Family Business

We have been very busy over the past three days - "family business".

On Monday, we took Duang's father to the Kumphawapi Hospital to have one of his two remaining teeth removed. There was a long wait but our visits to the hospital are always so interesting that the time goes by quickly. We always see relatives, villagers, or friends at the community hospital. The highlight of Monday's visit was a three year old girl who was being cared for by her grandfather. She went into the bathroom and managed to lock herself into the stall. She was not panicking but her grandfather was getting concerned. As mall group of concerned visitors tried to assist the grandfather but the little girl did not get out until the cleaning lady came with the special key to open the door. The little girl came out smiling and happy as if nothing had happened. We were able to observe all this because the bathroom is an open architecture. Like the bathrooms at many gas stations, the bathroom is a row of little tile lined stalls on each side of a common set of three sinks. The rooms on the right are meant for women and the left side is intended for men. Inside each of the tile rooms is a ceramic squat toilet set into the floor.

On Tuesday we were back at the hospital. We brought Duang's daughter in for her check-up. She was due to deliver her baby this week. I joked with her about hitting some of the many ruts in the road to help initiate her labor. Her appointment went well.

Wednesday morning we were back at the hospital. Duang's daughter went into labor on Tuesday night and delivered a 7 pound 14 oz boy (3.6 Kg). He 's the giant of the nursery - most Thai babies are under 6 pounds 8 oz. He was born at 9:14 in the morning. We arrived at the hospital around 10:30 AM.

Giving birth in Isaan is very different than in the USA. When it is time to deliver, the expectant mother goes into the delivery room alone with the medical staff. Husbands, mothers, or others are not allowed in the delivery room. After delivery, the mother and baby are returned to the labor ward to be observed to ensure both are stabilized and healthy. We arrived and had to wait outside with the other family members for about an hour and one-half.

Again the wait was quite entertaining. A two year old was with us. She kept us laughing with her antics. She would put on her grandmother's shoes and walk around. She wandered around the outside walkway looking and talking to anyone and everyone UNTIL ... Until she saw the first cat in her life. I have written about the outside walkway as a waiting area, sleeping area, eating area, thoroughfare for patients, and private domain of cats. The little girl was in her own little world singing and talking to no one in particular. She looked down at her feet and saw one of the hospital cats walking buy. She was terrified - worse than having a "falang" (foreigner) paying attention to her. She has been leery of me for about three months. We went and rescued her from the cat. I let her know that I would protect her from the cat. In about 5 minutes she was laughing and joking about the cat. However when another cat came by, she told her grandmother to tell the falang to get rid of the cat. It was good to see that she will not be psychologically scarred or traumatized for the rest of her life by this incident.

After awhile Duang's daughter was wheeled out along the open walkway through the crowd of patients waiting to see a doctor, get their medicine or paying their bill to the Maternity Ward. Shortly later the baby along with another one was wheeled along the same path atop a stainless steel cart - two little faces showing up from two tightly bound bundles of towels. No arms or legs were visible.

I followed the babies over to the Maternity Ward. The babies were removed from the transport cart and placed on a counter top. The nurses took their temperatures by putting a thermometer in their arm pit. Then the babies were each given a shot. They were then brought to their mothers.

Peelawat, the final and last of his four different names for the day, was in fine health and started nursing without any trouble. He had his first bowel movement. Duang assisted in cleaning him up. Pampers or other artificial diapers are not used here. The babies have cloth diapers but not cloth diapers that we used in the USA. Baby diapers here are a thin and soft flannel type fabric. The diaper is about 20 inches square. The diaper is folded over to form a large triangle, the baby is placed on the triangle, the point of the triangle is brought up between the baby's legs and placed on their stomach, the two remaining points of the triangle are brought across the baby's hips and tied in a knot over the top of the first flap, finally the tip of the first triangular flap is brought down and tied into the first knot.

When the baby makes a mess, they are not cleaned with any pre-prepared wipes. The baby is cleaned with cotton pads like are used for removing makeup along with tap water out of a cup. The mother or a relative handles cleaning the baby. Hospital staff support is limited to taking temperatures, giving shots, and ensuring there are no problems with breast feeding.

Today, Duang cleaned the soiled diapers from yesterday. Since her daughter is in a private room, she has her own bathroom. Duang went in the bathroom and washed the diapers by hand. This was expected and is typical because the hospital supplies a large stainless steel bowl and a smaller plastic bowl along with special baby laundry solution for washing diapers. After washing the diapers, outfits, and baby blanket, Duang hung them on the clothes drying rack stationed on the room's balcony.

Family members cleaning is not limited to just the baby. Yesterday when Duang's daughter got up and went to the bathroom, I noticed that there was some large blood smears on the blue plastic sheet on top of the bed. No problem - Duang and two of the other women grabbed some toilet paper along with a few of the baby cotton pads and cleaned it up. No need for staff.

Family members are not hard to find. When we left the hospital last night there were still 9 people in the room visiting. They come prepared to stay - they bring their woven mats, jugs of water, and plastic bags of food. They set up and have a picnic in the room. If they run out of food, someone goes out to the food stalls on the street outside of the hospital grounds and brings back more food.

Tomorrow we will return to the hospital to bring Momma and baby back to their village. Rumor has it that there will also be a party to welcome the baby home as well as to have a Baii Sii ritual for his protection. Sounds like a photo op!