I will not be giving birth to any of my children at Mosvold Hospital ….

Over the past 48 hours, I seem to have spent a fair amount of time on the labour ward. This is usual as the three busiest places over the weekend seem to be OPD (assessing new patients), Paeds Ward (there are some very sick children) and Maternity (the number of deliveries seems to be phenomenal – the doctors here state that there is nothing much else to do but have babies).

My main role when I arrive onto labour ward (which consists of two beds and lots of women outside the room) is to assess the woman in labour. This is mainly done by reading her notes, looking at the CTG (the partogram which records the state of affairs of both foetus and mother) and conducting a PV (per vagina) examination.

However, while I have been carrying out this task, I have often been present at the birth of uncomplicated deliveries. These are very public affairs as the curtains are much too short to give privacy to the mother. This though, is the least of her concerns. From stage 2 of labour (10 cm dilation up to delivery of baby) there are around eight woman in this small room of a labour ward (some midwives and others are friends). The women surround the pregnant lady (who is silent throughout despite no analgesia) and start encouraging her to push. Some of the woman grab the patient’s legs, other fondle the patient’s breasts, one presses down on the uterus, another one smacks the woman on the face and then wipes her sweat.

This all happens with great amounts of whooping, giggling and dancing. Eventually the baby is delivered and I put some gloves on and have a look to make sure the baby does not need suctioning or oxygen.

What an ordeal!