This is an article written by me, published in the college magazine 2010.
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Happy Days @ Labour room
First of all, let me inform my dear readers that there is no controversy, no gossips or any no sort of violence in this article. Just a coalition of sweet and remarkable memories penned down on a peaceful full moon night. Describing these events in the past tense is not at all justifiable as we people ( Roll no.36 to 50) most often recollect it, as if it just happened yesterday.
We, students stepped into the clinical side, after a tough year of gruelsome basic sciences drilled into our head. Pushed fervently into the wards with no space for creativity, no introduction on what a ‘patient’ is, no definition, and no criteria for recognising who a ‘patient’ is, the game began. History taking followed by case discussion began at full swing. Things went fine. I don’t remember much what happened in the wards. But as an unwritten rule, we 3rd semester people were not allowed inside the labour room. The labour room at that time was a bit different from the current one. Luck fell upon us once; we got a golden chance when Betsy ma’am called us in to witness a twin delivery. It was then for the 1st time, we all were inside the labour room.
It was cold inside, a subtle relief from the hot climate outside. We stood a bit far away from the table where the delivery was taking place. The room was filled with moans, so loud that it ringed in the ears for a long time. If one is seeing such a scene for the 1st time and if you look straight into the pain stricken mother in agony (technical term: labour), sometimes you might be taken in for a surprise.
Everything was going fine. The 1st baby had been delivered. The 2nd baby soon to be delivered. Suddenly, we heard a thud. Looking back, I saw nothing abnormal except one person missing. Then, immediately when I looked down, I saw Jasmine* lying unconscious with legs and hands trembling. With basic sciences giving no diagnosis to this presentation, we presumed it to be a case of ‘thalachuttiveezhuka’. We assumed the role of 911 team. Since I haven’t faced such a situation, I was in a fix. I heard people calling for water, to raise her leg etc. Side by side, the labour also went along smoothly. Suddenly, the activity level inside the labour room soared high.
Betsy Ma’am instructed us to take her to another room. Baby conscious people stayed back, whereas some people went with her. We reached a Professor’s room, where she collapsed again. The girls, as presumed could not support her at all, at which I intervened and put her safely to the cot. That day, we learnt a lot of things; how to manage a ‘vasovagal syncope’, what measures to take in a time of crisis and of course saw a beautiful twin delivery.
Coincidently, the aetiology for this incident was another vasovagal syncope. But as a medical miracle, one blink you see a person going down, the next blink you see her jumping up and laughing. It was none other than our Sweety*. Verdict: No resuscitation required and plenty of energy saved. Maybe this explains why medicine is a science of exceptions, as some say.
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It was then after 1½ years later, we started attending labour room postings. We followed the regular drill exercise. Getting up at 7.40 AM; Brushing, bathing by 7.50 AM; Clothes, shoes, coat by 7.55 AM and finally the most rewarding ATTENDANCE by 8 AM.
It was then, I recount another unforgettable incident. One Mrs. Anna, primi from Kunnamkulam. She was a mathematics teacher, by profession. It was my turn to monitor the patient. As usual, I took out a partogram sheet, checked the case sheet, wrote down the dates and went and sat down next to her, with one eye on the oxytocin drip and the other eye on the patient. I saw in her face, all the apprehensions of a first time new experience. I took a brief history. All trimesters were uneventful. Everything was going well. She looked pretty well educated and spoke like one. At first, she was a bit hesitant to talk to me, but after some time she started talking. She told me details of her family, job etc. These brief talks went interrupted sometimes by pains (false contractions), but the real one (typical true labour pain) hadn’t started yet. Oxytocin drip re-checkedand corrected; dilatation and station checked by Anoj Sir. Everything was ok. After some time, she asked me, ‘how long this will take (the labour)?’ I thought, maybe as a medical student, it is my job to explain what all things happen in the labour room; although we play the role of ‘temporary bystanders’ in a major way – providing strength and relief.
One thing I noticed is that as how much you communicate to a lady approaching labour, and is she listens to you, some of the unwanted pain mechanisms will get suppressed. So, I started talking. I explained to her the 1st stage, the room where she was lying – the onset of true labour pain to full dilatation of cervix, the other room at the corner – called the 2nd stage, where the delivery of foetus takes place and so on... She listened beautifully. Everything was going well. The true labour pain hadn’t yet started. I decided to take a small break and went to check my friends. Within a minute, I heard a large yell. I ran back. It was Anna. Possibly, her contractions were getting harder and true labour pain might have started. Till then, she was praying, calling out her mother and God turn by turn, loudly. I called the nurses. They came running, checked the dilatation and station and said that she would have to wait some more time. Hearing this, still unable to bear the pain, she let off a high decibel yell and cried “TAKE ME TO SECOND STAGE !!!.......pleaseee!!!” The whole staff stood astounded and turned their eyes towards me, giving me a crucifying look.
For the 1st time, maybe they thought, a lady in labour talking ‘sense’ or a simple case of ‘medical enlightenment’. The rest of the process went uneventful and she transformed into a beautiful mom with an extra diploma in labour medicine earned from me !!!
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Now, it’s time to describe my most delicious event. This took place when I was in my 7th semester. There’s a common factor that binds our batch mates and that is good delicious food. In some particular months of the year, the restaurants at Amala bring out special dishes, especially of the seafood variety. This wonderful news came to our ears within no time. The girls of our batch also wanted to have some taste of it. So, it was decided to hold a ‘SEAFOOD PARTY’. The next question was, where o hold the party? The labour room would be inappropriate. Again, we found an answer to it too – the classroom at ward 2. So, the preparations started. Dishes were ordered from Mary Matha hotel which included Prawns Masala, Squid dry fry, Shellfish Masala, Chilly fish etc along with Parotta. We brought newspapers, to keep the food stuff and to not make the place dirty. We followed the Arabian etiquette ie. eating from a common plate. Once the packets were opened, dozens of hands flew from nowhere and within no time only sounds of lip smacking and finger licking could be heard. It was a great satisfaction. Fortunately, there was no case that day and we all went to their respective beds peacefully.
There’s still a lot of “Happy Days” friends !. But for time being, I’m stopping here now. Take care and enjoy every moment of your life. Remember – ‘Life never gives you a second chance’ & ‘Be happy always’. Ciao.
(*names changed due to certain reasons)
Kp
