Vaginas aren't for cutting!

Bet that got your attention!!! For the most part I am going with the flow here, after all I am the guest and they are so generous to allow me into their hospital. But there is one territory that I just won't vernture into. Yes, if it was a life or death situation I could do an episiotomy but I REFUSE, utterly refuse to take a pair of dull ( as in can hardly cut an umbilical cord with them) scissors to a womans vagina (and into her gluteous muscles!!!) And I swear if I have to hear one more midwife ask if a patient needs "an epis" (as they casually call them) I might flip my lid. I have found my place here and it is to save women's vaginas one at a time. My day brought 3 more deliveries!!! First one up was about 15 minutes after I arrived this morning. She was a primip who delivered an 8 pound baby without any tears!!! If it had been up to the midwife they would have cut her, and I found it deeply satisfying that I saved her vagina!! I'm serious about this if you can't tell that from past posts. They keep telling me that primipa (first time moms) all need episiotomies, and I'm starting to argue the point and prove it to them. I'm not trying to change how they do things, but I am letting them know that when it comes to the patients I deliver there will not be unwanted episiotomies done unless they are very necessary!!!

So, that is enough on that subject. I am amazed how quickly I have adapted to all the medical stuff, and surprised that I have found enemas very useful (gasp!!! Never thought I would say that) but they do seem a better option than the drinking of castor oil and somewhat gentler on the moms. Other skills that I was afraid of - IVs, cathetars, suctioning babies, cathetars....no problem any more!!! IVs were one of the things I couldn't grasp at home, but after having done a few I have jumped that hurdle with ease...yah me!! I can't believe how much I have learned and grown in just 2 weeks. It seems, though, that we have been here for much longer!

Transportation has been a challenge the last few days, so yesterday I just decided to walk home since it is hard to get a bus from the hospital to the house (by the time the busses reach the hospital they are always full!) So I took on the walk yesterday (about 3 and a half miles I think) pepper spray held tightly in my hand. Except for a mangy dog who debated trying a taste of my bony frame I didn't have any incidence. I arrived home feeling proud of myself! The down side of all the pride I am feeling in myself though is that exhaustion has begun to set in. I am the only one in my family who has adjusted to this time zone, which means they are all up til midnight when I am trying to go to sleep...ugggg!!

Today Kevin took the kids into town to swim at the pool. They all needed to get out of the house, and it allowed me a guilt free day to work overtime at the hospital. Well, that is about it. I will try to post pics of the hospital in the next day or two but I am currently on Kevin's laptop and the pictures are not.

Christmas Day- 13 days into our trip

No more babies since i last posted. I went in yesterday but it was quiet. Came home early with another student who is here from the UK. She went to the beach with us and stayed for dinner. Christmas day, at home my family is hopefully together surrounded by lots of snow and laughter. We found most of our traditional fixings for Christmas dinner here, although the oven is really heating up this house which is not air conditioned. The weather is as it has been the past few days. Sunshine, then tons of rain. The kids opened their stockings and gifts outside on the patio this morning, it was nice.

Day 10 ...I think

Well, for the first time since we arrived we have internet access in the house we are stayin in....never thought it would excite me so much, but here I am back connected with the real world. I finished my observed births here on Sunday (they require you to observe 10 before beginning to deliver yourself). So yesterday was my first day delivering....I delivered (caught) 3 babies but worked 2 shifts to get it done. Only one today, but she was a primip so labored for quite a while, and there I was by her side. When she finally began to push I put off alerting the midwives because once you start pushing here you have about 20 minutes to get baby out or they cut an episiotomy...or in this case make me cut one. Luck was on my side, by the time the Midwife got there the baby was low, and mom was pushing well. The midwife mentioned the need to do an episiotomy and I just told her I thought things were fine. Episiotomies are done here more for the midwives than the moms. It means sewing up one area (large area) instead of searching for tears. This particular patient did have some small labial tears and a small tear in her pelvic floor, but in the states they would have just been left but the midwife wanted me to stitch. I began but she didn't like the style I was using so ended up taking over. Fine with me. Another grand day here. 4 catches dwn 16 to go.

day 4 at victoria hospital- all is going well. I haven't posted in a few days but my second day at the hospital the midwife had me do a big IV (versus the butterfly IVs that we normally do), dark skin scared me because you can't see the veins very well, but bingo!!! it was in, another first over with. i have to observe 10 births here before they allow me to catch. I saw my 7th today, 3 to go. I may go back tonight if they have some ladies laboring as I have the next 2 days off and would like to begin next week catching. I love the mamas here, and they treat me with such kindness. They told me today that they want to deliver when I am on shift so they can have a "nice nurse" :) Those are in short supply just like the beds and linens. Often when I arrive in the morning there are no more clean linens (sheets). At first I felt sorry for them being so packed into rooms, but I have learned that there is commeraderie and they help each other. As I walk by the rooms I often hear them call, "nurse, nurse" so they can speak with me or ask for help. I wish I could clone myself. To the other midwives credit they are just so overworked that there is time for business only. Did I mention that the ladies have to bring their own toilet paper to the hospital and that even the staff bathroom doesn't even have a toilet seat??

Hot water also seems to be a problem here, sometimes you get it and sometimes....its cold. I have to just smile and adapt. Thank god I didn't come with any expectations. We have adjusted to the heat even at the hospital where you jsut get light breeze through the windows.

Oh, and did I mention I did my first enema today???? Yikes, ladies be glad you didn't have to give birth here!

Life is good. One day closer to my license. Tomorrow is my anniversary....16 years!

Well, thanks to a private beach with a tiny bit of internet signal I am here again. Survived my first day at the hospital. Talk about a trip back in time! There are about 10 rooms in the maternity ward each room has 4 beds and there is a bathroom (one toilet and one shower) shared between 2 rooms....which makes long lines for the toilet. Imagine how many times that toilet flushes each night. I'm sure they don't get much sleep. I was told I would just be observing and learning this week, but within 2 hours was given my first patient. Taking vitals included using a glass thermometer...haven't used one of those since I was 12, and you should have seen her face when I told her to put it under her tongue! Guess that isn't how things are done. I began the day with a lovely midwife but spent most of it with a stern midwife who had no patience for my lack of understanding the language they speak (which is a weird mix of French spanish, and creole along with heavily accented English!) All is all it was a good day except for my poor patient who, though doing fine was not pushing fast enough though she delivered after pushing just one hour..,, I couldn't stand to watch the large episiotomy they cut on her!! I pray they don't ask me to do the same...I think I would have to object!! Well, signal sucks here, but we are alive and well! Mosquitos are coming out and it is almost dark so time to head back up to the house.

Well, I am finally online, though the connection is tentative at best. After 2 days of flying and losing sleep we finally made it!!! Last night was rough to put it mildly! WHile our room has air conditioning the kids doesn't even have a fan so they suffered until I gave them ziplock baggies full of ice and half a sleeping pill each!
More to come. Internet keeps dying.

Day 2

December 10, 2009
The last pet has been delivered to his caretaker...things are getting done. I'm feeling more calm...maybe it was those naturopathic stress relievers I took. Now if I could just get this crazy headache to go away! 36 hours to go. I'm ready!

Standing at the precipice

December 9th, 2008- We've been dreaming of this trip for months, counting weeks, then days...and now we are down to just 3. In 3 days we leave behind familiar ground and step into the unknown. I' m a firstborn, a planner, never good with change..and yet I stand at the precipice....knowing that curiosity overrules fear, and the adventurous spirit in me will overrule the anxiety that the unknown carries. And so begins the journey, 32 days in St. Lucia. I will be working in a hospital there....a place I usually dislike, but that now embraces me and carries with it the chance to become what I have desired....a Midwife. In 32 days I will watch the sunset and rise, laugh on the beach with my children, celebrate a 16th anniversary with my husband, and use my hands to guide unborn babies into the waiting arms of their mothers. I will learn and grow and doubt myself and rejoice. The voice of my mentor (you know who you are) will be in my ears " you know" she says "just trust your instincts". Standing on the precipice I look out over my life that is to come, hold my breath.....and jump!