Volunteering at a Local Clinic

Over the past several weeks, I have slowly begun volunteering at a local clinic. The clinic mainly focuses on immunizations, HIV testing, malaria treatment, and antenatal care and does anywhere from 15-30 deliveries a month. During one of my first visits there, after speaking with Mary (a Doctor from Canada), we went to check out the labor room. Apparently, a woman had just given birth! We were only about three doors down and didn't hear a sound, no pain medication of course. Women are told by the midwives that they need to be silent while delivering, and I am told that some can be quite harsh in their instruction if the patient fails to be quiet. I am curious to know why the woman is told not to make any noise, what the reasoning is behind the instruction, but I haven't yet asked. Very different from some of the patients I had in the States. Women here also need to bring all the necessary supplies with them when they come to deliver: gloves, roll of cotton, plastic sheet, plastic bucket for placenta, etc. Besides learning more about normal Ugandan deliveries, I also had the chance to go out in the community to help with polio vaccinations in children. I am very excited about this opportunity and feel that I am definitely going to learn a lot!  -Krista