I saw a baby come into the world today, in one of the clinics! It was a girl, and my first-ever experience of seeing a birth!! Hospitals in South Africa are much simpler than at home. There was the midwife and sister, as well as seven of us nursing students in the room with the mother and newborn. The baby wasn't suctioned, but was instead turned face-down on the bed, to drain any fluid in her lungs. They don't use the bulb suction here because it can break the baby's mucus membranes and create an outlet for bodily fluids from the mother to enter into the baby (specifically HIV/AIDS). The mother was indeed HIV positive, but the baby remained HIV free. Another means of transmission is through breast milk, but for many mothers they must breastfeed since there is no extra money for formula. The mothers are actually encouraged to breastfeed, even if they are positive for HIV, because the incidence of getting HIV from breastfeeding is only about a 7% chance, according to the sister, and breast milk provides the baby with all the critical nutrients and antibodies for it's immune system.

Of course I was the nursing student that had to step back because I almost fainted. Lisa Marie helped me to the bathroom and I was lying there with my feet elevated and wet cloths on my head - great. I saw the whole birth though (thank god), and it was about 15 minutes later that I started to feel lightheaded. I was just thinking how I actually witnessed the birth of a real, live baby, who took her first breaths in front of me, and was in her mother's arms for the first time. The whole event was emotional (as many things in South Africa have been), and I think it was the reflection on the experience that made me feel lightheaded.

We went to a mother & child clinic afterwards, where there were lines of mothers with their infants waiting (from 7:30am & it was then around 3:30pm) to get routine immunizations for their babies. A few of us watched a pair of twins receive their Vitamin A and various immunizations. The government provides money for these babies to get immunized, free of charge to the mothers. This is so great, because otherwise the majority (if not all) of the babies would never receive the necessary shots needed for their health, due to lack of money. However, if the government must provide meds for all babies, there is obviously a shortage that must go around and help everyone. Also, if we thought understaffing of nurses in America was bad, there were only 2 nurses to do routine check-ups and shots for about 300 babies per day. Insane. The nurse told us that they can't go home until all the people that arrived that day are helped, because the chance that these people will be able to get transportation at another time (for a different appointment) is slim to none.

Overall, life is good. The workload is picking up (lots of reading!), and there are opportunities to see things here that are so incredible. Hope everyone at home (& Australia-Jordan) is doing well! Miss you all.