As the days went on, I was asked this more than once. Residents would want to know if I had to do this as part of my midwifery training (no). They wanted to know why I would choose to spend my time here, in the dirty, poor hospital instead of the beautiful Dominican beaches. Many of the interns were there just "doing their time" and they told me, in their very limited English, that they hated this rotation. I understood. But I was able to tell them that I really wanted to help, and that I really wanted to understand how birth was "done" in their country. I also told a few of how I love Jesus and wanted to serve Him.
I have to admit, after my first shift I was wondering why I was here. I was shocked at the conditions. I don't think anyone could have prepared me for what I was going to see. Women were begging me for food and water (none given, even if you labor for three days). Many women were infected with Hepatitis B, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases. There was death with every shift. And there was the filth; blood, urine, or feces, left on the floor for hours before anyone bothered to clean it up. None of us on our first shift wanted to go back...but we did because that was what we were here for.
It got easier as the week went on because I knew what to expect. I bought cups at the store and water and started giving the mothers food and water (and each day if I left a stack of cups I would find them gone the next day; some staff steal supplies). I also saw how thankful the mothers were for the midwives. They NEVER thanked the OBs after a birth, but were raving after a birth supported by any of the women on our team. One doctor told me "The women like you. You are more gentle. The want midwives!". It was exhausting working 8-12 hour shifts every day but to see the women we had worked with in postpartum and how their faces would light up, it was worth it. If you went over to the postpartum ward and found a woman you had helped, she often had her family with her and they would immediately be embracing you and thanking you.
As we ended the week it became apparent of why this system is like this. The head doctors told us how they had not been paid their meager salary for two months. The doctors had to work 24 hour shifts with little sleep. There were very few nurses; most of the staff was either OB doctors, residents, or medical interns (medical students). When you don't have basic supplies, like sheets, pads, or even water to drink it can become fustrating. And the constant busyness of birth (literally several births an hour), it can wear you down. You barely have time on some shifts to wash your hands. And then there are no paper towels to dry your hands! I could see why it would make them tired and not so gentle. Not having the supplies they desperatley needed would be hard for any medical professional.
We also, as the week went on, got to know the doctors well. Some of the things they did amused us. Salsa danicing in the labor ward anyone? Cafe at midnight? They would often put Latin music on their laptops and blare it in the labor ward as the night wore on. On the last night I finally convinced the friendly head OB doctor to put something relaxing on---that I loved his music, but it wasn't good for active labor! He laughed and put on something more relaxing and then told me I was going to make all his doctors go to sleep with this music! The same doctor told us on the last night that he was sorry we were leaving, that we hadn't had time to come to a party with them. He was genuinely kind to us, like many other doctors, and I had invitations to come back and bring my family to stay with them. As I said goodbye to one doctor she kissed me on both cheeks and said she would miss me, that she hated that we had to go. And while I missed my family, I was wishing I could stay also. I was genuinely falling in love with the Dominican people.
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