Second delivery

I conducted my second delivery today.. this time, they let me do everything myself.
I initially thought once you can do one, you can do them all.. I was so wrong.

This time the woman was giving birth for the first time, so it certainly didnt "pop" out like the other ones. For about one hour, I stood in between her open legs watching the small tuft of baby's black hair peeping through the labia when she pushes, and escaping back in when she relaxes, as if the baby was too shy to come out into the world.

Finally, the head had descended far enough for some progress to be made. The mother's opening was narrow and so i made a cut of about 5cm with scissors (episiotomy) and the head immediately advanced forward with every push. I held a cotton pad and placed pressure against the cut I made as it bled furiously, while the whole head emerges above my hand.

The umbilical hord was wrapped tightly around this baby's neck.. I clamped and then cut the chord as calmly as I could pretend to be (my heart was beating so fast - dont die! dont die!).

I lifted the rest of the baby out, and nearly dropping it.. it was so slippery and limp. Quickly, my left hand supported the little bottom and pushed the baby onto mummy's tummy - loud cries were heard. There! I thought proudly to myself.. another ..ee.. I cant see.. ahhh.. a baby GIRL!

The nurses took over the care of the baby. I stood there patiently waiting for the placenta to deliver.. with a first time mother, it usually takes 15 minutes.

SPLASH! A gush of ~300ml of blood and blood clots landed on my ankles and shoes. YUCK!
I did put a bucket under her bottom to catch the blood!! But for some reason, it shoot out past the bucket onto my legs. For medical professionals --> that was the first sign of placenta separation..

After the placenta was delivered,.. i had to start suturing with my blood sticky legs.

Man it was hard.. her tissue down there was all swollen, there was blood everywhere.. it just looked like a disaster zone..

Somehow I managed to suture up all the layers, aiming to give her a pretty vagina and perineum with the guidance for fellow doctors.. They sat there watching me and wiping sweat of my face (I was wearing sterile gowns, masks and gloves).