Evi,
Thanks for asking, we are doing OK, Ana has written she has all utilities back,
but they come and go - the hospital is suffering from intermittent power
shortages that even affect the water supply.  I have power but no water and our
750 gallon tank is now dry.  We're collecting water from the roof for the
toilets and I still have some gallons of drinking water that I usually keep in
the Freezer (to help keep things cold when power goes out and for such
emergencies).

I was SO upset when I got back into town the day after the hurricane (roads were
closed so it was a real trick to get in) and found that ALL THE MOMS WERE GIVING
BOTTLES!  Why?  because they couldn't see the babies in the night, sent them
back to the nursery and they were so uncomfortable (no air conditioning, no
electricity for fans, windows were closed due to the rain) that they thought the
babies were better off in the Nursery!  No way to call the mom whose baby was
crying, short-staffed due to the storm, so babies got ABM.

In the Nursery they also had no electricity so the babies were also hot, but
there were emergency lights.  In fact, when I came in and found them all "bound
up" as the nursery nurses tend to wrap babies, I _gently_  suggested that maybe
they would be more comfortable in just a diaper (I know I whished _I_ could have
run around in a swim-suit!).  In fact, I wonder what is the risk of germ
transmission if you sweat while helping a mom and it drips on her and the baby!

Lots of moms lost their entire milk supply as many were out of electricity for
over 72 hours.  The moms with babies in NICU who had Lactinas came in to the
hospital and used our pumps with their kits (the hospital generator still kept
the "red" plugs working, so moms in the hospital could use extension cords to
express their milk).

Many areas of Puerto Rico have been declared disaster areas, our rain forest (in
the northeast corner of the island, where I live) didn't suffer as much as with
Hugo in 1989, but the road is closed due to mudslides.  We were very lucky not
to suffer more loss of life (22) as the hurricane, even hours before it hit, was
predicted to skirt our southern coast but not hit us - then the eye went right
over the southwest.  The rivers overflowed (we have a neighbor who measured our
area had 32 inches of rain in 24 hours - but the official number is below 12).

So now - I need to create a "hurricane plan" and supplies for another such
emergency - plenty of extension cords for pumps and flashlights or some method
of lighting so that the moms can keep the babies in their rooms.  Can't think of
how to help them communicate between the Nursery and the bedrooms - would
appreciate any ideas!  (Remember our hospitals get 1/3 what US hospitals are
paid, so the costs must be low.)

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, LLLL,IBCLC,RN
Puerto Rico (glug,glug)
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