October 26, 2007

3:16 a.m.: Baby boy Nicko arrives in this world surrounded by friends and family. We arrived earlier yesterday when a mother arrived in labor. This was her first birth and they can be in labor many hours, even days. This mother we had seen in the clinic for her prenatal visits and when she made it to the 40 week mark, she came into the clinic concerned because it was the day we told her that her baby may be born. At that time, we explained that the dates were only estimates and right now there was nothing to be worried about. The woman had brought her mother and I think the mother of the soon to be mother was just as worried. She explained that this was her only daughter and that she was concerned for her. She was worried yet excitement came through in her face and her laugh when we reassured her that everything was doing well with her daughter. We still checked her daughter out and then we sent them both home to rest and get ready for the upcoming delivery.

It was 3:16 a.m. when the baby boy was born. My roommate Ruth caught the baby with the help of Becka, our teacher and Midwife. I was so proud of Ruth because when she first arrived to the Philippines, she promptly let us know that she faints easily and this includes when she sees blood and injections. She was in position for this delivery and helped catch the baby. Ruth stayed alert and did great and I didn’t even see her eyes roll in the back of her head or her getting faint at all. I was amazed at my new friend working!

One of the most memorable moments of this birth was the support group this expectant mother had with her. She had a lengthy labor but did well. She brought with her to the clinic her mother who we had met before, her husband who we recognized, and a few other women relatives. The husband of the expectant mother waited came in and out, but in the end decided to stay outside and return when he heard his child making its first cries. Throughout the labor, the women gathered around and took care of the waiting mother that was going through intermittent pains. When the contractions were manageable, they washed her hair, massaged her, fanned her, and kept her hydrated. When you walked in the room, you could feel the warmth of the women that had gathered in full support of this soon to be mother. The smile of everyone when her baby was laid onto the mother’s legs to be dried off was radiating joy and awe at what had just happened. We had been taught that the attitude of the labor room really affects the labor and I still remember how I saw this for myself. I got to use two new words in Tagalog…”apo” (grandchild) and “lola” (grandmother). To see the grandmother of the new baby full of joy and to see the relief and joy of the new mother was contagious!


Same day, 1:26 p.m.: Another mother came into the clinic and was in labor also. She already had four children and so she knew her body well enough that she had waited to come to the clinic until it was close to time to actually deliver the child. The mother delivered a beautiful baby girl and after a brief recovery time and check-up, the mother and child were released to return home. She came in determined and aligned with what needed to be done to have her baby and it happened. If you were there like we were, it would have been difficult to know that she had just went through something very painful and exhausting. The women here are tough and I couldn’t help but ask God to help me be this tough when it comes time for me to have my first child! We have done home visits to the mother and baby since the delivery and this is standard for care from the clinic. The mother had concerns that she didn’t have enough milk, but we were able to explain that the more she feeds, the more she makes. Many mothers without breastfeeding education often miss out on continuing breastfeeding their children because they honestly don’t know and rely on incorrect information from superstitions or other sources. On our last visit, she smiled and told us she was breastfeeding well and there was more milk. This made me smile because just exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months has so many benefits and I didn’t want the mother and baby to miss out on these. Ruth was with me on the home visits and she is so good when it comes to mothers and their children. She kept telling the mother “day-day” which somehow translates into breastfeeding and we did our best to encourage the mother about her new baby.

Same day, 10:42 p.m.: Baby boy brought into this world! As you can imagine, we are feeling a bit tired by now. We had the crew of Mildred (midwife from the Philippines), Becka, Ruth, and I working together. Mildred and Becka took turns napping and Ruth and I helped with this patient. This patient we were concerned about because of some history and experience we had in the time leading up to the present. This was going to be her first child and we thought that her labor could go on for a while. This mother did well and Mildred helped deliver this baby. When we did the newborn exam, we couldn’t help notice different features/traits of the baby that were different from typical of the babies born here in the Philippines. We asked a little about the father and the mother shared that he was a foreigner not around anymore. From the small history, it seemed that there was a possibility that the father didn’t even know about this baby. From what I have experienced through the staff of the clinic, they do the best to get to know the mothers and their situations and intervene only when necessary. The staff wants to have an environment for the mothers to come delivery with experienced people on hand, but most of all people that are ready to care for these women and pray for these women and treat them with respect and dignity. After the birth of the baby, I spent more time in prayer and meditation because when you are witness to a life beginning in this world, it is hard to not think about the soul of the child and who may come to share Christ with it and also with the mother. All I know is that the child was welcomed into this world with loving, humble hands who know the power and love of Christ and now we can pray for God to enter the life of this mother and child and radically change their hearts and lives.