ANC

Antenatal Care.

Took lots of blood pressures, pulses, temperatures and respirations today. Listened to many fetal heartbeats. Practiced my Kiswahili.

I did a palpation (feeling mama’s belly for the position and lie of the baby) on Zelma Selemani and the baby kicked back! I felt the head and it was ballotteable (moved/wiggled back and forth between the pressure of my thumb and fingers guiding it side to side.) Either baby didn’t appreciate being moved around or he just wanted to say ‘Hey Mzungu!’ (white person). Palpating bellies is one of my favorite things about antenatal care. Usually the baby doesn’t kick back – but this little guy was energetic!

Then there was Miriam Saidi. She was PRE-CIOUS. It didn’t seem like she was in labor at all cause she just kept smiling at me so hugely. I think maybe because I was talking to her in Kiswahili. Tanzanians get a kick out of mzungu’s practicing their language. “Jina lango Lindsay, na toka Americani. Wewe na mtoto nzuri sana Miriam!” (My name is Lindsay, I’m from America. You and your baby are doing very well Miriam!)

Nuru Mohamedi was feeling kazungu zungu (dizzy) and she let me massage her lower back… I asked if I could pray for her and knew she didn’t know what I said, but I think she understood when I put my hand on her belly and closed my eyes to speak out life. I saw her yesterday as well. I sat with her for a while and helped her through contractions and filled out her partograph. Hoping for a good delivery and that I wont see her tomorrow because that will mean she’ll have been there for almost four days! Baby come soon!

Salma Juma had some major swelling of the legs and feet going on. She could hardly walk. I wheeled her down to ultra sound so they could get a further look because she wasn’t having labor pains but she was having serious leg pain. The hospital rarely does ultra sounds for pregnant mama’s because it’s expensive so this was my first time going. The ultra sound tech. proposed to me… about a monthly occurrence for your average white girl here. “Um haha, no thanks – haven’t even known you a whole minute. It works a little differently in America, buddy.” Made for some fun conversation. Wheeled Salma back and tried to make her comfortable on a bed she had to share with another woman. Again – praying for a good delivery and recovery for Salma.

These are four women out of the twenty or so that I see every day in the 4 hours of being in the hospital. Sometimes it’s overwhelming with the lack of resources. I don’t know where to find more staff to work or how to get enough oxytocin and cord clamps so the moms don’t have to bring their own… but I do know how to be with one woman at a time and try my best to give her proper care and value in that moment.

Next week I’m in the labor ward where all the action is. But I’m realizing there is so much more to this than simply catching babies…

Works produced by faith.

Labor prompted by love.

Endurance inspired by hope.

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