Update…..

  Let’s see……where do I even begin….. there is so much that I have learned……

  First off, I will start with my births that I handled.  I have delivered 30 babies, 17 girls & 12 boys….much more even then when I first started out! :)   

It is still so amazing to assist with a birth & watch new parents get to know their firstborn, or newest addition. I have heard stories full of joy, expectation, hope, & love, or stories that are sad & hard to repeat. I have seen parents rejoice when everything is normal, & panic when things are scary & the outcome looks questionable. I have learned more how to coach a mother in labor, to comfort her, alleviate her fears, pray with her, explain what to expect during labor…the list goes on.

  I have transported women in labor & babies to the hospital & after endorsing their care, walk out & return to Mercy…sometimes never knowing the outcome.

There is no easy way to say it…..transports are hard. I know that we transport only when we need to….and that I guess could make them “easy”, but often we have labored with the woman that we are transporting…we have built a relationship….we have encouraged them, supported them, prayed with them. But I am glad that we have a place to go to when need be. The above picture shows the recovery room for the patients who have delivered at the local hospital that we transport to.

 

I have a cont due any day.  This is her 2nd pregnancy, but her first ended at 1 1/2 months gestation…she is so excited & praising the Lord every time I tell her that everything is normal.  The baby has begun to engage in the pelvis & her due date is October 13th, so I will probably be getting a text in the near future…..

  Prenatals are broken up into 2 sections….initials & additional.  Both are times to get to know each woman individually.  During the Initial prenatal, many questions are asked about the medical history of the mother-to-be & her family.  If there have been miscarriages/abortions, these are talked about to get a full picture of her obstetric history. 

  So far, I have done 145 prenatals & 7 initials.

Postpartums…..or baby-checks as we call them here…provide an opportunity to make sure that mom & baby are doing well.  So far, I have done about 100 postpartums. 

Of everything that I have listed, the most amazing thing has been to see & feel God move.  I’m not saying that I haven’t felt it in the states, ‘cause that wouldn’t be true, but here…in life & death situations….to know that God is right next to you…to feel His presence in the room, to watch a baby that looks dead begin to breathe, cry, move… is awesome.  It fills me with awe of the One that I call Master, Lord, Savior, Immanuel.