My girl Aizah Jane

Happy Birthday  Aizah!

This is a special post for Miss Aizah Jane, born July 7^th at 6:10AM. I arrived to shift and one of the night shift girls told me “Casey, there is a fully [dilated] for you.” I was still working on waking up but hurried and changed into my scrubs. I checked in on mama, Rizza before endorsements (shift report) and she was pushy with a  bit of head visible. She coped well with labor and was ready for baby to come out! She arrived at the clinic at 5:30AM but since she was a G1P0 (first pregnancy, none delivered), the supervisor advised me to have her rest while we did report. I was a bit leery because it seemed like baby was close but my supervisor was sure. I left the cubicle for a quick report and headed back in as soon as we talked about my patient. Per protocol, I began taking a new set of vitals but she was still very active and ready to push. I took a peak at 4-5 cm of head was visible with BOW (bag of water) intact! I hollered for my supervisor and she and another midwife came running! This baby was coming. I positioned myself at the foot of the bed, ready for the bag of water to break, guarding myself and others. (oh, PS this was during the weekend that we didn’t have water at the clinic so we were being conservative with the towels and blankets we were using).

Rizza continued to push well and before I could even think, baby was out at 6:10AM! A bit of nursing for you: since the BOW (bag of water) hadn’t broken, baby was out “in the caul” aka with the bag covering her face. This was the first time I had ever seen or heard that and honestly had no idea what to do. My supervisor stepped in quickly and wiped it from her face to allow her to breath. Baby’s APGARs were 7 and 9 so she did very well despite that little snaphoo.

I cleaned up and worked on their paper work and tried to help baby girl breast feed.

Unfortunately, this patient was a first time mom and was having difficulty breast feeding. I worked with her all shift and stressed the importance of feeding her baby with breast milk (breast is best, after all. Especially when the water supply isn't guaranteed for formula and it is premixed, where formula is expensive and mamas here dilute it which means less nutrition for baby). I never did see her breast feed for more than 5 minutes without giving up and was worried as I discharged her. My supervisor didn't seem worried but I was anxious all night. I talked with my roommates about it and they gave me some ideas.

I saw her the next day for her one day baby check and she reported that the baby hadn't been sucking well still. Another supervisor helped me establish a good latch and baby Aizah Jane went to town! Praise God! I had the patient's husband come in and help and his face was priceless as he stared in amazement at his baby and mother of his child. It was like a kid in a candy store. I was so close to tears as she switched sides and the baby latched on her own! It really is a matter of thriving or dying here if the baby cannot eat well.

The rest of the shift, I was on cloud nine. I realized that catching babies is only part of my journey here. The education and aid to women with this new life in their hands is another component of it. When I first arrived here I was anxious to catch babies or help them be born; now I am so overjoyed to be welcomed into their lives in such an intimate way!

Rizza came back for another check today and I got to see baby sucking well again and GAINING WEIGHT! Happy faces all around!

Heading home.

Day one baby check

He was so very careful with her!

This is after she breast fed so well! I think we were all relieved and happy!

PS- McDonald's delivers here. We got a little bored later on during shift and craved some ice cream! Sundaes for all!