For they are fearfully and wonderfully made...

So far, I have delivered 6 babies at Temeke hospital. I have loved every moment of working in the labour ward. That is where I feel most at home here. Being with the woman as support while labouring is an amazing honour. I feel blessed to be a part of each one of these women and new babies lives. There is an indescribable feeling that I have with each delivery. What a gift to be the first to touch these little lives!

Starting with the most recent deliveries.

This is baby Isaiah. He was born 1/21/2011 at 10:46am weighing 3.5kg. When we arrived that morning, no one knew how the mama had arrived in the labour ward and her information couldn't be found. I did a VE and found that she was fully effaced and dilated. Next thing I knew the baby's head was crowning and I frantically started putting my gloves on, but the baby was coming so quickly that Rachel V had to put her hand in there to support the head. Isaiah was born with a nucal hand and the cord wrapped around his torso. 20 minutes after giving oxytocin the placenta was not delivering. We gave her another 10iu, but still no placenta. It was obvious that the only option was to remove it manually. We didn't have any long gloves for the removal so the nurse made a make-shift long glove out of 2 gloves and removed the placenta. During her delivery mama lost a lot of blood. She had definite signs of PPH. I continued monitoring her throughout the rest of the day and made sure she was drinking a lot of fluids. Due to the lack of supplies at the hospital we were unable to get an IV drip into her which would have been a more effective way of managing her PPH. By the time that I left she seemed to be doing a lot better. I made sure that one of the more trusted nurses kept an eye on her and continued to monitor her while I was gone.

Below: Baby Jacob. Born 1/19/2011 at 11:07am weighing 3.2kg. There were signs of fetal distress with him, so we prayed for a quick delivery. After his birth, he had a slight temperature so I continued to monitor him and his mama and by the time that we left for the day he seemed to be doing a lot better.

Hannah Grace! Born 1/18/2011 at 11:19am weighing 3.4kg. As she was making her way into the world I noticed that her little hand was nestled next to her face. I was able to hold her hand tightly to her face to prevent any tearing and also slip the cord that was wrapped around her neck over her shoulder nicely. Bek and I did the delivery together which was really exciting.
Beth and I were able to assist in a C/S together. I think it was the first day we worked together in the hospital since we have been in Tanzania. We named the baby girl Esther Faith. I call her the cabbage patch doll. She was a chunk! Adorable!
Gauis named after Gaius whom John addresses in the book of 3 John. Testified of his faithfulness to the truth. I felt this little one would grow to be a man who walks in truth. Born 3/12/2010 at 12:03pm weighing 3.4kg.
Little Emma. Born 2/12/2010. She was precious with her little ear flapped hat. Born at 11:25am weighing 2.7kg.
This is me with Mama and baby Dale. Named in memory of my grandfather, Dale was born 1/12/2010 at 10:39am. Wt. 2.75kg

Continue to pray for me and the team. Heartache continues as we experience trauma and tragedy on a weekly basis.