LIFE IN SUVA......

We have been in Suva about 2 months now and we are slowly adjusting to city life.  We are thankful for the opportunity to experience village and city life in Fiji.  We continue to learn everyday and enjoying the adventure.  It is very HOT HOT HOT here now!!!!

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 A childbirth class is taught by the Physical Therapy Department for mothers over 32 weeks.  One learns breathing and relaxation exercises.  They instruct all mothers to do perineal massage to soften the vaginal area for birth.

 I teach with Sister Litia.  I teach a breastfeeding class on Wednesday, a Dad's class and a class on Family planning.  Everyday I demonstrate self breast exams,  importance of pap smears, etc.

 This is a placenta.....we were shown this on tour of the hospital......

Women are in the hospital for 24 hours.....there is one room with  six labor beds separated by a curtain, six delivery rooms.   When you are dilated to 10cm you are moved to the delivery room. A first time Mom is allowed 45 minutes in the delivery room, 35 minutes if you have had a baby in the past.    There are no epidurals.  Women deliver in mostly supine position. The Labor room is unusually quiet as culture predicts a woman to withstand a lot of pain.   Beds are often in the hallways.    Breakfast and lunch are provided but you need to bring your own dinner.  No hospital gowns....you bring two tagged bags, one for baby and one for yourself.   Fathers are not allowed in the labor room but can come in the delivery room.  Labor and Delivery rooms are air-conditioned, post natal rooms are not.  There are never enough beds or gloves.

 Linen closet....there are no gowns, towels.

      

           

Note:  875 deliveries in May!!

Same sheet is used for every patient all day.  

Dr. James Fong, our Director......very dedicated, smart and kind.......

Matron Aliote and Sister Sera my direct supervisors and  wonderful ladies.....  all nurses wear a cap...nurses are called Sisters....Matrons are supervisors.

 Every morning the team does "Handover"....review of patients over 24 hours....They see over 600 deliveries/month, 9000/year.

Women waiting to attend "antenatal clinic".  They wait for hours...... great time to teach.......

 The morgue....

 My walk to work....up the stairs, pass the morgue...down the hall to the Antenatal Clinic....

 Indian pastries right across the street....

 Our new home has 3 bedrooms, no hot water, no refrigeration but a beautiful view of Suva harbor and Beqa island;  a garden with cassava and banana trees, lots of light, close to work, good neighbors......
We call it "The Mansion on the Hill"!