A Day at Maternidad La Luz Birth Center

A Day at Maternidad La Luz Birth Center was created to give the reader a sense of what one might experience on a shift at the center.  A shift consists of several students at various levels of the program working under the supervision of a staff midwife and the director.  During the shift, the staff and students are responsible for the care of all clients.

7:45 AM	Students arrive on shift and prepare for the day--tie hair back, have breakfast, put food away, etc.
8:00 AM	Shift begins.  Staff and students gather for a circle to allow for a smooth transition into the new day.  Sharing information, experiences, concerns and insights from the outgoing shift enables the new shift to provide continuity of care for clients. The day begins: 12 prenatal appointments 4 PGs (plasma glucose test) 1 pregnancy test 2 initial appointments
11:30 AM	Labor check - Manuela is in active labor at 5 cm. Student #1 is assigned as primary attendant and begins monitoring her labor.
12:00 PM	Staggered Lunch
12:15 PM	Labor check - Lorenza is in early labor - 1 cm.  She is returning home with early labor reco’s.
2:00 PM	15 prenatal appointments 1 initial appointment 5 postpartum appointments
6:00 PM	Two hospital visits Staggered dinner
8:00 PM	General clean up, organization and restocking of the clinic
9:30 PM	Staff chart review
11:15 PM	Student #2 is assigned as primary attendant and begins monitoring her labor. Labor Check - Lorenza returns in active labor - 6 cm
1:00 AM	Manuela births a baby girl.  Student #3 assists and student #4 documents. Student # 1 begins six-hour postpartum watch
5:55 AM	Lorenza births a baby girl.  Student #4 assists and Student #3 documents. Student #2 begins six-hour postpartum watch (to be handed over to next shift at 10:00 AM)
7:00 AM	Wake up time.  Last minute cleanup for next shift
7:30 AM	Manuela and her husband go home with their new baby girl.
8:00 AM	New shift begins Student #2 remains with Lorenza monitoring her postpartum for another two hours and then hands over to a newly arrived student.