Labor and delivery...

"WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU.  YOU HAVE TO COOPERATE!"  I am close to her face and my voice is raised.  She waves me away and closes her eyes.  I know labor is hard, and a woman's first delivery must be scary, but she is pushing us away, clamping her legs together, and won't let us touch her!!  Allyson and I exchange frustrated looks- we are all tired.  As we seek to make our labor and delivery care more culturally sensitive, its always hard to know how to give the best care.  These women are extremely modest and don't ever want to be uncovered, which means an old blanket is always draped on her- what about keeping clean, though?

 

And at what point do we say we cannot treat her when she tells us over and over, "Don't touch me!"?  My own frustration levels are high, and as we sit and wait, we discuss and try to understand.  I think it is a group decision to bring a woman in labor into our clinic, I don't think the woman herself is usually the one requesting the clinic.  The family may be in favor of it, but to the woman herself it may be an unknown environment during a frightening time.  Who knows the layers of social history she carries?  Does her husband hit her?  Most husbands do here.  He is attempting to tell her to cooperate but she pays no attention.  She is from a town some miles away- does she get along with her in-laws?  They have thrown their hands up in frustration as well.

 

"THIS IS OUR DAY OFF and we are helping you!"  I am loud again as she swats my hand away.  FINE lets leave the room, she can have that baby her own way.  We are exasperated at her attitude and here we are trying to give her good care!

 

It wasn't until a few hours (and a healthy baby boy!) later, as I took my Sunday afternoon swim at the lake and sat on the beach listening to a sermon, that I had any perspective on her.  Romans 5:  before we took any steps towards God, He extended grace to us.  Before we deserved anything, He reached out when we would slap His hand away.

 

So what right do I have to think I am the "good guy" treated our uncooperative patient?  Am I any better than her, and do I understand grace extended to everyone?  It is easy to see myself as the good person- here from my rich country to help these poor people.  God must cringe to see those attitudes in our hearts.  None of us made any move towards Him until He came to us, and spoke to us with His Word.