Saturday, April 22, 2017

Born in ambulance

I think most of my oncalls were busy. Last night's oncall was no exception! One of my colleague wanted the call but we ended up oncall together. Thankfully, gratefully.

As usual, we started our work at around 8 am, somehow we came earlier a bit to review patients. Morning, it was rather cool and chill. In the afternoon, labour room started to warm up and finally it was heated up at night time and early in the morning at 1 am to 4. Referrals coming in from Mukah, Kanowit, Dalat, Selangau and etc. Emergencies also happened without a single warning sign and therefore we can never tell the anaes team that, when to standby for what.

At around 3 something, I was so fatigue, yet there are still cases due seen by me. Then, patient from KK Selangau reached, was told by the escorting medical assistant that patient delivered on the ambulance. They were short of the staff and hence requested one of our staff to bring the newborn in. As busy as the war zone, we are short of staff too and after wearing a pair of gloves, I went out to receive the newborn. I was shocked to see the condition in the ambulance, with bloods everywhere and liquor splashing on the linen and in the ambulance. I saw the patient and a nurse with a blood stained apron and glove on her. It was a touching moment to receive the newborn and to see the undesirable condition in the ambulance. I guess it would be a difficult situation for the midwife to conduct the delivery in the ambulance with Malaysia well-known bumpy roads. Thumbs up for them! The cute, little crying newborn almost bring me to tears, it was just so pure! Indescribable. And I will say this is the best moment of what I am doing at my workplace everyday.

When I was just about to leave the labour room at around 6 am to antenatal ward to prepare the patients for induction of labour, one of the patient's husband stopped me at the exit door and asked why it takes so long for the wife to be in the labour room after delivery, with raised voice and firm tone.

I replied, "Uncle, it was very busy for all of us since 1 am to now, and that is why the transfer of the post delivery mothers to the postnatal ward a bit delayed."
Uncle: "My time is very urgent."
Me: "....." Too tired to explain further so I went back into the labour room and took a look at her wife in the labour room. Good thing was, I have another colleague who helped me with the patients in the antenatal ward. I will only say, different people, different attitude.

That was a roundup for my oncall yesterday. Full of emotions, and sleepless call.


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