JoAnn: Maternity Ward, At Last!

Posted 01:00 AM, July 15, 2006, by jaczecho

Friday, I went to the maternity ward and for the first time saw where I'll be spending my mornings for the next four weeks. The building is very old-in fact, they're building a new labor and delivery ward right behind it and the contrast accentuates the sorry state of the current one. I walked up a rock path, past about a dozen women at various stages of pregnancy, and went into the building.

Sitting in the corridor, waiting to be seen were another two-dozen pregnant ladies. Now, I've been dealing with a good deal of bullshit for the past two weeks: paperwork, revisions, and meetings-meetings-meetings. But seeing all these pregnant women, all needing care, reminded me why I'm here, and re-infused me with energy for the project at hand.

The first person I met was Dr. Carmelo, a Cuban obstetrician who is chief of the ward. He responded to the explanation of my project with an affirmative and enthusiastic winks and clicking sounds. Cute.

Then I met the other OBs: Josephine (just like me), a local and Iliana, a Cuban. Each OB had their own room that functioned both as their office (big desks, lots of paperwork) and their exam room (bed with stirrups). I'm not exaggerating when I say that these three people were among the warmest I've met here. It should be a pleasure to work with them. Or rather, around them, so I don't get in their way.

My schedule will be based around their schedule. The docs come in to do their rounds at 9am. At that time they spend between five and twenty minutes with each patient who gave birth the night before, checking on her and baby, and making sure they're okay to go.

Once they've seen the doctor, mommy and baby typically clear out ASAP. Judging from they set up of the post-partum room (twelve beds, each with a little crib at it's foot) that is understandable. So, in order for me to interview all the women who gave birth the day and night before, I need to be there early.

I'm going to start coming at 7am, and see how much time that gives me. I'll work my way around the twelve beds, consenting, poking fingers, doing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and anemia, and then asking the mom some questions about her use of malaria-preventing drugs during pregnancy.

I have no idea what proportion of women will consent to participate. I mean, I'm not sure I'd want to be poked yet again after having given birth the day before. I think they'll want to know if they have malaria though, so maybe when I come to that part of the consent script, I'll be especially emphatic.

I'm hoping to spend some time shadowing docs both in the OB ward and throughout the hospital, nothing set up yet, though. I think I'll give it a couple of days. Stay tuned.