Day 6 - The miracle of life...
Best day so far!
Up at 6.30 on a Saturday to be in hospital as the main consultant was there so we had to go and show our face! Turned out to be the best morning we have had in hospital, the consultant spoke to us and introduced us to one of his registrars who taught us for the morning. We started on the ante-natal ward doing some pregnant abdomen examinations, felt a normal and breech baby position to compare, think we are slowly getting the hang of it! Then went onto Gynae ward and did some vaginal examinations, we all got to have a go and it was really useful practice. Then we went to the labour ward, we were just discussing between ourselves how the births didn't seem as emotional as back home as the partners are not there and it isn't very private but then the woman in front of us gave birth and it was brilliant, the baby cried straight away and was allowed to stay with mum and have immediate skin to skin contact whereas others we have witnessed got whisked away for some oxygen to help their breathing. When the new baby girl was taken away to be weighed and dressed we followed to observe the midwives measure her head, put on the ID tags and weigh her, she was 2.9kg, average for Sri Lanka and she was just beautiful. The nurses then left us 4 to coo over her for a while and we were allowed to hold her, all of our ovaries were aching...to say we were Broody is an understatement with us 4 cuddling a newborn! It really was quite amazing to be one of the first people to hold a baby. After she was given back to her mum, we decided to leave he hospital on that high.
We headed back to our hostel and had a afternoon nap to avoid the midday sun then a German girl staying here invited us to go to a surf beach (sahanna beach) nearby which is good for beginners. It was so nice, the beach was quiet and mostly used by locals but the guys at the surf place were great, the one guy 'gale' taught me and Jess the basics and came out with us for an hr or so to help which was really kind. The water was so warm and it was shallow all the way out so really easy to learn on the smaller waves. I loved it and managed to get onto my feet once and the rest of the time on my knees, I think this will become a regular activity over the next few weeks!! When we came out of the water the surfer guys had made us some ginger tea, perfect post surf refreshment.
Headed back to hostel to shower and change, had a beer on our balcony to reflect on the day then went to Indian hut for yet another amazing curry, this is fast becoming our favourite spot for dinner we've been there 3 times now in the last week but it is so good, curries at home will never taste the same. Rounded off our perfect day with an Ice-Cream on the walk back..