Philippines

I am here. An adventure for sure. However, the Holy Spirit has been with me along the way and I love the time we are spending together. I am reading through the book of John right now and it is precious time. The planes all connected without a hitch, I got to the intern apartment and got settled. I haven’t had too much problem adjusting to time if you call waking up at 3am every day adjusting. I am exhausted by 8pm. The first 5 days I had a TON of swelling! It finally went down. I am told others have had that as well from such long flights and high altitudes. The pace is so slow and relaxed. I really am enjoying that part. My personality is always to go go go, be doing, productive, etc. It is an adjustment but I am trying to embrace the pace. Right now the wind is blowing through the screens and I feel the cool breeze. The home is all shaded under trees and even though it is 90 degrees it is very pleasant in here. There is a very steep hill to walk down and back up to get common things and I enjoy the exercise and sunshine. I would do it all day but if there is a birth I don’t want to be stinky~

The midwives on call are napping. It has been very slow for births. There was one the day I arrived I was able to observe and not one since. The pressure drops in the weather tonight so maybe then! The center had an administrative order to not allow first time moms or moms with their fifth pregnancy deliver here. It was finally lifted and hopefully they will be calling those moms back to invite them to return if they wish. The birth I observed was pretty normal in all facets except one. The baby’s decelerations (60 bpm) were handled native midwife style, not hospital style like I am accustomed. They were very low and very slow to recover. This was during pushing but baby was not moving down with pushes. In the hospital I have gotten on board with the doctor and nurses in coaching the birth mom that the baby has to come out now and to push with all she has in her. This midwife told her not to push. On the next contraction she was to breathe and relax; breathe deep for her baby. After she did so, the following contraction she pushed and the baby moved and crowned. The next two contractions the head was born and the baby wailed letting us know she was okay! She took another 2 minutes to be born and all was well.

There is always something to learn. I look forward to more.

They begin Christmas celebration here September 1! Today was the first real day back to routine and it was slow. Tomorrow prenatal classes begin and things will be happening. There are two interns here and one leaves tomorrow. The other has had her sister visiting and her sister is leaving now. I am glad I came during this week as it gave me time to get acclimated before getting into the full swing of things.

Midwifery here, as I understand it, requires a bachelor’s degree and then they have autonomy of care. They have midwifery schools and trained midwives are common in the country. This is what is fascinating; their lives are completely family centered. The midwives bring their kids to work with them. On Sunday, the midwives on call had their husbands here all day. They cook and eat and rest; a family affair. Kids are involved in the every day life. The center has a playground and all the neighborhood kids come and play and climb trees. The sound of children are constant through the day as the other side of the apartment for interns is the children’s home.

Internet. This is the most Internet I have had since being here. It has been so slow and I am having banking difficulties and have had to travel to find good enough internet to communicate. That has been my only hassle. Even after notifying the bank AND the bank calling me to verify my travels, my cards are not working. I am a day ahead so I am having to wait for the weekend to pass in the States to try and get things situated. My husband will be doing that in a few hours for me. If I call, I would have to do so in the wee hours here and I don’t want to wake anyone. Hopefully that all will get resolved.

This hasn’t been an exciting post but just to say I am here and I am learning. Tagalog is the official language and I am not getting that at all. I wish our brains could open up and soak in a language easily. English is their second language so most know it and just about as many can speak it. Thankfully. http://www.helpintl.org/shiphrah-birthing-home.html