Gringa and her new baby GIRL (yes, yes, she's wearing blue)
Saturday, April 9th8:00am- Receive a phone call from Gringa, a 19 year old Ayore girl, pregnant with her first child. Apparently she had been having contractions through the night and wanted me to know since she agreed to let me accompany her through her delivery. She says she will keep me posted.
10:00am- Noah’s Birthday Party! Whoo hoo! We had about 22 kids and probably 40-50 adults come out! It was great fun. Toni Mercado made an AWESOME cake for Noah and overall it was a good time. Birthday boy decided to sleep through half of it and didn’t really show up until 11:00am, but no one seemed to mind.
11:20am- Pinata. All I can say is crazy.
11:40am- Noah’s first cake! He had chocolate cake with yummy frosting. Must admit there wasn’t much of a reaction.
12pm- Everyone heads home and a few people to our house to hang out.
9pm- Receive another phone call from Gringa’s family. She is having more contractions and needs to go to the clinic to be checked. I tell them I will be there shortly (I really needed a shower).
10pm- Go to start our car and it makes a horrible squealing noise and starts smoking.
10:15pm- Go to neighbors to borrow car.
10:45pm- Get to Poza Verde, pick up Gringa, head back to Pailon.
11:00pm- Checked by the Dr (who allowed me, begrudgingly, to be with her while he checked)- 1cm. Not happening tonight. We all go back to PV to sleep.
Sunday AM- Contractions stopped, I go home to try to rest and get the car back to our neighbors.
Monday AM- Up early to Santa Cruz. Call in for an update- more contractions- Gringa would head back to Pailon this morning to be checked.
Monday 1pm- Finally make it to the clinic. Things moving slowly.
Monday 3:30pm- Gringa checked by the gynecologist. I introduce myself to her and she graciously allows me to watch and even explains a few of the things she is checking for. Super cool. I asked her to introduce me to the Dr. who would be on duty that night (since it looked like an early morning baby). She did! It was great! He was very kind as well and was more than happy to let me hang around/assist. (I’m not entirely convinced he completely understood that I have had zero formal training). This was a HUGE answer to prayer since often Bolivian Drs are very closed about having unknown people around. You have to fight to get the Dad in the delivery room here!
Monday 4pm- I realize I’ve missed lunch and I’m starving and go to my friend’s house for food.
6pm- Next check. 5cm dilated. Progression! Yay!
7:30pm- Almost 7cm. Contractions still aren’t super super consistent.
9pm- almost 8cm. Gringa is SUPER tired. She didn’t take a nap in the afternoon like I told her to.
10:30pm- 8cm.
Tuesday, April 12th
12am- Contractions hard and fast. 9.5cm. Quite a few tears are shed, understandably.
1:35am- BABY ARRIVES!
Baby Ayore Girl
2:45am- After everything settles I finally get a ride home from my friend.
3:30am- Fall into bed.
10am- find out our car is suddenly working.
It was quite the experience for an aspiring midwife. Let’s just say there were some really awesome parts, and some really awful parts. The awful parts would be things that I don’t think I would ever do to a pregnant lady. It was great being there for Gringa and supporting her. She didn’t have any prenatal/labor instruction or preparation. I don’t think she had a clue going into this experience what would happen (not like many of us do). But occasionally she asked good questions and when she hit the end of her rope (like ALL of us do), it was great to be able to support her and encourage her that she could actually do it. When she was afraid, she asked me to pray- and I did so with pleasure. There is nothing like being in the most vulnerable state that makes us turn to God. And God gave her a beautiful gift- a little girl.
Tired, but very happy Momma
2 comments:
Nothing like sharing in a birth to stand in the awe of God and his amazing creations!
How awesome! Glad you could support her and participate. Happening a little later than you were expecting eh?
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