Babies!

Today Jamie and myself went to maternity ward rounds at 8:30am, after the rounds we broke up into individual ward rounds where we hooked up with the labor and delivery team.  We went into the labor and delivery suite where several Mamas were in active labor.  We were helping assist the doctors and midwives with exams and triaging patients, who was the close to delivery and who needed to go for C section.  They decided who needed a C section by the number of previous scars the Mama had.  If she had one scar she could deliver naturally but if she had two or more she had to go for C section because she was at risk of rupture of the previous scars.  While examining another patient, Jamie noticed one of the Mamas on the floor had a baby's head protruding out.  She was actively giving birth on the floor of Mulago!  The medical student went over and quickly delivered the baby and the placenta. We went with the medical resident to go tend to the baby who was the cutest ever.  She weighed 6.2lbs and we administered Vitamin K to her and put tetracycline on her eyes to prevent infection.  We then got a couple photos with her.

The maternity ward is so busy, understaffed, and under resourced.

Women have to give birth on the floor if there arent enough beds.  Sadly its not all happy endings either.  The team was attempting to resusitate a baby early in the morning that was unsuccessful and another Mama in the suite had a uterine rupture.  A uterine rupture can be fatal for the baby and mother, and the baby is basically floating in the abdomenal cavity. There are lots of volunteers but they are overwhelmed.