"I can't do this!!" Yes you can. Do you want to leave? NO-OK. Yelling just wears you down and gives headaches to everyone in the room. Slow deep breaths-no you can't push yet. You need to go and walk around. Walking is better than sitting. Sitting better than being in bed. If your in bed stay on your left side not straight on your back.
"I"m to weak to push" No your not. Do you want to leave now? No. OK then. Your here, your family is here. Nurses. Doctors. The Lord. We're all here to help. Now when you feel that pain start-grab a deep breath. Keep all that air inside-No Yelling! And push with everything you got. Nice long steady pushes and the pain will be over sooner.
The first case early on Day 1 I really wasn't called to coach. I'd heard a bit about the case as the phone call inquiring about the possibility of a C-section occurred right outside my tent. Soon I jerked 100% awake when someone stumbled against the tent line causing my mind to scream 'Earthquake". Nope someone needing cultural advice.
No local possibilities for an C-section but the doctor in charge had over 14 years experience as a missionary doctor and the skills to preform a symphysiotomy. Thanks to missionary stories I knew about this procedure but never seen one done. The patient and her husband gave approval and the baby soon delivered. She followed up in a few days to have the stitches removed. Baby looked great. She was still having some post-partum issues but able to walk slowly. [Picture]
A lady had come in about the same time as the lady I wrote about yesterday. This lady already had children but had come because she was in active labor at 8 months with twins. The first amniotic sac had ruptured so we knew that one of the babies had already stooled. Mom's contractions unfortunately remained short and very spaced out even with the assistance of Pitocin. On her left side they improved a little.
Coach-push-coach-push.....finally the second twin decided he had enough waiting and somehow squeezed in front of the twin with the ruptured amniotic sac. After some respiratory resuscitation he did OK.
After a very long wait and Mom back on her left side the second baby's arm delivered. Not what we wanted. So gently the arm and shoulder were persuaded back into the uterus so that the baby's head could come out in proper fashion. A smaller purple boy joined his brother in this world. Despite more efforts than I have ever witnessed in Haiti [umbilical line, IV, intubation] he didn't do well.
I gently reminded the ER doctors and pediatrician that there was little more to be done for this baby and recommended that I talk to the parents and then stop any further measures. The parents were very understanding. They not only came to see him but held him and allowed pictures to be taken. I prayed with them and the team.
He surprised me when checking on the family sitting out on a bench later when I heard him nosily breast feeding. I talked with the family again-answering any questions they had. They thanked us for all the care. In the morning I expressed our condolences again before they left for home. One healthy baby in arms and one small body.
2 comments:
Totally amazed by the work you are doing. Thank you for sharing your stories they are a great reminder to keep all those providing medical aid abroad in our prayers.
G'day there again!
I also wanted to just let you know that I put out a call to prayer on my 'Faith Blogs' Facebook group. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111785175504672&ref=ts) We look forward to continuing to present your medical and family needs at the Lord's feet and claim the provisions that you need in His name.
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