October 28, 2007

We had had a stint of rest and it was time to get to work again. We were paged last night and now it was morning. Throughout the night and into the morning, we used pain management techniques to help the mother through her contractions. Ruth is really great at this and her English accent was heard encouraging the mother and the mother was able to relax with massage. Becka had gone to Manila and now Mrs. Vicki, the head midwife had returned. I was told I would catch this baby and Ruth would help bring the baby up onto the mother and once the cord was cut, would help the mother begin breastfeeding. The clinic highly supports mother and baby not being separated and instead be seen as a unit. With the birth being natural, the babies come out alert and active without any effects of anesthesia. The babies are so ready to suck and this reflex is neat to see for yourself!

The mother was ready to deliver and she was placed on a birthing stool. It sits you nearly upright and one of the benefits of using this is that gravity is used to your advantage. The baby started coming out and Mrs. Vicki told me to use a hands-off approach. It was so hard to see the baby’s head out and not want to get closer in case the baby came out quicker than I could react. I waited, and waited, prayed a simple prayer and then I was given the go to help the baby as it came out. What happened was incredible…the baby’s head was in one position and then the mother’s body rotated the baby through a series of turns so it could navigate the bones of the pelvis. The baby came out and it was in my hands. My mind was reeling because I had this new sensation of a newborn in my hands while at the same time I needed to remember what I had been taught and it was a lot to take it all in. The mother received her baby and we delivered the placenta and got the mother into a lying position since she had lost a little more blood than usual. We took care of the mother and baby and the new father was smiling as he saw his child for the first time. When this couple was later discharged, we snapped a photo and the new parents were grinning ear to ear. What it must feel like to bring your first child into this world!!!