IV Class!

Anderson

3:40 Tuesday morning

Hello from your tomorrow

It is Tuesday the 28th of August at 7:00 in the evening and you are just waking up or not yet, to your Tuesday. There used to be a TV show about a guy who got the morning newspaper every morning at his door, that is no big deal, but the twist is it was the next days news. He spent his day 'saving people'. Though I am 'ahead' of you I am sorry to say I do not have the scoop on any pending tragedies, and I am certainly not a hero.
I got a few hours of much needed sleep. I worked the night shift last night (your yesterday) Had another delivery this morning (your yesterday)a baby girl. Another nuchal hand. I looked at it with my mind in warp speed trying to decide the right way to rotate that arm. I am happy to announce that she has two arms both going the right direction. (there is a lunar eclipse right now) They named her...... Lady Queen. Sounds like a dog name, 'come here Lady" "good girl lady" Well any way sweet couple.
Beth and I had to go get pictures for out visa extensions. The photographer said to her "you look like your younger sister". He said nothing to me! Okay so I had been up all night and I know that I looked bad but that was just not nice.
I was thinking this morning early at about 2:00 am (remember your yesterday) that I am not home sick. I was pondering the 'why' of that . I was sure I would have had a melt down by now, but I have not. Here is why... the good and the bad of it all. The good, I have not broken up one fight, the girls in the dorm do not fight, the laboring women do not fight, sometimes they do not stop pushing when we tell them to. The bad, "stop bothering your brother" .... "stop eating in there"
"stop bouncing that ball in the house" I have not had to tell one lady to go to time out!! Really I haven't. I did send a women home from the Birth Center last night (your yesterday) because she was not in active labor. and she did not mind doing that, no back talk. The good, only four loads of laundry done so far here. The bad; four a day at home. The good, I have not cooked one meal here. The bad; at least one meal a day for six at home. The good, I have not swept one floor or vacuumed. The bad, every day doing that at home. Okay before you think I am very mean please understand that I must be on some strange vacation...I sleep on a hard bed in a dorm room (when I do sleep). I work in bloody conditions. I work in stressful conditions, "how am I going to get that baby out". But for some GOOD reason I am really enjoying it. I do look forward to seeing my boys smiles, and experiencing their hugs. Holding my grandsons. But the truth is..... I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DRIVING THAT CUTE JETTA DON BOUGHT! I love you Don and I do miss you.

Durian man

Did 8 initial visits this morning in clinic. I had lunch in the kitchen, enjoyed the usual; white rice and vegetables with a sauce, little fish were available but I passed on them. The fish still have the head eyes and all, how is it the gore of birth does not bother me but eating fish with the head and eyes still there does?.

Walked in to the birth center to do a postpartum visit on Tess and baby Marco (Polo). He is gaining weight and looks great. I ask Tess how much sleep she was getting and she just laughed, so it is universal that there is no sleep with a new born.

One labor came in right as I was finishing up with Tess. She delivered 20 mins later, a baby girl. second degree rip. Seeing a lot o rips and repairs. Most women work in like that, in active labor with little time to spare. So it ended up being a good shift after all.

I came back here to the dorm, got a couple hours sleep and now it is time for dinner and then I work the night shift. It's all good I am enjoying it immensely!

busy

I really will post again, I have just been real busy. Worked Friday night and had Saturday off. I got a couple hours sleep and then went to the market with Beth. Saturday evening I went to the SM mall with Jonna one of the supervisors. We had dinner and then went to a movie ($1.70) What a sweet girl! Sunday went to a coffee shop and then work where the labor jeepee showed up! 13 women went through here, we had several transports. I caught my first girl in a long time. First time mom. She named her Milky Shane, Ya that is right HA! I don't think I would want to grow up being called Milky, oh well. The night continued in craziness, but today (working the day shift) the birth center is empty. I am going to go up stairs and help with prenatal visits. I will get some pictures on here soon.

Just another day in Davao City

Got to sleep in till 7:30 today! Then Beth and I Went for our first run since arriving here. I think we only ran two miles, I have a head cold and was experiencing some vertigo. Even a short run felt good.

I called home, well really I called Don's cell because the whole family was out having dinner in honor of Mitch's 18th birthday. Thanks guys for passing the phone around so I could hear your dear voices! But why didn't I get to talk to Weseley? I think he speaks bisayn, the language spoken here, I think now when I get home I will understand what he has been trying to tell us for so long! LOL

Beth,Jean and I caught a motto to the mall where he enjoyed lunch and did some quick shopping before I had to be back for swing shift at 2:00. Ended up Beth was supposed to work too but she had forgotten ! lol She checked her schedule ant 2:30 and then ran to the birth center!

So here we sit with one lady in labor. Because this is her first child it could take awhile. Most of them women come in at 8cm or more. So to have someone labor here for much time is unusual. I work night too so I am for sure to be here when she delivers hopefully more will come in. always waiting and hoping!!!!!

Labor and birth

Alexander was born at 1:24 this afternoon. I was the blessed recipient of an amniotic fluid bath just prior to his entrance into the world. He is a very special boy because he's was the first nuchal hand delivery I have had. He was born ready to shake hands with me. We had wondered why his decent was taking so long being his mother has three other children. He took his time since his arm came down with his head. Everyone is fine, I was all wet (not good but part of the business) Of course it was a boy, that is all I deliver!

The pictures are of the l and d center. The first is the girls waiting for something to happen and the others are of the 6 cubicles for delivery divided by curtains.

Went last night with Jean to a big mall and had dinner and did some shopping. The clerks follow you around and say "you want to buy this mum?" it gets a bit irritating after awhile. "mum" "mum" "mum".......
Hi Mom and Aunt Cile and Jane if she is with you. Thanks for reading and sending me comments! Hope you are all doing well! Love you!

Transport

It is what it is. Davao Medical center. We want to be respectful of all elements of our host country. This would include the hospital we transport to. I can say I have seen worse in Haiti, but being a product of the Western World this hospital was hard to take. I felt horrible leaving Weng Weng there, even though her husband was with her. Huge room, lots of gurneys with all ages of people suffering from many different ailments. The elderly women with no teeth I thought she was smiling at me but I was not sure. Small child with an I. V. being monitored by his mother. Did I say anything about the noise? Voices echoing, babies crying, coughing.....

Weng Weng arrived at Mercy at about 6:00a. right as I came on shift. She a G2 P1 and the IE was just 4 cm. We monitored her every thirty min. At 12:00 I checked fht's again and got 80 after a contraction and 160 during. Called the supervisor. Administered oxygen and started I.V. At 12: 30 still tacky cardia 170 + Got the paper work, guard became ambulance driver and we were off. I went with her because I was her Midwife.

Don't you ever complain about the health care system in the U.S. To do so would only display your ignorance. That lump in my throat stayed with the for the ride home. This same day eighteen years ago I delivered a healthy eight pound baby boy. In a clean hospital. I am blessed. Happy Birthday Mitch miss you and love you so. Mom

Worked the day shift (6:00 -2:00) we had three deliveries. I had one catch in those three, a baby boy of course! Mom's name is Tes. She was a G6 P4. They now have two boys and two girls. One baby died and she had one miscarriage. I almost didn't make the catch. I had stepped out of the room and Joyce came running for me. These women are hard to read they deal with labor so different then American women. I had checked her and she was 8cm but showed no sign of being uncomfortable! She must have been because not too much later that baby was in my hands! Then the fun began..... retained placenta, yep I knew I would see the "fun" stuff here. Carmen the supervisor said that was the first for her in the 300 deliveries she has attended here! Everyone is fine, just some more bloody details I will not include. They named the baby Marco. The dad would say "Marco Polo" and start laughing. ??????? Okay' so I would just laugh with him, Marco Polo lol lol HA!

Vocabulary

Here are some labor and delivery vocab words, I know it is just what you wanted to know!
ihi= pee, C.R. restroom, busog = contraction, sakit = pain, dugo= blood, (board yet?) tubig = water, ginhawa = breath, there is a lot more but my favorite is.. kalibong = poop, really isn't it just easier to say poop??? I can hear Mitch now "Oh kalibong" I will save the rest for later.

Beth and I worked together yesterday swing and night, 16 hours. Four babies born during that time, all straight forward (no pun intended) no big deal. We have today off to recoup, do laundry and what every else we want, I think that will include going to eat this evening. We try to get out as often as we can, it helps us to feel more a part of the culture. Yesterday (Saturday) we went to the annual festival and parade. I guess it was a big deal. Lots of media. We were pounced on by the media wanting to interview us live on TV, how strange is that. At first we were 'no that's okay ' but they were persistent and I thought 'oh why not'. Seize the day! When would I ever have that opportunity again?? After the interview we were lead into a media only viewing section to watch the dance troups compete. We had been trying to get a view of this but because of the massive crowd we could only hear the drums. The special viewing area was worth the few moments of national embarrassment, What a show!!!!! so amazing! The pictures just don't do it justice, try to hear the numerous drums pounding out the dancing rhythm, fantastic! After our moment of fame Beth and I hailed a cab and got back to work.

It is Saturday morning Beth worked the night shift and I worked yesterday swing (2-4:00) We took motto's out to a coffee shop that has reliable Internet and got some breakfast. It is great to get out even with the lack of sleep, finally my head has quit spinning and I am feeling more "normal" not saying I am normal! There is a big festival and parade today that we will check out and then we both work swing and night! Sleep? who needs it.

Interesting fact, they serve Durian drinks here at the coffee shop! Haven't tried the Durian yet but I will before I leave just so I can say I did.

Had my first assist yesterday, a baby BOY of course. Birth center has been slow only a couple births a day. The interns really work a lot of hours just so we are sure to get the experience we are wanting. Very different routine here, not real in pressed with the use of universal precautions or lack there of! The women that delivered yesterday that I was in on, had tested positive for uti and std's, this is difficult for me to get beyond but I will in time. I wash my hands a lot and double glove. They do not use masks or protective eye wear, good thing I wear glasses. I am always thinking about how it would work in Haiti, definitely would use more pro cations, I know that you loose that "personal touch" but we have to protect .ourselves
Getting ready to leave here, back to the dorm and then to the festival.

Dorm (home)

Prenatal Clinic

Birth center and clinic

Dorm life?

We will be working how many hours?

It took some nerve to hand us those schedules, That is what we came for right???? I am 48 sure I can be on for 24 hours no problem, ha ha ha

Why did I bring anything besides scrubs? I will not wear anything else. They want to make sure that the interns get all the experience that they need while here, so it makes sense, but the trepidation in thinking about those hours.

We are learning a lot about how the birth clinic is ran. It is wonderful that Beth and I are here together, for many reason but one is so we can discuss how this would work in Haiti.

first day

Sleep well with the help of Tylenol p.m. had ants or something biting me at night, and dreamed that I was late to the birth center for my first shift and Krys's husband told me to pack my things that I was leaving ! HA! I was not late this morning even after much difficulty getting the coffee maker to work. Beth and I are the only coffee drinkers. (what is wrong with everyone?) It was very important to have that coffee.

So far I have learned that it was not important to bring anything but scrubs because we will be working 80 hour weeks! And that is okay because that is why we are here. That sleeping on a bunk bed in a room with four other women is not big deal when you are exhausted. That the Filipino women are tiny, I feel huge around them.

News did not get out that Lisa was working L and D today because the labor bus did not show. I am sure that when word spreads then SOMEONE will come in and have a baby while I am on duty! lol

Davao

We ARE HERE! 27 hours of travel and no sleep, but having a wonderful time and meeting a lot of people. This place looks like Haiti but cleaner and more quiet and with out the smell!

Beth and I took off on our out to the "mall" to get some coffee and some money exchanged. We left quite proud of ourselves for getting the motto ride there and back especially since we are both just nuts for lack of sleep.

It was 11 hours to Guam then 3 more hours to Manila. Then another lay-over (every flight) and then 2 hour flight to Davao!

Dinner soon then Tylenol PM and sleep! Love you all!

I have some pictures to add soon just do not have the time now
Mom Oh yes I start in the morning at 6:00 at the labor and delivery! Yippee!

July 27

Once all the drama of the day settled and mother and baby were doing just fine, we took the family out for dinner. It was nice to have Paige and Kreed with us that day , Paige as always was a big help and isn't Kreed cute!

Patrik Jaymes Buxman

Born July 27, 2007 7lbs. 2oz. 20 inches long