Yo manke pou pou sou tet bebe a!

9/23/11

Just witnessed my second Haitian birth.  It was awesome as well.  I felt like crying, lol which would have been weird.  This whole labor thing is kind of long and tedious though.  It is hard to stay interested.  I think it’s because I’m not actually doing anything.  I also witnessed my first bowel movement during labor as well, I’m not as disgusted as I thought I would be.  It just reminded me of when other mammals are in labor, and how it’s just a natural reaction to the pushing that their body does.  The mom J was laboring on her hands and knees, and when she was fully dilated, she was grunting and moaning, and crying out for Jesus.  Throughout her labor, she was dripping amniotic fluid and while pushing she started to poop.  The baby’s head was crowning and her head was facing up towards the mom’s butt, and I was so worried that the baby’s face would be pooped on.  I don’t think she was.  When she birthed the placenta, it kind of reminded me of liver.  I love liver, but I don’t think I want to eat it anytime soon.

Map Renmen Mekredi

Wednesdays are Prenatals.  That is the scheduled day for expectant moms to come for check ups.  I got to sit in on two.  More were expected, but because the weather is crappy, only three women came.  I learned how to feel for the baby’s head, bottom and feet.  I also learned that contrary to popular belief, pregnant women do need salt.  If you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense.  Salt is in iv’s, gatorade/powerade and it is also what we lose in our sweat.  We also talked about preeclampsia.  The signs of preeclampsia are swollen hands and feet, protein in the urine and high blood pressure.  This can be alleviated by eating foods high in protein; peanuts (all nuts), meat, coconuts, liver, eggs and beans.  Today was very exciting.  I have a feeling Wednesdays will be my favorite.

High: Being present for prenatals

Low: No phone