The theatre is too hot

The theatre is way too hot. It was hot to start with, then the door broke. Now we can't use the AC and heat and humidity is ridiculous. On two occasions I have nearly passed out during C sections and Jenni also fell victim to this oppressive heat.

I found myself in theatre most of this afternoon for a lady I thought would have delivered by lunch. Her waters broke 2 days ago so this baby was due to come out. During the morning she progressed nicely and the fetal heart was sounding good. Just before lunch elizabeth found that she had stopped progressing and gave her until 3 or else do a C section. After lunch the baby was still stuck with his head in the transverse direction so we went off to theatre. This involved putting a tarpaulin over the woman to protect her from the rain and Jenni acting as the portable drip stand. I had to shout at the families waiting outside the mat ward to get out of the way as I pulled the trolley and of course they didn't. This would not happen in the uk as the labour suite would be next to the c section room and there would be a roof around.

Elizabeth started with a trial of forceps which didnt work as she couldn't rotate the head (we didn't have the special turning ones). Elizabeth pushed the baby back into the abdomen and started a very fast C section. By the time I had scrubbed she was cutting the uterus. The baby cried as soon as he arrived and seemed ok. The uterus had torn and was bleeding lots. Elizabeth took it out the abdomen and I put pressure on it to stop the bleeding while she sutured it. It was an exciting operation, but by the end I had employed a poor nurse to dab the sweat that was running through my hat and onto my face.

The mother lost a lot of blood so the husband donated his for a transfusion. The baby probably has an infection and is in the nursery getting oxygen and antibiotics. I think he will make it as he is a big sturdy baby.

When we are not sweating it out in theatre Jenni and I have been sweating it out on our wee cycles about Sarenga. We went out into the countryside to see the rice paddies. Yesterday we went to get more jelabes. Oh, and the roads are crazy here so cycling is fun. Jenni is a bit more... Indian in her cycling than I. She won't stop for anything, rings the bell constantly and even bumped a guy as he walked on the road.

Please pray for the baby that was delivered today.

Neil