18^th October – 1st November 202o

Covid-19 had been very well managed in Sri Lanka until October.  The Sri Lankan government has been very strict and whoever is coming to the country must be 14 days in a hotel quarantine under army supervision and providing PCR test is negative, you are allowed to go home and stay another 14 days in isolation. If you are a diplomat and your home can accommodate you with separate quarters, you can quarantine directly there for 14 days after arrival and must have negative PCR at the end of it.

During these times, I was allowed to support women in labour as long as I followed the Covid precautions and wore a mask and gown at all times. Total lockdown finished in June and we were slowly getting our lives back, but as a second wave struck in the world, cases of Covid were rising in Sri Lanka pretty fast too.  Now every time I go to support someone in labour in that particular hospital, I have to have a negative PCR test before I am allowed to physically support them in labour, and must wear full PPE.

How do I know when to plan my PCR tests (waiting time for results is 8 – 14 hours) to be ready to support a woman who will likely go in to spontaneous labour pretty quickly? Very difficult, and actually unpredictable. One woman was hoping to go to labour over the weekend 17^th/18^th October, so they asked me to have the test on 18^th October in the morning and wait in the hospital until she birthed. First, they wanted to put me into their staff accommodation, but at the end, they gave me a spacious room on VIP floor and looked after me really well, especially with healthy food choices. I actually waited for this woman to go into labour a week in this room. I had to. They told me, if I leave the hospital premises, I will have to have another PCR test on my return with negative result before allowed into the hospital.

What did I do in one room on my own for 6 days, you may ask?

Spend most of the time worrying how this will pan out, as I had 4 women to support during birth and they were all due more or less at the same time. I was praying they will birth one after another, it would be Murphy’s law that they didn’t, wouldn’t it? One woman was planning to go to another hospital, so legislation was tricky. However, all went well and they birthed one after the other, leaving me space to recover.

Apart from worrying, I spent my time on my computer with this blog, or diary writing and designing a health record book which the hospital owner asked me to help to compile. I finished reading one book, relaxed with TV as well as doing some exercise to keep active (I moved the furniture to create more space). I did keep in touch with my family and friends via WhatsApp messages and the week went quite fast to be honest.

And my family? Did they manage on their own without me?

I planned the week for them in details: every day either Misa or Emi was with one of our friends, so Steve had only one child to look after after as he was totally swamped with work.  They managed very well; Emilka or Misa would prepare quick breakfast and lunch, and for dinner they had food in the freezer or ordered Uber Eats. They managed without me really well but were very happy when I returned back home to them on Saturday 24^th October.

I was home precisely 3 days when I had to have second PCR as another woman was going into labour and I waited for 14 hours to get the result before going to support the couple. As soon as she birthed, I was able to go home.

I had one more woman to support. By now, the curfew was back on and she wanted me to be closer to her for practicality. Her husband rented a flat close by for me and her nanny to live there, so she had us all close in case. I had a good night sleep, a very relaxing day there with her going into labour at night having a baby the next day. I asked their curfew driver to take me back to the flat in the afternoon and I stayed the night to recuperate and recover from a busy few days.  I could not miss the amazing breakfast each day which came with the rent. I sat on my own from 9.30-11.00, enjoying my own company, reading and eating delicious food. For me, breakfast is the most enjoyable part of any hotel stay.

Kids were absolutely fine. They were invited with Steve to celebrate Halloween with our Turkish friends.  Before I left I cooked them a “gross soup with chopped children’s fingers” (bean soup with sausages) to take with them, and Emilka made a jelly game.

Was it all worth it? Away from my family? Having 2 PCR tests? Being stuck in a room for 6 days?

Yes it was, I was able to support three women on their way to motherhood and me being there is my huge privilege, which in turns takes some sacrifices.

Busy October