I delivered a baby today. A 7.5 pound baby boy to a first-time mother of 20 years. I was actually only planning to work during the morning prenatal check-ups but then one of the women who came for a routine check up got an exam that revealed she was 4 cm dilated. She claimed she didn't feel any pain. There were signs she was having contractions as her belly would tighten frequently. Four hours later she was 6 centimeters dilated and still no pain or sign of even the slightest discomfort! We all were amazed and kept asking her, "Really? No pain yet?" She just giggled and said, Nope, not yet. So we gave her some herbal medicine to strengthen contractions and waited another 2 hours. Next check up she was 7 centimeters. Still no pain.
The baby's head was well engaged in her pelvis so we decided to break her water. Almost immediately she went from no signs of labor to being in very active labor. She started sweating profusely and her toes were curling. I stayed with her and encouraged her to breath and keep her body relaxed, which she was already an expert at somehow. Amazing.
She started to bear down spontaneously. She said she wanted to push. We encouraged her to breath. She really insisted she was ready. So we took her upstairs to the delivery room. Checked to see if she really was ready and she was 9+ centimeters dilated. We supported her cervix and waited for the baby's head to move low enough for the cervix to slip behind the baby's head, which was accomplished after about 20 minutes.
After trying several positions and finding the right one that allowed her to push effectively and after about 1 hour of pushing, her baby was born. Cute baby James Ronald.
Thankfully the placenta was delivered without incident but her uterus was just so reluctant to contract adequately that we had to give her pitocin intramuscularly and then soon after when it became apparent this wasn't enough, we hooked her to Dextrose IV and added more pitocin to the IV fluids. After that, her uterus had enough power to contract properly. Whew.
I ended the day by spending an hour and a half suturing in three different areas. Ouch. I used to be so dead against episiotomy but one has to wonder, could three jagged tears in difficult to heal areas be prevented by inflicting one straight tear? I honestly don't know but it makes me wonder. All primis (first time mothers) in hospitals and most clinics in the Philippines get routine episiotomies. I have to say, I can kind of understand it. I still have never cut an episiotomy and I'm not sure I ever could unless it were an emergency but I can at least say I understand where others are coming from. I really felt for this poor young mom who will have a very sore bum for a few weeks. I will say, that with Hilary's help and expertise, our young mom will look as good as new once the healing is done. And that's what we told her. "You'll be back to beautiful." Despite her discomfort, she gave us a genuine smile and said, "Thanks."
Friday, January 30, 2009
Our Nerd Guests
Yeah, Isn't it great!? Even Sheri didn't know she was coming so that's why we couldn't say anything. All she knew was she was going to Hong Kong with Kevin. She didn't really get what was going on until they checked in for the flight to Cebu. Kevin pulled off a great surprise. So fun! Our first Nerd visit!!
They arrived yesterday and will be in Cebu till Monday. We have a few fun things planned including watching the Cebu Provincial Prisoners perform on Saturday. If you're not sure what I'm talking about watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H6mmTvDUdA
They arrived yesterday and will be in Cebu till Monday. We have a few fun things planned including watching the Cebu Provincial Prisoners perform on Saturday. If you're not sure what I'm talking about watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H6mmTvDUdA
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Blogging and Exercise
I was doing so good. I was blogging regularly. I thought to myself... Yeah, I'm finally in the groove with this, I've kept it up. I felt good about it.
Unexpectedly, I find myself having had a lapse from blogging. And now the longer I go without blogging the harder it is to start again. I haven't even kept up with reading other blogs. It's like I've just chosen to ignore that the entire realm of the blogosphere exists.
I have such similar conversations about exercise, which unfortunately has also dropped off in my life the past couple of months. I have been trying to convince myself that the need for exercise doesn't exist. Thankfully I can't get away with that for too long. Thanks to the fact that I am so in tune (insert extreme sarcasm here) with my body that eventually I begin to hear it screaming at me saying, "You lazy A-hole! Your muscles are turning into jello!"
Well I started back at they gym this week and I think I may get back into it...
Unexpectedly, I find myself having had a lapse from blogging. And now the longer I go without blogging the harder it is to start again. I haven't even kept up with reading other blogs. It's like I've just chosen to ignore that the entire realm of the blogosphere exists.
I have such similar conversations about exercise, which unfortunately has also dropped off in my life the past couple of months. I have been trying to convince myself that the need for exercise doesn't exist. Thankfully I can't get away with that for too long. Thanks to the fact that I am so in tune (insert extreme sarcasm here) with my body that eventually I begin to hear it screaming at me saying, "You lazy A-hole! Your muscles are turning into jello!"
Well I started back at they gym this week and I think I may get back into it...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
BIG NEWS
The approval we've been waiting for has finally arrived. Yesterday afternoon we got word that we have been added to the Roster of Approved Applicants of the Inter-country Adoption Board of the Philippines(ICAB). So we are now officially approved prospective adoptive parents in the eyes of the Philippines government. Woohoo!
Apparently we were approved on December 8th but our adoption agency (Holt) only got word of it yesterday. Interestingly, the approval date is almost exactly one year from the date we mailed our initial application to Holt.
If this past year is comparable to preconception counseling and preparation, then I'd say it's safe to say, we're pregnant! Now this would be the time to tell you our due date.
We have been told that the families most recently matched with Filipino children waited between 12 and 15 months from approval, however last March ICAB issued a notice to all agencies that new families could wait 2 years.
Therefore, we are technically due at some point between Dec 2009 and Dec 2010. Anyone want to pray for premature labor?
Our hope and our prayer is that we would become parents by the end of 2009. In our minds, we've waited long enough and the fact that we actually live in the Philippines must give us some edge over other applicants! Would you pray with us specifically for that? Of course we trust in God's timing so we ultimately yield to His wisdom in regards to timing but at the same time, we are encouraged to pray specifically. And Jesus tells us to ask, seek, knock and to keep knocking.
All that to say, WE'RE EXCITED!!!
Apparently we were approved on December 8th but our adoption agency (Holt) only got word of it yesterday. Interestingly, the approval date is almost exactly one year from the date we mailed our initial application to Holt.
If this past year is comparable to preconception counseling and preparation, then I'd say it's safe to say, we're pregnant! Now this would be the time to tell you our due date.
We have been told that the families most recently matched with Filipino children waited between 12 and 15 months from approval, however last March ICAB issued a notice to all agencies that new families could wait 2 years.
Therefore, we are technically due at some point between Dec 2009 and Dec 2010. Anyone want to pray for premature labor?
Our hope and our prayer is that we would become parents by the end of 2009. In our minds, we've waited long enough and the fact that we actually live in the Philippines must give us some edge over other applicants! Would you pray with us specifically for that? Of course we trust in God's timing so we ultimately yield to His wisdom in regards to timing but at the same time, we are encouraged to pray specifically. And Jesus tells us to ask, seek, knock and to keep knocking.
All that to say, WE'RE EXCITED!!!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Aha!
I'm so behind on blogging and the way things are looking it's going to be February before I get back on track. So in the meantime, check out my mother-in-law's blog for photos and brief descriptions of the past month. She's great at blogging and there's lots of pictures. Check it out if you like:
http://wwwblackberryridge.blogspot.com/
http://wwwblackberryridge.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)