Being Available proved worthy !

 It was my first day in labor room. It would have been 5th day of my official posting in the Obststricts department but first time in the labor room. I was excited to see the first live delivery in my life. Also, the day being Saturday added a relaxing tinge to my brain wires. All I had to dowas wake up in a beautiful peaceful morning get well dressed (I know i rarely do that but when I do it ,I love it) and reach the wards and get my once in a lifetime experience of watching a life entering the world we are!.

I reached on time and found my 4 male batchmates present there. I wanted at least one female to be present there but, I couldn't have done anything else. We saw residents running here andthere , arranging for things and yelling orders and searching for people to be available to help them. Otherwise, things were calm. 2 women have been in labor pains, I don't really know theirexact situation ( as it was my first day and I didn't really read the whole mechanism and stages of labor) but all I knew was, baby's would be delivered soon.

Here it began!

The name of the mother was Roshini.

Delivery of a baby began. There were encouragements for the women in the loud voices. Also, we can hear prayers being sun outside the room ( maybe that was for another purpose but the whole scene looked complete with it). The baby came out. First the head, then shoulder and then the whole baby was there. I don't really remember the events between him being really delivered a d the time when he began crying. I guess I was lost in my own thoughts. Every good piece of article could describe the emotions at this stage but there is something moreimportant I want to go one with. So ,hold on.

Then came the hard part for the mother.

The episiotomy had to be stitched. The baby was taken away and the procedure started. It appeared to be very painful to the mother, even more than the delivery it self. The intensity ofcrying was louder and not hidden this time. Till this time, I was just another observant in the bunch of students standing in the corner, seeing things happen. But when the resident went off my colleagues went to the different room and it was just 2 sisters and the patients acquaintance standing there. I went to stand next to her and tried consoling her. What she has just done made a very strong impression of her to me ( and yep, every women deserve that place in my head ) and I wanted to contribute in helping her too. She grabbed my hand while the procedure was still on. I could feel the intensity of the pain by the strength of her clutching force. I could imaging how hard it would have been. She asked repeatedly, how much more to go ? I had no clue. I asked sister about it. She said,"Just the last ones."

She bore all the pain. I kept standing and just being available to listen to her and make her feel that we are there for her. At last, the procedure came to an end. She was to be left with her acquaintance. Sister left and even I went to another room where it was expected that we could see another delivery.

She thanked me silently and I left.

After 1 hour of me leaving to another room and watching another delivery and getting taught about the happenings from residents, interns and nurses, it was our time to leave. I took off all  the personal protective stuff , grabbed my bag and started to walk off. While walking off, I passed outside the door of the room where the patients after delivery were to be present. I found Roshini there. I went inside, asked here where-abouts and saw the baby in the lap of a girl who liked younger but old enough to understand the things. She kept the baby busy while Roshini relaxed herself. It was so genuine of a smile , and it touches you more when not more than an hour ago, you have seen the mother wailing in pain

That was my experience of being a part of delivery of a baby, foe the first time !

- Antra Kumar 

2nd year, MBBS.