Day 2 - Blood, Sweat and Beers

First impression of hospital was... No hand washing, no privacy, no relatives allowed, no pain relief, minimal qualified doctors, no scrubs... And lots and lots of medical students.

Had a tour around the hospital, wards were very different to home! All open plan, no curtains or machines so weirdly calm and peaceful! First went on teaching ward round with the Sri Lankan medical students, who talk very very quietly while we appear to shout when whispering! We were wearing long skirts, 2 tops and a thick lab coat, no air con = sweatiest day of my life, no exaggeration, beads were dripping down my spine and legs! Very unpleasent! We paired off with a Sri Lankan student and examined lots of pregnant bellies! It's quite old fashioned very dependant on clinical skills so we had to guess the weight of each baby by feeling it likea fairground ride.. We didn't have a clue.. 2.8kg every time (average weight in Sri).

Next we braved it into the labour room.. wellies on, basically your dad's old shirt on backwards as scrubs and in we go! Inside were about 8 women legs akimbo, either giving birth or already given birth waiting for their episiotomy repair (which was done by students!!!), it was very gory lots of blood, practically every woman had an episiotomy which is unlike uk, they also had minimal pain relief! We saw one natural birth and Jess assisted with an episiotomy repair, they said we can all do one by the end.. Not so sure about that!

Nice early finish at 12! Had a nice dinner curry and rice again! And hen went to pilgrims which is the only bar which serves alcohol in galle fort! Good lively bar, met some other elective students and some travellers, drank some 'lion' beers, planning to go to a beach party tomorrow night, so I may not write tomorrow!

Currently having a cockroach issue... So have tucked the mozzie nets nice and tight around our boudoir!