Today we had our first day of clinicals which was definitely a new experience! Â We were all dispersed into clinical groups among a few hospitals and clinics in Cape Town - Vanguard, Bishop Lavis, Hanoverpark, and Mitchells Plain. Â We worked in the antenatal, labour, postpartum, and neonatal wards. Â We had the opportunity to practice a variety of skills, including antenatal and postpartum assessments, HIV screening and care, breastfeeding education, latching and expressing techniques, and more. Â Julie Harlam talked with a laboring woman who didnât know what epidurals were and was astounded by how common it is for women in the US go through labor with decreased pain. Â In the labor ward, we practiced how to support patients, assisted with assessments, and coached women through their contractions and pushing. Â Emily Young, Tara Smith, and I even had the opportunity to assist with deliveries! Â We are all so grateful we have this opportunity to provide assistance to these clinics, especially because many of them are understaffed and have limited equipment. Â In Mitchells Plain, the patients were so appreciative of our care that they were asking for the students to stay at the end of their shift.
After clinicals, a woman named Jasmina welcomed half of our group into her home for a cooking class on traditional Malay food. Â Before we began cooking we were greeted with a traditional drink called Falooda. Â Then Jasmina taught us how to make roti (flatbread), a sambal salsa, chili bites, and samoosas. Â Taylor Hollingsworth even transformed into the Italian chef she was meant to be with her tasty chili bites, and later found that some of Jasminaâs rolled dough resembled an umbilical cord. At dinner we were also served chicken curry, and for dessert we had the most delicious home made doughnuts. Â Parents, get excited because we were sent home with a booklet of Jasminaâs recipes and a sample of her spices! ~ Erin Hughes
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