Brigham Young Francis Drake

In case you were wondering, we did get some opportunities to practice our nursing skills in Tonga. 

This 18 year old girl, pregnant with her first baby, labored at home all night and all day before she arrived at the hospital.

We were able to offer counter pressure and labor support measures throughout the afternoon while we awaited her delivery. No epidurals are given in Tonga so we did our best to make her as comfortable as possible.

One of the head nurses brought us cake which we ate in front of this poor girl. When we asked what the cake was for she said one of the patients had brought it to the hospital for the nurses. We all agreed that the cake was to celebrate this baby's birthday! We jokingly call it "labor cake" because we didn't get a chance to wash our hands before the nurse forced us to take the cake. I don't even want to think about what sort of fluids may have been on my hands while I ate it. Some things are just different in Tonga. I must say though, it was really good cake!

After several hours, she gave birth to a baby boy!

The next day, the baby's father thanked us for all the support we offered his wife throughout the labor. He then expressed his desire for us to name his son. In Tonga, the family of the father names the first child and the family of the mother names the second child. It continues in this manner back and forth for each additional child. For him to take this right away from his family to give to us was a really big deal and a huge honor!

After much discussion, we decided on the name Brigham. In Tongan it's Biligahame.

His father added Young as a middle name and his father's family chose Francis Drake as two additional names. Brigham Young Francis Drake.

Poor kid.

We later learned that if you name a child you are considered Aunties and have the responsibility of taking care of that child throughout their life. Maybe that will be my excuse to return to Tonga some day.