This past Wednesday, two of our patients came to us for consult and they both needed to be taken in to the city for further exams. One was having contractions, but she wasn't quite ready to have the baby, and the other patient Dr. Martin had suspected that she might have had an incomplete miscarriage. At the moment, we don't have an ultrasound machine nor the resources to deliver babies at our hospital, but that will soon change! We are currently working towards opening a Labor and Delivery Ward along with an OR. Therefore, we took our patients into the city hospital. Brandi and I had the privilege of accompanying Dr. Martin and our patients for a few hours.
We first took them into the ER to receive ultrasounds. Once we had them registered, they took them back right away. Let me begin with our first patient, the one who we thought had a miscarriage. We got her all dressed in her gown and Dr. Velasquez, one of Dr. Martin's old instructors, performed the ultrasound. He was very thorough. With the ultrasound, we discovered that the lady was indeed 12 weeks pregnant, and the baby was just fine! Praise the Lord!!
Once we finished with the first lady, we moved on to the next room with our patient who was having contractions. She had been having these contractions since Monday, but she wasn't progressing. It's now Wednesday, and she was still having contractions and had not dilated more than she was on Monday. Basically, Dr. Martin wanted to make sure that the baby was fine and that the cord wasn't wrapped around it's neck. They admitted her for observation.
After we finished in the ER, we were taken to the Labor and Delivery unit. Dr. Martin wanted us to be able to experience a birth in the Honduran hospital. Luckily, Brandi and I were able to observe two natural births. This was such a great experience for us both! We were able to hold conversations with some of the nurses, which helped us practice our Spanish. One of the nurses also practiced her English with us. After the deliveries, we were able to be with our patient, who they had moved to the L&D ward. We were able to help her through her contractions and talk with her about what was going on with her, since this was her first pregnancy. It was all in all a great experience! She ended up having her sweet baby girl around 2am. However, we were not there to experience this with her.
We ended this great day with a "celebration lunch" at Applebee's. It was a wonderful, fun-filled day, with lots of learning and great company. We thank the Lord that both of our patients were fine!!
We first took them into the ER to receive ultrasounds. Once we had them registered, they took them back right away. Let me begin with our first patient, the one who we thought had a miscarriage. We got her all dressed in her gown and Dr. Velasquez, one of Dr. Martin's old instructors, performed the ultrasound. He was very thorough. With the ultrasound, we discovered that the lady was indeed 12 weeks pregnant, and the baby was just fine! Praise the Lord!!
Once we finished with the first lady, we moved on to the next room with our patient who was having contractions. She had been having these contractions since Monday, but she wasn't progressing. It's now Wednesday, and she was still having contractions and had not dilated more than she was on Monday. Basically, Dr. Martin wanted to make sure that the baby was fine and that the cord wasn't wrapped around it's neck. They admitted her for observation.
After we finished in the ER, we were taken to the Labor and Delivery unit. Dr. Martin wanted us to be able to experience a birth in the Honduran hospital. Luckily, Brandi and I were able to observe two natural births. This was such a great experience for us both! We were able to hold conversations with some of the nurses, which helped us practice our Spanish. One of the nurses also practiced her English with us. After the deliveries, we were able to be with our patient, who they had moved to the L&D ward. We were able to help her through her contractions and talk with her about what was going on with her, since this was her first pregnancy. It was all in all a great experience! She ended up having her sweet baby girl around 2am. However, we were not there to experience this with her.
We ended this great day with a "celebration lunch" at Applebee's. It was a wonderful, fun-filled day, with lots of learning and great company. We thank the Lord that both of our patients were fine!!