It is hard to believe that a year ago today I held little Elijah for the first time. It is actually nearly impossible to believe. I had every intention of writing about my birthing experience in Russia and time kept getting away from me. I would constantly say oh I still have time it just happened. Well, news flash Abby it's been a year! So I am now going to take time to write about my experience.
It is hard for me to know where to start. The medicine is different here. I spent the first 35 weeks at the EMC (which is a private clinic but it does not deliver babies). I loved my doctor there. She was very personable and great. The only thing that really threw me off was that she would do an ultrasound every time I went. With Owen I had four. I find the many ultrasounds unnecessary but it was nice to see the progress as well. After that I had to move to the Perinatal Hospital. This is truly where my story begins. The PC seems very dated and inefficient. You pay at the cashier before ever seeing a doctor. From there they give you a slip of paper and then you go to the door on the slip. You knock and wait for a nurse to take your paper from you and then you sit and wait. At this point you should go in the order of your paper taken but that is not always the case. Russians can be pushy. Also, if you have multiple stops (ex. ultrasound, pulse test, lab) then you need to judge the line outside to decide which to do first. The doctor is always last. And after you see the doctor you hope she doesn't order anything else, otherwise you have to go back to the cashier and through the whole process again.
The first time I saw the doctor at PC she listened to the baby's heart beat with a Pinard horn.
This threw me a bit and then I started to think I should have went back to the US. But of course now it is too late. I was really hoping Eli would come early so that I didn't have to experience all these fun things on a weekly basis. Not to mention PC is not close. It is 45 minutes by car from where I live and the traffic is horrible. But no of course Eli was happy and cozy right where he was. I increasingly lost patience each time I went out there. There was always a long wait for the doctor. I was cut in front of a couple of times. That caused me to get angry with the nurse in my very bad Russian. But she understood the message! The doctor was very busy and I always felt like an afterthought or a lets see how fast we can get this girl out of here. I am thankful that I least knew what to expect. Of course, by this time I am pretty sure she saw me as the pushy American and I saw her as the pushy Russian. So we were not on good terms.
Now comes the day that we induce or start to induce. I see the doctor in the morning and she informs me to come back at 8pm that night. So I order the taxi, tell David, pack my bag, and make sure my nanny is ready to stay overnight. We didn't know how long David would be with me at PC until he headed back home. He was not allowed to stay with me.
I remember walking in and being asked to wait, after I am instructed to put on my plastic booties over my shoes (this is common everywhere so you don't track in dirt, even though someone is right behind you mopping), and seeing the security guard at the door. He caught me off guard since he had a huge scorpion tattoo on his neck. Not something I expect to see at a maternity hospital. As we are waiting for our check in procedure other couples start arrive. Only in Russia do the women arrive decked out to the nines with their furs on and the stiletto boots that go past the knees. Not to mention the lady that had on a see through sweater. I chose the more comfortable, practical outfit at nine months.
The process took forever, they were very slow. I guess to many smoke breaks. I am not going to get into the procedure here. I can tell you sometime if you would like. Even though I have had two children and modesty is not what it used to be I do not feel right talking about everything on the internet. But here are a few things
Finally, after my uncomfortable induction procedure they tell me to try and rest. Sure!
The next day I was awakened early by the nurse to start moving me down to the delivery floor and get ready. I can't understand her so I am not sure what is going on. I didn't really realize there was a "sterile delivery floor." This is not what I am used to in the US. So I wash my face and pull my hair back with every intention of putting my make up on later. (Yes I am from the south and need my makeup.) But of course after I get down there I can't leave. I didn't even have my phone to tell David where to go. So a nurse had to go get it for me. She wasn't happy. At this point they start the second induction process (yes I had 3. It was not necessary. I will not get into this here.) They want me to change into a different nightgown that is meant for this floor. Disclaimer: when you have a baby modesty is not in anybody's thoughts, when you have a baby in Russia ALL modesty goes out the door. They expect you to change in front of them with the door open and the procedure is the same with the two women next to you that are in labor. Now fortunately for the labor I had my own room but they did leave the door wide open the whole time.
David arrives and also has to be sterile.
Now the sterile thing makes me laugh. I couldn't have my make up on the floor. David couldn't leave. He was only allowed his phone and his computer. I asked for my headband and they tried to persuade me with a cap. I said no. Now the funny thing to me about this is that everybody smells like an ashtray. So I question how sterile it really is. Do they change and shower each time they come back from smoking a cigarette. I would say not. Because if so they would spend the whole time in the bathroom. One nurse smelled so much like a cigarette I would get nauseous every time she came near me.
I wasn't in labor long (again a part that I will choose to skip over). It was not an easy labor like it was with Owen. Eli's umbilical cord was wrapped so tightly around his leg that it was cutting off his circulation. So his heartbeat was dropping when I would push on my back so I had to push on my side. (something the many ultrasounds missed, but they were really needed.) (please note sarcasm) That is not desirable. Finally, he is out and I remember not hearing him. I turn to David and say "he is not crying, why is he not crying." David told me he was fine and then I hear those sweet wails. Of course in hindsight I realize that was all of 5 seconds but seemed like an eternity to me.
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| Perinatal Hospital |
The first time I saw the doctor at PC she listened to the baby's heart beat with a Pinard horn.
This threw me a bit and then I started to think I should have went back to the US. But of course now it is too late. I was really hoping Eli would come early so that I didn't have to experience all these fun things on a weekly basis. Not to mention PC is not close. It is 45 minutes by car from where I live and the traffic is horrible. But no of course Eli was happy and cozy right where he was. I increasingly lost patience each time I went out there. There was always a long wait for the doctor. I was cut in front of a couple of times. That caused me to get angry with the nurse in my very bad Russian. But she understood the message! The doctor was very busy and I always felt like an afterthought or a lets see how fast we can get this girl out of here. I am thankful that I least knew what to expect. Of course, by this time I am pretty sure she saw me as the pushy American and I saw her as the pushy Russian. So we were not on good terms.
Now comes the day that we induce or start to induce. I see the doctor in the morning and she informs me to come back at 8pm that night. So I order the taxi, tell David, pack my bag, and make sure my nanny is ready to stay overnight. We didn't know how long David would be with me at PC until he headed back home. He was not allowed to stay with me.
The process took forever, they were very slow. I guess to many smoke breaks. I am not going to get into the procedure here. I can tell you sometime if you would like. Even though I have had two children and modesty is not what it used to be I do not feel right talking about everything on the internet. But here are a few things
- I had another ultrasound (we are at 12 now)
- I had to take off my covered shoes and put into a garbage bag and put on slippers
- they took my temperature under my armpit (not had it taken there before)
- they used some kind of metal contraption to measure me (not sure how to describe this)
- then I get escorted to my room and told to put on a nightgown that have given me (note: it matches the bedding)
- the beds are short (glad I am not tall)
- they are not electric ( I must raise and lower it myself)
- one very flat pillow
- they have very short robes (not sure which belly that is covering
- so hot I had to open a window (the nurse thought I was crazy)
The next day I was awakened early by the nurse to start moving me down to the delivery floor and get ready. I can't understand her so I am not sure what is going on. I didn't really realize there was a "sterile delivery floor." This is not what I am used to in the US. So I wash my face and pull my hair back with every intention of putting my make up on later. (Yes I am from the south and need my makeup.) But of course after I get down there I can't leave. I didn't even have my phone to tell David where to go. So a nurse had to go get it for me. She wasn't happy. At this point they start the second induction process (yes I had 3. It was not necessary. I will not get into this here.) They want me to change into a different nightgown that is meant for this floor. Disclaimer: when you have a baby modesty is not in anybody's thoughts, when you have a baby in Russia ALL modesty goes out the door. They expect you to change in front of them with the door open and the procedure is the same with the two women next to you that are in labor. Now fortunately for the labor I had my own room but they did leave the door wide open the whole time.
David arrives and also has to be sterile.
Now the sterile thing makes me laugh. I couldn't have my make up on the floor. David couldn't leave. He was only allowed his phone and his computer. I asked for my headband and they tried to persuade me with a cap. I said no. Now the funny thing to me about this is that everybody smells like an ashtray. So I question how sterile it really is. Do they change and shower each time they come back from smoking a cigarette. I would say not. Because if so they would spend the whole time in the bathroom. One nurse smelled so much like a cigarette I would get nauseous every time she came near me.
I wasn't in labor long (again a part that I will choose to skip over). It was not an easy labor like it was with Owen. Eli's umbilical cord was wrapped so tightly around his leg that it was cutting off his circulation. So his heartbeat was dropping when I would push on my back so I had to push on my side. (something the many ultrasounds missed, but they were really needed.) (please note sarcasm) That is not desirable. Finally, he is out and I remember not hearing him. I turn to David and say "he is not crying, why is he not crying." David told me he was fine and then I hear those sweet wails. Of course in hindsight I realize that was all of 5 seconds but seemed like an eternity to me.
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| sweet midwife that delivered Eli. Not my |
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| wrapped up like a little Russian doll |
