A funny story for the midwives amongst us...This week I've been orientating to Antenatal clinic and today I flew solo. My first customer was a lady who spoke no English and I was told that she was coming with an interpreter...which was indeed what happened. However, I soon discovered that the interpreter's English wasn't much better. 

I asked the pregnant lady if she had brought with her a wee sample so that I could test it...no she hadn't (I realised this by seeing she didn't have one with her rather than her saying no to that question). So I asked her if she could go and do one in a little jar for me in the bathroom next door. I got the interpreter to explain to her that I wanted her to wee into the jar. Off the lady went.

She was taking forever in the bathroom and I began to wonder what was holding her up. A little while later the lady emerged and handed me the jar...inside was a poo sample!! Somewhere the translation obviously got confused! And no wonder she took so long! That's pretty talented to produce a poo sample on demand!

I tried to explain to both the interpreter and the lady that I actually wanted a wee sample to which the interpreter said "soft?" "NO, no." I replied, "a wee. Urine. Yellow liquid!" I'm not sure if she really understood me in the end even though she was shaking her head in agreement. 

The doctor waiting to then see this lady was hovering around outside the room and told me to hurry up with my consultation. My explanation to him and the other midwives as to why the consult was taking so long caused quite a few laughs...what a way to start off my clinic list for the day.

P.S. My flatmate just made a suggestion as to why the word "wee" wasn't understood...everyone here uses the word "wee" for small rather than urine! Gosh, why didn't I think of that at the time!