special delivery

So...I helped deliver a baby today. Not in a "doctor gown up and glove catching the baby" kind of way, but in a "holding hands and legs and shouting EMPUJE!" kind of way. I've been in the delivery room before as an interpreter, helping to explain epidurals, even holding the patient's hand during epidural placement reminding her to keep her back rounded "como un gato enojado." I've explained all about pushing, breathing, contractions, and delivery...but have never actually been there, completely involved all the way down to wiping the sweat off mom's forehead while she squeezes the life out of my other hand.

I was paged to head directly to Labor and Delivery around 12:30. Upon entering the room, I see my lovely patient in labor on the bed, a nurse, and a resident. That's it. No husband, no family. I wondered, wanted to know why she was alone, wanted to ask, but didn't since you never know what the situation could be. I was instructed scoot to the far side of the bed. The resident asked if I had ever been involved in a delivery before.

"Oh yeah. No sweat." (I've been in the operating room countless times during C-Sections, but never actually at bedside when the baby comes sliding out. However, I figured my delivery counted, so I gave a firm affirmative.)

"Great! So you know exactly what to do then."

"Mm hmm." I replied with a smile. They offered me a gown and gloves and I refused thinking I wouldn't need them. I grabbed the patients hand, smiled reassuringly, and told her I was going to help her through this.

Rule number 1 as an interpreter: Only say what the providers say, no omissions, no additions. I chunked that out the window in about 30 seconds when I saw this poor woman was alone. I became no longer an interpreter, but her teammate. I started trying to recall all the things I needed while I was writhing in pain due to fast contractions. Hand stroking, sweet whispers, fanning, avoiding cliche phrases like, "It will all be over soon." (no it won't! it lasts an eternity!) or "Just think about your baby." (who? you mean the thing that is causing all this pain?) Opting for better thoughts like, "I know it hurts. Scream if you need to. Let the whole floor know you're having a baby." At least she smiled a few times.

When the time came to push, the nurse was on one side, I was on the other. I had her hand in my right hand, and her heel in my left hand. She was grabbing behind her knees. This is when I started wishing I had gloves and a gown since I was holding her sweaty foot and I realized my legs were pretty close to the drop zone. The nurse explained about pushing, I repeated it all, but she still wasn't quite getting it. So, I quit waiting for the nurse to explain again and just turned into her personal coach, teaching and counting to ten for every push. I was pushing too and holding my breath, exhaling when she did, then inhaling for the next push. We did that for about 20 minutes until her baby boy came sliding out and was placed on her belly. Woa. I saw EVERYTHING! Unbelievable.

Mom was exhausted, and so was I. They got the baby all cleaned up passed him to Mom. She looked at me, thanked me, and then asked if I would hold the baby because she was feeling very weak and still had some pain. While they were waiting for the afterbirth, I stood right by Mom's side cradling the precious baby in my arms. She was crying, I was crying, but he was not crying at all.

At 1:30 I gave Mom a kiss, little baby boy a kiss, promised I'd come visit tomorrow, and left to go eat lunch. As it turns out, her husband was out in the waiting room the whole time. He was obligated to stay with their daughter who was not permitted in the unit. I found him, told him everything, congratulated him, and then bought myself a chicken salad sandwich and some BBQ chips.

Later, I sent Keith a text about my experience and he replied,

"I'm proud of u! It's funny, now u know what I've been through. U know both sides...I never will. That's special."

I guess so. I didn't think about that, but it's true.

My job is amazing.