Last week a woman from a nearby village came for a consult at the external clinic. While I was triaging the patients I asked her why she came for a consult that day. She responded by telling me that she was pregnant and she came for prenatal care. I asked her how far along she was and she did not know, but she thought she was quite far, like 7 or 8 months. Hopefully I did a fairly good job at hiding the shock and skepticism on my face because I did not in anyway believe that this woman was 8 months pregnant. I wouldn't have even guessed she was pregnant if I saw her on the street. She left her appointment that day with a referral for an ultrasound so we could try to assess how far along she really was. She was planning to come back the next week with the ultrasound results. She didn't quite last that long...

Early Friday morning the ranch doctor (The amazing Dr. Merlin!) got a call from a patient saying that she had terrible back pain. He told her to come to the external clinic and that he would assess her when she arrived. She failed to mention the fact that she had just been to the clinic on Tuesday or that she was pregnant. Unfortunately it was my morning off from the clinic, but Laura, another volunteer nurse was working. When the woman arrived at the clinic Merlin examined her and could already see the baby crowning. There was no way that this laboring mother was going to make it to the hospital in Tegucigalpa before the baby arrived. Things happened fast and the external clinic quickly turned into a labor and delivery unit.

All and all, things went very smoothly. The poor mother was extremely tired because she had walked from her village and then taken a public bus to get to the clinic, all while in very active labor! In the end, mom and baby boy both did great and a new life came into the world at exactly 1:30pm on May 21st. The baby weighed around 7 pounds and was clearly full term. He needed oxygen for the first few hours, but soon turned a very healthy pink and did just wonderfully. They brought mom and baby up to the internal clinic where I spent two days and nights with them.

Even though it was a very joyful situation to see this new little guy come into world, it was very bitter sweet. The mother was very young and came from a very poor background. She made it very clear in the first few hours that she did not want to keep the baby. She did not want hold the baby and refused to breastfeed. Also, she did not name him. She was very adamant that she wanted to leave the clinic immediately and leave the baby at NPH. We convinced her that it was important for her health and safety to stay the night. I stayed over night in the clinic with her and the baby boy. I tried to sensitively talk to her and make her as comfortable as possible. I woke up every two to three hours to feed my little friend and make sure that the mother was doing well after the delivery.

Don't judge the hat! I know its ridiculous looking but it was all we had!

I spent the next two days at the clinic as well, caring for mom and baby. It finally came out the the mother had not told anyone that she was pregnant. She was planning to go home and never tell her family that she had had a child. She still lived at home with her mother, father, and sister. It was incredible to me that no one had known she was pregnant. Finally around 9 pm on Saturday she called her father. It was very emotional, but turned out very well in the end. Her family had been extremely worried about her. She had told them she was going to the clinic for a stomach ache on Friday and had never returned. They had even contacted the police and reported her missing. After she hung up the phone her mood was visibly changed. She showed much more interest in her new baby and even held him for a good portion of the evening. She was still wary about taking care of him and feeding him, but I helped her and taught her as much as I could about newborn care. During this time it also came out that she already had another child, a two year old daughter. Her sister, whom she lives with, helps her take care of her daughter. The next morning, her mother, father and sister came to the clinic. They were very happy to see their daughter and even more excited about having a new baby in the family. It was clear that the child was going to a family that would love him and want him very much. The mother's sister, who was currently caring for her other daughter, was more than willing and capable of caring for the child.

Watching my little guy leave was harder than I expected. Even though he had only been here for two days, I had still grown attached. I cared for him, fed him, bathed him, and cuddled him almost from the moment he was born until he left two days later. It was so incredible to see this new little life come into the world. It broke my heart to see that he was unwanted! He is such a beautiful little boy! I wanted to pack him in a carry on and head straight to the US. Also, when I found out that there was a possibility that he would stay at NPH I grew even more attached! I pictured him in Casa Suyapa and having the opportunity to see him grow for his first few months of life. Even though I was a little sad and apprehensive to watch the baby leave, I was glad that he would be supported and loved.

Although I was sad to see my unnamed baby go, my kids in Casa Suyapa soon cheered me up. They continuously make me laugh every day. The chiquitos, the group of the littlest kids, were extremely confused about this child. They saw me with him in the clinic and are still convinced that it was my baby. Every time I encounter them they ask "y tu bebe Ana?" "and your baby Anna?" One little girl was extremely concerned that I had left him alone in the clinic. Were still working on understanding that even though I take care of them, I do not actually have my own children. After 10 months its still a confusing subject for two yearolds.