WOW! It has definitely been awhile, but I am back with one of my favorite stories.
Dec. 24. 2018:
I triaged a pregnant lady who reported feeling stomach pains. She was at 31 weeks (term is 37-40) meaning if these were contractions she was experiencing, she was in labor and birth was imminent. Natasha, a government nurse at the clinic & the sweetest ever, checked for dilation/effacement/station & surely the mom was in labor as the baby’s head was already engaged. Being a pre-term labor and lacking the proper equipment for a premie baby, we began the process of paper work for a transfer to the local hospital. The mother was having strong contractions, close together but we kept telling her not to push as she could not have the baby here & needed to wait for the ambulance. We phoned the ambulance twice waiting for them to arrive & they notified they were on their way and almost to the clinic. All the paperwork was ready as we sat and waited to see the ambulance and help transfer the patient. As it is the body’s natural response to labor, the mother kept pushing despite our discouraging it. In one the the last pushes, Natasha assessed her again & we could see the head of the baby! Natasha turned to me & said “We’re gonna have to push, this baby is coming right now.” We got on both sides of her, gloved and ready w towels, and told the mama to push! & push she did! The baby came out with the cutest little cry, we clamp the cord & THEN the ambulance arrives. The midwife on the ambulance assessed the baby and verified the baby being in perfect condition. We helped clean the baby up, weighed it, etc & handed it to the mom.
The father came in some minutes later and Melanie, my fellow student missionary, said she saw some tears well up in his eyes :)
After all the shock and thrill of the birth rolled over, the now showered and incredible mom held her baby. I asked what name they had in mind, she said “Emmanuel” (later changed to Gift Emmanuel). It was truly a Christmas Eve miracle!
Loved the reminder of God’s hand in the little things & the incredibly big things like the birth of another beautiful person into this world. Especially with the baby’s name being Emmanuel, it added such a special sweet taste to the Christmas season knowing “God with us!”
Blessings,
Caro
