That day, I woke up expectant and determined. I would get to perform my very own first 'normal' delivery, with close supervision and back up. I was a mixture of excitement, nervousness and on the edge. I took my breakfast and headed for the Maternity wing. Thankfully, it was not very busy nor was it as calm. Busy meant so much activities that you hardly do one composed thing without another interrupting you. Fairly busy meant a steady flow of work, with breaks to let you take a breather.
After the handing over report, I headed for the labor suite. It was a good morning, there were several mothers in labor and we were fewer students comparatively. I greeted them and got to run through their files. I knew their stories alright. I picked an easier candidate, 'easier' in the fact that she had delivered before, if you are knowledgeable in midwifery you know why it is easier. Call me a student who takes the easier path, I wanted a smooth first time....After all they taught us that the learning concept should start with the simple details headed towards the difficult ones.
I approached this lady(I choose to call her Nelly)whom I had chosen, identified myself and requested to take care of her till she delivered. I was still under a qualified midwife, but I had settled in. It was not like the first day really. She smiled at me and asked me to rub her back while she went through a contraction. "Of course." I said giving her my best back rub. "You a student?" She wanted to know. I confirmed what my identification tag read and what I had earlier told her. She smiled at me as though reassuring me. "How many babies have you helped deliver..." She said it as though it was more of a statement rather than a question. I pondered on the answer. Was this a trick question?
"I have witnessed several deliveries, I have assisted in a few, but I have never primarily conducted one." I answered truthfully. She wanted to say something but another strong contraction hit her. I rubbed her back and hoped for the best. "I am a nurse myself." I basically did not hear anything else she said after the bomb she just dropped. We, medics are officially known as the worst patients,not that she was one, but it served that purpose. Her file read otherwise, Nelly said she was also into business. I momentarily freaked, I wanted out. "You will do just fine. We can help each other you know.." She said smiling. I was shocked, but hid it well. She was the nicest medic-client I had come across in a long time. Most women have reservations about a student tending to them, understandably so.
Nelly progressed well, she was brave and knew the do's and don't's of labor. She was actually teaching me some stuff by just watching and listening to her. She knew before I did an examination on her that she was ready to deliver. "I have an urge to bear down" More like, I wanna go poop. Upon examination, she had sure reached full dilatation. Off to the delivery suite, my teacher never leaving me.
I scrubbed and gowned, cleaned and draped Nelly. So far so good because my teacher just stood inches away supervising my every move. For some reason, I was not so nervous. Nelly was comfortable to be around. I gave Nelly the obvious advice(not that she needed it), "with each contraction, push your baby out. Without one, take your rest." Daang! I sounded like a midwife! She nodded her head. "You will do just fine, I can see the baby's hair." I encouraged her. She smiled at the thought of holding her baby. A contraction hit her, my teacher and I encouraged her to push the baby out. She gave her best push and the head was delivered. I quickly checked for any cord around the baby's neck. Finding none and with restitution having taken place, I gently held the head and delivered the upper body with a downward movement,then upward movement freed the lower body. I heard my teacher announce the time of delivery as I placed the baby on the mother's abdomen. It gasped and gave a loud wail of protest. I smiled as I clamped and cut the cord. They were now separated, mother and child, after months of being together. It was a girl, a beautiful little thing that made my heart melt.
I finished the after birth activities with much caution though confident.
In her mother's arms, the baby calmed and almost immediately started surveying her environment. Her little eyes would momentarily focus on some object as though she could already figure it out. Taken from her mother's arms, she squealed as she was wiped dry and kept warm. She had a perfect weight and a quick examination later revealed no obvious anomalies. She was already making suckling sounds which was adorable. I wished she was mine as I held her for the second time, she looked at me and I felt a warm feeling take control of my body. Nelly was so grateful for my help and I was happy she and her young one were fine. Baby Nelly was placed on her mother's breast and she started suckling like a pro. "No, thank you Nelly for an opportunity to help me grow in my career."
I was elated to say the least, happy and grateful that all was well. I was on the right learning path. Not all moments go fine, you learn that when a tragedy hits you right in your face. Watch out for my next blog to learn more on my day gone complex.
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