby boy had slipped into this world. That was the beginning of a day that I will not soon forget. Being thrown into a situation with all new sights, smells, and sounds, as ladies bravely pushed through the pain in order to meet the little ones they had been carrying for 9 months. After helping the young women get cleaned up, we encouraged her to nurse her little one and then as she was being transferred to the post natal ward we moved on to help the other women. Back rubs, glasses of water, words of encouragement, help to get up and change positions, mopping up messes, and three more babies were born; each entering with a cry to announce their arrival (although I must say the one little girl was much more vocal than the little boys).
Later in the day as I went to wash out a mug, I entered a room where a nurse was admitting a women. I noticed right away that she stood in a pool of odd coloured liquid that even to the untrained eye did not look good. She was being helped by her husband to fill out the paper work and when it came time to sign her name they inked her finger instead as she could not read or write. I grabbed a mop that stood near by and began to clean up the puddle as well as the trail that followed after the lady, while they continued the paper work. The lady became increasingly agitated, taking off her jacket and went to the door jam for some support. Body language is universal and it became apart she needed a bed ASAP. I quickly led her to the ward where she promptly found a vacant bed and crawled up. As the nurses came in to investigate they discovered that the baby was breech and within minutes the baby was being born. The lower part of his body came easily but his head was stuck and as I stood near the moms head, holding her hand praying, I was thinking the worst! Finally after what felt like an eternity and another push his head was dislodged and the nurse places a floppy baby up on the mom's tummy. As the nurses quickly worked to clamp and cut the umbilical cord I was shocked to notice a few small movements from the baby and in a hurry the nurses whisked him away to suction him out and try to revive him. I stood holding the mothers hand, praying and waiting to hear that sweet sound of life… and finally it came, oh what a relief to hear that cry!
As we prepared to head home for the day, what a blessing it was to see that little guy cradled in his mothers arms nursing, and the smile that she flashed me said it all!!
Mel for the Marshes
Later in the day as I went to wash out a mug, I entered a room where a nurse was admitting a women. I noticed right away that she stood in a pool of odd coloured liquid that even to the untrained eye did not look good. She was being helped by her husband to fill out the paper work and when it came time to sign her name they inked her finger instead as she could not read or write. I grabbed a mop that stood near by and began to clean up the puddle as well as the trail that followed after the lady, while they continued the paper work. The lady became increasingly agitated, taking off her jacket and went to the door jam for some support. Body language is universal and it became apart she needed a bed ASAP. I quickly led her to the ward where she promptly found a vacant bed and crawled up. As the nurses came in to investigate they discovered that the baby was breech and within minutes the baby was being born. The lower part of his body came easily but his head was stuck and as I stood near the moms head, holding her hand praying, I was thinking the worst! Finally after what felt like an eternity and another push his head was dislodged and the nurse places a floppy baby up on the mom's tummy. As the nurses quickly worked to clamp and cut the umbilical cord I was shocked to notice a few small movements from the baby and in a hurry the nurses whisked him away to suction him out and try to revive him. I stood holding the mothers hand, praying and waiting to hear that sweet sound of life… and finally it came, oh what a relief to hear that cry!
As we prepared to head home for the day, what a blessing it was to see that little guy cradled in his mothers arms nursing, and the smile that she flashed me said it all!!
Mel for the Marshes