Thursday, 17 June 2010
This morning, we had a lot of new pregnant ladies show up. I just wanted to give you a few cases.
THE COMPLICATED CASE: The first was a 36 year old at about 28 weeks. She had some mildly elevated blood pressure since the first couple of times I saw her. Today she was really up 170/90. She also had lots of protein in her urine. She otherwise felt fine. Since she had high blood pressure early in pregnancy, this means she probably had preexisting hypertension. Now that her pressure is more than a little elevated, blood pressure medicines are recommended. The most commonly used medicines, we do not have. We had a little bit of another medicine somewhat studied and considered to be safe in pregnancy so we started her on this. In addition, she is at risk of preeclampsia and other complications. The issue is that if I send her to the hospital, she may or may not get decent care and would probably get prescribed medicine that she could not afford. So we will take care of her the best we can for now.
THE PSYCH CASE: A 18 year old girl comes today because she is about three months pregnant. She says she has anxiety. This started about four months ago when a guy wanted her to be his girlfriend. She refused so he threatened to kill her. Sometimes love and hate are so close together. This gave her anxiety. Subsequently, she is now with another guy who got her pregnant (shortly there after). Since she is a Christian and her church found out, she is in “discipline” by her current church. Therefore she cannot get married for six months. But they are still living together as if they were married?!@#? I’m pretty sure this type of “discipline” is not in the Bible.
THE SAD CASE: A thirty something year old lady comes in with her husband with her sixth pregnancy. They have 5 healthy children. She was 4-5 months pregnant by dates. On ultrasound, there was a 10-week size fetus with no heartbeat or signs of life. First they asked if there were some kind of medicine to make the baby grow more. My translator explained that the baby was dead that there was nothing that would bring him/her back to life. I spent a long time discussing the options for “treatment” regarding their dead baby.
THE SOCIAL CASE: An 18 year old single girl came in with her mother for her first pregnancy. She had been impregnated by a 30 year old man (married with children) that lived in her same village. Mom was oblivious. The girl played the rape card but it was quite clear that it was consensual. Like any “responsible” adulterer, the father of the baby paid for a natural treatment to abort the baby when he/she was about 2 month’s gestation. Thankfully, these naturall treatements, often containing oregano and other herbs, don’t tend to work (especially reassuring for those who crave Italian food during pregnancy). Earlier in the pregnancy, mom took her to the local health center where she took away the idea that it was mom’s fault that the girl got pregnant because she didn’t keep a better eye on her. My assistant explained the importance of forgiveness both for the sin of the daughter and the mom’s forgiveness of her daughter. At the end of the visit, mom still asked if it were still possible to abort the baby since the father of the baby continued his vendetta to kill his baby in order to make this problem “go away.” We explained to her that this would be murder and we would never recommend it. And that they need to trust that God will protect and provide for the life of this baby.
THE HAPPY CASE: A 40 year old woman presented today with her first pregnancy. She got married about a year ago and now she and her husband are expecting a child. Many would frown on this 40 year old, “advanced maternal aged” woman getting pregnant. I think it’s wonderful! We pray that things go well with the pregnancy.
Well, these were five of the cases of the day in order. Normally, we don’t have so many complex cases in one day, but we do see a lot of similar ones. It is interesting how the effects of sin and a fallen world pervade the Mayan culture as the do the “first world” cultures. It is good to be able to minister to these people and to provide what medical care we can.
I hope this real life account gives a bit of a picture so you can pray more specifically.
This morning, we had a lot of new pregnant ladies show up. I just wanted to give you a few cases.
THE COMPLICATED CASE: The first was a 36 year old at about 28 weeks. She had some mildly elevated blood pressure since the first couple of times I saw her. Today she was really up 170/90. She also had lots of protein in her urine. She otherwise felt fine. Since she had high blood pressure early in pregnancy, this means she probably had preexisting hypertension. Now that her pressure is more than a little elevated, blood pressure medicines are recommended. The most commonly used medicines, we do not have. We had a little bit of another medicine somewhat studied and considered to be safe in pregnancy so we started her on this. In addition, she is at risk of preeclampsia and other complications. The issue is that if I send her to the hospital, she may or may not get decent care and would probably get prescribed medicine that she could not afford. So we will take care of her the best we can for now.
THE PSYCH CASE: A 18 year old girl comes today because she is about three months pregnant. She says she has anxiety. This started about four months ago when a guy wanted her to be his girlfriend. She refused so he threatened to kill her. Sometimes love and hate are so close together. This gave her anxiety. Subsequently, she is now with another guy who got her pregnant (shortly there after). Since she is a Christian and her church found out, she is in “discipline” by her current church. Therefore she cannot get married for six months. But they are still living together as if they were married?!@#? I’m pretty sure this type of “discipline” is not in the Bible.
THE SAD CASE: A thirty something year old lady comes in with her husband with her sixth pregnancy. They have 5 healthy children. She was 4-5 months pregnant by dates. On ultrasound, there was a 10-week size fetus with no heartbeat or signs of life. First they asked if there were some kind of medicine to make the baby grow more. My translator explained that the baby was dead that there was nothing that would bring him/her back to life. I spent a long time discussing the options for “treatment” regarding their dead baby.
THE SOCIAL CASE: An 18 year old single girl came in with her mother for her first pregnancy. She had been impregnated by a 30 year old man (married with children) that lived in her same village. Mom was oblivious. The girl played the rape card but it was quite clear that it was consensual. Like any “responsible” adulterer, the father of the baby paid for a natural treatment to abort the baby when he/she was about 2 month’s gestation. Thankfully, these naturall treatements, often containing oregano and other herbs, don’t tend to work (especially reassuring for those who crave Italian food during pregnancy). Earlier in the pregnancy, mom took her to the local health center where she took away the idea that it was mom’s fault that the girl got pregnant because she didn’t keep a better eye on her. My assistant explained the importance of forgiveness both for the sin of the daughter and the mom’s forgiveness of her daughter. At the end of the visit, mom still asked if it were still possible to abort the baby since the father of the baby continued his vendetta to kill his baby in order to make this problem “go away.” We explained to her that this would be murder and we would never recommend it. And that they need to trust that God will protect and provide for the life of this baby.
THE HAPPY CASE: A 40 year old woman presented today with her first pregnancy. She got married about a year ago and now she and her husband are expecting a child. Many would frown on this 40 year old, “advanced maternal aged” woman getting pregnant. I think it’s wonderful! We pray that things go well with the pregnancy.
Well, these were five of the cases of the day in order. Normally, we don’t have so many complex cases in one day, but we do see a lot of similar ones. It is interesting how the effects of sin and a fallen world pervade the Mayan culture as the do the “first world” cultures. It is good to be able to minister to these people and to provide what medical care we can.
I hope this real life account gives a bit of a picture so you can pray more specifically.