My first day of immersion was simple but very memorable. We arrived earlier than the given time, which was 8:00 a.m., and at first we were not yet complete. When everyone finally arrived, we started compiling the papers needed for our immersion. Our group leader, Wogie, guided us through the process.
At that time, we were very confused because we didn’t know who to approach. We were looking for Ma’am Abigail, who was in charge of assigning us to different units in the Rural Health Unit (RHU). We were divided into six groups. My partner was Elizabeth, a close friend of mine back in Grade 6, which made me feel a bit more comfortable. Still, I was nervous because I was afraid of making mistakes.
Ma’am Abigail assigned Elizabeth and me to the Birthing Center. Honestly, I felt more excited than nervous. We looked for Ma’am Dahlia, the head of the Birthing Center, and Wogie introduced us to her. At first, I was intimidated by her presence, but I later realized that she was kind and approachable. She even gave us snacks even though we hadn’t done any work yet. It felt a bit awkward just sitting there with nothing to do. When we saw a midwife sweeping the floor, Elizabeth and I volunteered to sweep because we felt shy just sitting around.
Everyone there was very welcoming. There was also a male midwife at the front desk who entertained us by chatting, which helped me feel less awkward. Around 11:20 a.m., he told us we could go eat lunch, but we said we would eat later. I can really say that the staff there are kind and caring toward students like us.
In the afternoon, we felt happy when one of the midwives finally gave us a task. We were assigned to fold Operating Sponges (OS). At first, I thought they were just simple plasters because of how they looked, but I learned that they are actually sterile gauze materials used during delivery to absorb blood and other fluids.
We enjoyed folding them together, even though our back started to hurt after a while. Still, it was fun because we were talking while working, and we didn’t even notice how many we had already finished and the time was going by so fast.
When we thought we had made enough, we told one of the midwives that we were done. She then instructed us to pack the OS because they would be sterilized before use. She explained that all materials used during delivery must be sterilized to ensure they are clean and safe for both the mother and the baby.
She also emphasized that the OS must be packed properly and sealed well. If water gets inside during sterilization, the sponges can become wet and may no longer be considered sterile. Moisture can allow germs to enter, which makes the materials contaminated and unsafe to use. Because of this, we made sure to pack everything carefully. Elizabeth packed the operating sponges while I cut the paper and tape. After some time, we successfully finished our task.
Overall, my first day at the Birthing Center was a mix of nervousness, excitement, and learning. Even with simple tasks, I already learned how important teamwork, as well as proper sterilization are in caring for mothers and babies.