October 2020

I met mother number 10 shortly after she moved to Colombo from the USA, completing her 2 weeks hotel quarantine and 14 days at home. She has moved back home with her 2.5 years old Isla and husband to birth her second baby, be in Sri Lanka for a year or so and eventually move to New Zealand.

She was 32 weeks when she first made contact with me and I went to meet the couple to their home. Pregnancy was straight forward so far, but she was anticipating problems like with her first pregnancy. No issues arose this time fortunately, but as the estimated weight of the baby at 36 weeks was to be 3.5kg she was getting slightly worried she will not be able to birth him naturally.

A few days before her due date her movements decreased, and she made an informed decision for her labour to be induced. Her previous induction was very good and she was anticipating this to go the same way; she requested an epidural from early onset to be able to, in her words “Enjoy the moment”.

I  was called to support her just before the epidural was put in  and despite challenges with it working well to start with but not at all in the middle (very fast progress and quick labour), she birthed a baby with the help of a doctor at 2.28 the next day and did enjoy the moment. Baby Alexander was indeed 3.545kg and she was ever so surprised how she birthed such a big baby. 

Despite a negative PCR test, I had to wear all the PPE kit (hat, goggles, mask, gown, overshoes and gloves) the whole time – I looked like a Martian. As Covid-19 is on the rise, no visitors were allowed, so every interaction with their daughter or any other family members was over mobile phone; sweet and sad at the same time. 

A new family was born and I was happy that on the hospital instructions to be able to support her I had taken the PCR test and waited 5 days in insolation on the hospital premises; a “hospital staycation”.  Lucky me!

Rennie