Birth day in Djegue!

News flash!: We had a baby today!! (more on that below)

We did a third day of clinic in Djegue today with many people waiting to be seen.  I was in Pharmacy most of the day today.  We did see one very sick young boy that I am very worried about.  He was clearly in respiratory distress and had a history of diarrhea and vomitting.  He had a high fever and just looked so sick.  Someone was able to bring a nebulizer and so I sat with him and gave him a Ventolin treatment and sang "Jesus Loves Me" over him, while he was held in his caregiver's arms...one of the Orphanage workers.  I gave him some tylenol and we advised them to make sure they took him to the hospital as soon as possible.  An hour or so later, they were still there, but I am relived to say that by the end of the day, he had been taken to hospital.  I only hope that they are able to provide what he needs there and that he survives.  He is one very sick little boy.

We were coasting along for our "half clinic day" when a woman arrived in labour, brought to us by a "Midwife" (which is of course a very informal term in Haiti).  She did not want to go to hospital...perhaps because of the cost, and so she laboured for a few hours in the room that we had been consulting in.  That made for one very squished little room where everyone else was! but we survived.  Dr. Dolores had considered just having the Midwife deliver, but one of our translators made the statement when he saw her, "this Midwife has killed many babies...many babies have died under her care."  Needless to say that was unnerving and there just was no question of what we were to do.

We were supposed to be leaving around 11:30 a.m. so part of the team headed out and Dr. Dolores and I and a translator (Hilde, a Nurse who had just arrived hours before from the U.S. team that is following us) stayed.  With the Midwife, Grandmother and friend there, we all worked together to support this Mom in labour.  It was fantastic!!! I loved coaching a woman through labour again!...it's been a little while, but it all came flying back...push like you need to poop!! Koman ou fe doodoo!! She pushed for about 1 3/4 hours (first baby) and it was just like at home...the birthing process is truly universal!  She got tired and didn't want to push anymore, but gained strength again and pushed through some more.  There was nothing different from a labouring mother at home, yet at the same time, everything was different. We were in a dirty, dusty block building with no access to basic birthing equipment, delivering via flashlight.  We did have a dopler but to be honest, every time we listened to the baby's heart rate, it was for reassurance only....for us and for Mom. The fearful reality was that if the baby got into trouble, we had no ability to intervene. It would have been a race down the mountain (if we could find a vehicle) to a hospital to find an OR for a c-section and there just would not have been time. Mom obviously had no option of pain control and in fact, we didn't even have any sutures or equipment if she teared.  And....she did tear....she teared big. A 6 lb. 8 oz. little girl arrived with the cord around her neck with a good amount of meconium...much of which landed on my pant leg (:

Once Dr. Dolores realized she needed to be sutured, the next issue was the fact we didn't have anything!  A quick call went out to the MCC Guesthouse and Edwin arrived via motorcycle with some supplies from Quisqueya, but once he got there we realized we forgot to have him bring a needle driver to hold the needle to suture! Ahh!! Dolores did an amazing job, working with a long pair of forceps we found in the clinic and sterilized in hydrogen peroxide (after attempting to use some sterilized scissors).  We called Ed again and this time he brought the truck to take us home AND a needle driver!  Woohooo! 

A beautiful little girl, named Lindsew was born to a young mother by the name of Kenia. Her father is Sadrac, her grandmother is Raymonde, her Uncle is Daniel and her Midwife was Almicia.  Hilde, RN from MCC translated and a young, wide-eyed woman named Iseult assisted, holding the right leg while I coached from the left leg.  The Midwife had some interesting interventions and it was important culturally to invite her into the process while ensuring a safe delivery as well.  It was a good, good day.

I can't help but be struck tonight of the contrast of the day.  I am very aware that the infant mortality rate in Haiti is significant, as is the maternal mortality rate in childbirth.  I am conscious of the young boy that I worked with today...so very, very ill and I wonder how many more days he will see?  What will his little life look like, as a young orphan growing up in Haiti?  And then, on the other side, is little Lindsew...born into a broken country, yet to a Mother who rejoiced in her birth.  What will Lindsew's life look like, growing up in Haiti...in post earthquake Haiti at that?  What is the future of these children?  The thing is...I don't know and I will never know.  That is not easy.

I do know this...there are two more little people who have grabbed my heart and called for my prayers.

"Pouse, pouse!!" (a pushing moment) with myself, Dolores, Iseult (helped with translating and coaching at her first birth!), Almicia (the midwife), Raymonde (Grandmere to Kenia), and Hilde (taking the picture!)..MCC Alumni.

"She's here!!!" A happy Mama with baby girl Lindsew.

Iseult and Almicia cleaning baby Lindsew up.

A moment of wonder with Mom (Kenia) and Dad (Sadrac).

A very happy Nurse and Doctor with Papa, Mama and Lindsew (: