Fingerprints All Over My Heart
Feb 1
Day 30

Well we had a night! Had 6 ladies in last night and this morning and 3 births (which means that each intern got to catch one). Then we had two transports, and one in very early labor that we sent on home. It made for a lot of adrenalin and some very satisfying midwife moments. One was a mama giving birth to her 8th baby who walked in the door pushing. Then there was my transport of a young woman who's baby was stressed after her waters broke and the baby's heart rate was too high. That was sad as they had all their sweet little supplies arranged so lovingly and seemed more prepared than most. Still haven't heard the outcome on that one. Then we were actually able to go home and sleep for a few hours in our own beds before getting called with the message "She Is TEN cm and PUSHING! Come now!" This made for some rather comical hi jinks of us running out the door with clothes thrown on (no bras or any other such niceties! LOL) and both of us kind of skidding into place to help a very young mother give birth to her daughter. This labor had only been going on for an hour or so when they arrived and the couple realized that the baby was coming fast and rushed to the birth center without their bag or supplies (on the back of a motorcycle!!!!) Then the dad dropped her off and rushed back home and made it back in the room right before his tiny daughter was born into my friend's waiting hands. Fantastic! Then I actually got to sleep in my own bed AGAIN which after 5 nights of sleeping in odd places was so so wonderful! I slept in until after 10 (was up for much of the night so I am not actually sure if that qualifies as 'sleeping in') and then arrived at the Birthing home to find that I had a multip in labor. There were students here from another college (Filapinas) and I had the huge honor of getting to be their teacher through my birth. It was amazing all the stuff I had in my head that just fell off my tongue as I midwifed the sweet mama through her delivery. All that learning is really up there in my head which is gratifying! Had a abnormal finding on the newborn exam (murmur or valve issue of some sort) which I picked up on and so referred that mama to a baby doc. The end of the day brought a trip to the mall with my roommate who is becoming a good friend. We had pizza, then ice cream and did our shopping for a few necessities. After arriving home I discovered I had dropped my phone on the trike ride and figured it was gone. But after a bit we received a text from the trike driver and in a while the dear couple who owns the trike brought me back my phone! I have said it before and will say it again: What wonderful people there are in this country! It is a land of service and hospitality given from some very pure hearted people! What pure pleasure! It IS more fun in the Philippines! So tonight I am sending out a little love to my Filipino friends! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥