Oh, the things I have seen.....

Going on week 2 in Pune, I have seen so much at the hospitals!
This week we were in a government hospital were they serve underprivileged people, especially in the maternal and child health.
I saw numerous births through c-sections and through normal deliveries. The first one that I saw there was a c-section and a tubal ligation. Since this was a government hospital, I think that the rules of how far we need to be from sterile instruments were totally bent. We stood right behind the doctor and right next to the patient. Even in our first event there, I could totally tell the difference between a government hospital and private hospital (where we were last week). The doctors bounce from surgery to surgery in like two minutes. And I am not exaggerating. All they did was changed their outter gloves since they wore two pairs. They didn't even change their aprons that already had blood from the other patients. But with limited resources, that is the best they can do. And yes, they do reuse their gloves here after they have been cleaned and sanitized. What really surprises me is that most surgery is done with an apron over the doctors sarees and they wear flip flops!
So back to what I have seen....
I have seen numerous tubal ligations so far. I also seen a diagnostic biopsy of the cervix/uterus tissue to see if she had endometriosis. Then this week, I saw my first D and E, which is dialation and evacuation. Basically a termination of pregnancy. I saw two that one day and both ladies had a copper T inserted (and IUD). Later that day this lady got her copper T taken out in the labor room because she got pregnant. This is the second case that I have seen here in India where the copper T has failed. The main point is that birth control, wheater it is temporary or permanent, it is not 100%. So double up people!
And on the very first day, I saw the most dramatic delivery. The poor lady was in agony going through labor. She was bearing down and the baby started crowning. She was progressing very well by herself while the doctors and nurses basically ignored her even through her pleas to get help. When she pushed the top of the head out and the baby got stuck since no one was there to guide it. Then people sprung into action. It was so fustrating just to be there as an observer and I knew that she needed a doctor or nurse to help her. Even with the language barrier, her face just said everything. I wanted to do something for her but couldn't since I am not trained in anything. I couldn't tell people to help her, because I am just a student and most of the nurses there don't speak English. I just wished that things happened different for that poor woman. I am not sure if that is how patients are treated or wheater it was something else. That woman came back the next day because she couldn't pass urine, and they had to put in a catheter. It was so painful for her for the nurses to insert it in her bladder. I had to walk away, because I just couldn't watch her scream in pain. But after a few minutes, she had filled her bag which was about 3 quarts and she got a new bag a little while after. Tramatic huh?
Oh, and I also watch a doctor manually deliver a placenta since it didn't come out on it's own. Basically the doctor sticks his whole hand and forearm up the uterus and manually separate the placenta from the uterus. It was pretty cool to watch.
So for the rest of the week I am going to the rural are called Mahagow. I am not sure if that is how you spell it but for all you that know cantonese, ha gow= shrimp dumpling. That is how I remembered the name, pathetic but it worked for me!
This weekend, I am heading out to Mumbai with fellow CFHI participant. There is going to be a wedding out there so whoo hoo!!!

That's all for now!
Loves!