Our last day!

We are finally finished! Today was our last day at the hospital. When we arrived there was a mother who sounded like she was in very active labour. Her chart said she had been 6cm at 7am but when I checked her at 10:15am she was only 3cm...not even in active labour yet. Carolyn and I decided since there were many beds free we would keep her in the delivery room in case the birth was precipitous- you always wonder when a mother who has given birth before is labouring so hard at only 3cm. Her labour became so active I stood beside her and held her hand until 10:55am when I saw the head and called Carolyn. The delivery was the perfect normal birth- baby well (though only 36 weeks) and mom well, perineum intact! Carolyn spent the rest of the morning teaching the new batch of students that arrived on the ward the other day- she taught them how to use the partogram and manage a postpartum hemorrhage and I taught them how to chart a delivery note and manage a shoulder dystocia. I finally pinned down the doctor to interview for my MVA research- I have 14 interviews now. 

Traditionally UBC students have left little goodies as a thank you to the staff. This year we made each staff person a goodie bag with a black pen (There are never enough here), a few cookies, instant coffee and a few chocolates. They  were warmly received. 

We have gone into Masaka town to celebrate by picking up the clothes we have ordered at the tailor (with amazing African fabric), to use the internet, and drink a few shandies before going back to the hotel to meet Prossy for dinner.

As we reflect upon our experience, there are many things that come to mind. As per Carolyn's post near the beginning of our time here, it is so clear how much WE have learnt and received from being here.  Our confidence in dealing with obstetrical emergencies has grown exponentially, our confidence in making sound management decision has increased as well. We have seen and learnt what it is like to practice in an extremely low-resource and rural setting. After being here we can clearly identify which resources are essential (oxytocin, gloves, saline and giving sets, something to tie the cord, something to cut the cord, a needle driver) and things that are not (a billion blue pads, clamps, warm compresses, superfluous catheter supplies etc).

We wish we could give the mothers who allowed us to receive their babies more than the hats and blankets, though they were gratefully received. And perhaps we did, so many of them thanked us profusely and told us that they had had a good birth experience. 

We have reflected on our favourite births. Alix remembers the woman who she feels she was able to provide really excellent emotional support to as this woman spoke English well.  This woman reached down to touch her baby's head while pushing and asked to see the placenta (a rare occurrence here). Alix was also so happy when she caught a supremely vigorous baby who cried on the perineum before his legs were delivered. Carolyn remembers fondly a birth that happened recently. The mother at first kept calling her 'muzungu', but Prossy told her to call her Caro, and thereafter, it was "Sister Caro, Sister Caro". She told Carolyn that she had had a really good birth experience which was so touching. 

Tomorrow morning we are going to take the bus to Kampala and then Luwero to visit Shanti Uganda's birth centre. Shanti Uganda is a Vancouver based non-profit founded by a group of yoga teachers.  Many of you know I sold Shanti Uganda jewelry made by HIV+ mothers in a income generating group as a fundraiser for my Uganda trip.

Picking up clothes from the tailor