tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21135804949500959112023-11-16T10:23:14.320-08:00Stories of a Doula FarawayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-51633912206715621242014-04-26T19:38:00.000-07:002014-04-26T19:43:09.471-07:00Quit Throwing Your Placenta Around Mangua was laying on the dirty floor, writhing, screaming and crying. I guessed she was 8 or 9 centimeters dilated by the little grunt at the peak of each contraction. (although I always keep in the back of my mind that some labors just don't follow the rules and can look like that at 5 cm.) Her lips were dry and I offered her water. I wiped her sweat beaded face with a cool cloth and started fanning her. It is very hot and humid here and there are no fans or AC in the maternity ward. <br />
<br />
Her contractions were one on top of the other as I held her hand and rubbed her back. She calmed down considerably.<br />
<br />
<strong>Meanwhile I looked up at the wall and had to smile at the sign I read. Translated, it said, "To all mamas: please take your placentas home with you and bury them. We are tired of finding them tossed in the road and under the bushes. Thank you!"</strong><br />
<br />
Then I witnessed what I think of as "the last hurrah." I've seen it over and over again in births that have not been altered with medications. It is when there is a 3-4 minute unbearable contraction and then peace. It seems to be the last bit of dilation and then the mama experiences what midwives call the "rest and be thankful stage." There is such a change in demeanor at the end of that last long contraction. The contractions sometimes do continue, but they are different. Has anyone else seen this?<br />
<br />
After about 20 more minutes she said, "the baby is coming!" and I supported her as we wobbled down the hall to the delivery room.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile Leali, I had been supporting, but who was coping much more quietly, passed us in the hall with her hand between her legs. She too was on her way to the "haus bilong karim" (the room where they are supposed to push out their babies).<br />
<br />
Mangua and Leali both got up on delivery tables with about 12 inches between them and Mangua's water broke. It was very stained by meconium. A very thin, and very pale baby emerged as I fanned and encouraged her. A boy.<br />
<br />
Leili delivered a healthy and very vocal little girl. It soon became apparent that Mangua's baby was not okay and needed help with breathing. About this time, Leali began to hemorrhage. She was weak and unable to hold her baby on the narrow table. So my job at that point was to hold and comfort the tiny and very opinionated little newborn. I sang to her and walked the halls while I prayed for the other baby that it would breath. And for her mama that she would stop bleeding.<br />
<br />
My prayers were answered. When I left both mom's and both babies were doing great. There was another lady yesterday too, but I'll leave her story for another day. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-57096163173898335102014-04-18T20:26:00.002-07:002014-04-26T19:44:06.858-07:00First Day...No BabiesI'm in! I finally have permission to work here in this new town as a volunteer doula. <br />
It is in a somewhat rural health center instead of in a busy town hospital. They do serve a large area though, and most women here have between 6 and 12 babies, as the prominent religion does<br />
not allow birth control. <br />
<br />
Today there were no births or seriously laboring women. I spent the morning there, learning the ropes, helping stock medicine cabinets, and getting to know the midwives. I spent a couple of hours chatting with a lady in early labor, but she seemed like she could be days away still from holding her baby. They told me it is usually much busier, I'll let you know if that turns out to be the case! If <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'm happy to be in the door. If a couple of weeks prove that this is just not a busy enough place, I may look into driving a little further to a larger hospital. One would be enough each time, but honestly, doula-ing isn't that awesome with no laboring moms!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-10488621427736265182014-04-05T16:34:00.002-07:002014-04-05T16:34:50.697-07:00Not going to give up...Well, I moved to another town within the same country. I've been settling in, focusing on my children and family, and pursuing certification as a childbirth educator and Breastfeeding counselor. <br />
<br />
Another friend of mine died last week in childbirth. She died and her baby died. She died in the bush with no medical help available and the when the news got to me, I decided to get active in my doula-ing again.<br />
<br />
It is a pain to get these things going. I would like to volunteer as a doula here like I did in the last place that I lived. So many hoops to jump through, letters to write, and people to meet with. Trying to explain what a doula is and trying to convince them to let me help. Hopefully it will pan out soon. Until then I am just having to persevere and not give up. I went through all of this at the last place too, and was able to leave an open door for other doulas when I left. Hopefully soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-80615178225592752392013-11-28T17:00:00.002-08:002013-11-28T17:00:40.542-08:00TransitionsI am moving to another town about 6 hours away from here. I have been working to leave behind 2 well trained doulas and 5 half trained doulas. The well trained ones will continue to train the newer ones. They are continuing a full fledged volunteer doula program here when I go...I am pretty excited about that. I know they will do a great job. <br />
<br />
I am hoping to do the same thing in my new area, but we will see how it goes. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I have seen some wild births, and some sweet births. I'll write about those later...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhn0KSOYv2BZGMomcAG3vh0PgjG6clsOYgt_HMmAmjh2vdPUCVj7K6jpTH4ReIre7JveK629uGkJTFJpaRK9PDZ3Dow6kUnGSMg79Mbvq_RVakDh0SP9FzZPoVFurPRyv61verf4LVGXj/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhn0KSOYv2BZGMomcAG3vh0PgjG6clsOYgt_HMmAmjh2vdPUCVj7K6jpTH4ReIre7JveK629uGkJTFJpaRK9PDZ3Dow6kUnGSMg79Mbvq_RVakDh0SP9FzZPoVFurPRyv61verf4LVGXj/s320/IMG_2085.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and a mama in transition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-70033039433339994252013-11-11T19:45:00.001-08:002013-11-11T19:55:14.270-08:00Why Volunteer as a Doula?<br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p>Why should a person volunteer as a doula?</o:p></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #76923c; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">1. It
is a way to show love.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">2. In many places the women are alone in a scary place (the hospital isn't exactly a friendly place) at a vulnerable time</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #783f04;">3. A
woman with doula care is:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;"> 50%</span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #783f04;"> less likely to have a cesarean birth<br />
41% less likely
to need forceps or vacuum extraction <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #783f04;">When you are at the local hospital here, the these things could possibly
kill you due to infections that often come with them,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I believe that b</span>eing a doula
can actually reduce the maternal mortality rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; mso-spacerun: yes;">4. In an understaffed environment like where I work with women, An extra pair of hands and eyes can make a difference of life or death. So many times I have been the one who noticed a woman hemorrhaging or a baby struggling to breathe, </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: white; mso-spacerun: yes;">It's not for everyone, but I sure do love it!</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"> </span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-72190267286365150222013-10-14T03:06:00.001-07:002013-10-14T13:43:28.693-07:00Doula-ing with a Language Barrier<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Okay. If you
ever find yourself trying to support a woman in labor when you do not speak
their language, here are some ideas for you. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tips
for supporting women during Stage 1 of labor:</span></b></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If there is any way
to watch a woman be supported by another woman in her own culture, that is the
best way to learn. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are there any
bilingual (English and the language where you are) people that you can
interview? Ask them how to support a woman. Also, come up with a list of
things you would like to be able to say and then get a translation.
Memorize those phrases.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smile, love her, be
with her, touch her, hug her. Be there to hold her weight
so she can achieve whatever positions feel best to her. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Use counter
pressure and massage if this seems appropriate and is well received.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Follow her hands, she
will often rub her own back where it feels good to her.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Sing softly,
this says... I am calm, there is no emergency, what is happening to you is
normal. </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Offer water or
other liquids to keep her hydrated</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mostly just be with
her</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
Labor is Slow:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consider the position
of the baby. If the baby is sitting off-center on the pelvis, the
head may not be able to put enough pressure on the cervix for
dilation. Changing positions and moving the pelvis every 20 minutes
or so may help to change the baby's position.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some suggested
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lunges with one foot
up on a chair or something</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hands and
knees or standing next to the bed while swaying the hips</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> Walking</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tips for supporting in Stage 2</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When they are pushing, remember that
asking them to squat enlarges the pelvis and unsticks stuck
babies. Most women are hot when pushing, they often like being
fanned and a cold, wet cloth on their foreheads. They are usually thirsty
too.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tips for supporting in Stage 3</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fill up a water bottle with hot water
(not too hot) and wrap it in a towel, and put it next to her. Most
mamas end up cold and shaky after birth. Smile at her, she will be able
to see that you are proud of her and that you think her baby is beautiful.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope this is helpful to somebody!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-80435556236228739522013-10-09T01:39:00.000-07:002013-10-09T01:39:34.614-07:00I am the AmbulanceI'm hoping for a phone call. <br />
<br />
My friend Jana is due with her second baby and hopes to deliver a 15 minute drive from here at the hospital. She has been selling bananas so that she can afford to do so. (My family will be eating A LOT of bananas in the near future as I have been buying them.) <br />
<br />
The thing is, that only the very rich here own cars. (We do not own one but we can rent one) There is public transportation....but not between 6pm and 7am. So if a woman goes into labor during the night and things progress quickly...she has no way to give birth under the supervision of a skilled birth attendant. <br />
<br />
That is why I am expecting a call from Jana. She plans to call and have us drive her to the hospital if she goes into labor during the night. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately for most the women in this country, transportation is not even the issue. For most, there is no access to skilled birth attendants unless they hike for a couple days to find one.<br />
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I'm excited to be a part of her birth.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-68319461668563577782013-10-05T02:00:00.000-07:002013-10-05T02:00:41.902-07:00Classy Doulas and Lifeless BabiesToday I stepped in a pile of poop and then tracked it all the way around the hospital bed before I realized it. It was really very classy. <br />
<br />
With in minutes of arriving, my doula friend and I each stopped to talk to a couple of laboring women. With in a few more minutes, there were 2 baby heads emerging. (from 2 different women, not the same one - in case you were worried.) The race was on! Two first time moms yelling, "It's coming!" The foot of their beds had only about 10 feet between them. <br />
<br />
Anya's baby was coming, but slowly. She was pushing well and just wanted a hand to hold and someone to give her sips of water. She had been completely alone for many hours.<br />
<br />
Julie was HIV positive and her bag of waters was still intact. Her baby was coming very quickly! Before I knew it, the baby's head, inside the water bag was completely out. It was soon followed by the rest of the baby girl. She splashed into this world as she slipped onto the bed and her water cushion broke simultaneously. <strong><em>What a blessing that she was protected from the vaginal fluids on her way out.</em></strong> I didn't get to hear if she was born HIV positive or not.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Anya kept pushing. She gently delivered a baby girl about 10 minutes later. No tears, even thought the baby was delivered with a fist by her cheek. It was a very peaceful birth. <br />
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The entire rest of the day was spent with Mikal. She was also there to meet her first child. She dilated quickly, but once she hit 10 centimeters, she grinned at us and basically fell asleep for three hours. For awhile we encouraged her into a position that would move the second stage of labor along, but she was just not into it, so we let her sleep. Eventually she awoke, crawled down off the bed, and squatted noisily. The grunts became screams and I guessed that she was crowning. Sure enough a peek proved my suspicions were true. Within the next few minutes, a tiny,. white, lifeless little baby boy emerged.<br />
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After about 20 minutes of prayer, oxygen, and CPR, he was breathing, struggling...but breathing. At that point we all breathed a sigh of relief. <strong><em>I'm glad he wasn't one of the majority of babies in the county who are born out in the jungle and left for dead if they do not breathe immediately on their own.</em></strong> The midwives did a great job on that one.<br />
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In the end, everybody was doing great...and we headed home after another awesome day of loving the women God loves.<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-67399884400893281262013-10-01T21:55:00.005-07:002013-10-01T21:59:26.002-07:00Tribal Midwives and Jungle Waterbirths<br />
Question: What do you get when you stick 13 laboring women, 6 tribal birth attendants receiving medical training, some hospital staff and a couple of American doulas all in the L&D room all day?<br />
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Answer: A very fun Saturday.<br />
<br />
I learned a lot, for example....<br />
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1. Don't try and play around with recently donated hospital beds that no one knows how to use. (It ended up stuck in the head down position.) Oops.<br />
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2. Leave your pants on if you think your baby might just fall out while you stand around visiting. That way the baby is stuck in your pants instead of falling on the floor. (This had happened to a lady the night before)<br />
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3. One of the tribal birth attendants had a water birth. She just got in a dammed up part of the river and sat there since the pain was better that way. Eventually she delivered her own baby in the water.<br />
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4. The TBAs were from many different tribes and it was so fun to hear about each of their birthing traditions. A couple of them tied ropes around trees and let the woman hold on in a dangle/squat position while pushing. Others mostly just squatted. <br />
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5. They have a lot of beliefs about unity and the baby not wanting to come until everyone is at peace. So when a woman is having a prolonged labor or birth, they bring in the father or other family to talk to the baby and tell it that it can come.<br />
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6. The Tribal Birth Attendants had a very good understanding of birth on an emotional level...and were full of a lot of wisdom that way.<br />
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7. Once again, I saw the squat position save the day when a woman was pushing for a long long time with out much progress.<br />
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8. These tribal midwives open up their homes to laboring woman and help so many. They are exposed to many diseases and are never paid. They do it because they feel it is right to help their sisters. It was a challenge to me to hear them talk about it.<br />
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It was a calm and beautiful day there with many babies being born gently and being cared for well. It was different to have so many people there caring for the moms. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-24653903833453094622013-09-21T20:56:00.000-07:002013-09-22T03:53:30.131-07:00Going Overseas? Read This First!This blog gets a lot of traffic from midwives and doulas who hope to go get some practical experience overseas. This can be a good thing...but not always.<br />
<br />
Lets learn some things by examining the mistakes of a couple of North American nurses that came here to help in the labor and delivery ward last week.<br />
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They walked in eager for an experience, and a great story to tell. They did not speak the language and are only here for a week. They boasted that they were <em>so</em> excited to be here because they were allowed to do stuff that would be unlawful for them to do in their own country.<br />
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<strong>They had never worked with laboring mothers, ever, and wanted to waltz in and deliver a "cute little brown baby."</strong> One proceeded ..no kidding... to SLAP and SCREAM at a pushing woman I had been gently coaching for 6 hours already. Not only was this white lady being rude and demeaning, she was screaming in English....which was not comprehended by anyone but me. This laboring mother who had been doing awesome, was terrified and scared and shut down...her contractions came to a complete stop. This volunteer then yelled at her for "giving up." <br />
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Next, this educated white nurse went on to try to sneak in a baby delivery by not alerting the midwife that the baby was crowning, but just getting ready to do it herself. When I realized after a minute that this nurse had NO IDEA what she was doing, (I was having to tell her what to do...) I alerted the midwife myself, who came and delivered the baby. <strong>This adventure seeker was willing to put a mother and baby's lives in danger simply to be able to say she had delivered a baby</strong>. At least that is how I see it.<br />
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This nurse then kept correcting and pushing the very experienced national midwife out of the way, because "she wasn't doing it right." These midwives are so experienced, (about 1000 births a year for 20 years or more) and could put most western midwives to shame, let alone an ER nurse who had never even seen a birth other than of her own.<br />
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You know what? This woman probably is very proud of herself for "helping" these "poor people." She probably feels like she is making a difference! And she is. Just not a good difference.<br />
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<strong>Here are some the problems I saw in these nurses:</strong><br />
<br />
1. Arrogance<br />
2. A focus on the "experience" for themselves instead of serving the people<br />
3. A failure to see these woman as intelligent and amazing people who are worthy of respect.<br />
4. An excitement to do things "they aren't allowed to do" elsewhere.<br />
5. A lack of respect for the culture and experiences of people different than themselves.<br />
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<strong>Instead, if you are going to volunteer in a country that is not your own:</strong><br />
<br />
1. Go in humility, with the heart of a learner and a willingness to lay down "your ways."<br />
2. Do not go to "get your numbers" or to "have an awesome story to tell." Go to serve. Go to learn.<br />
3. See these beautiful women of another land as strong and someone you can learn from.<br />
4. Know your limits. Do not do what you are not trained to do. <br />
5. Study their language and culture. Respect who they are and how they do things. <br />
6. Be kind and treat people the way you would want to be treated.<br />
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None of us will be perfect, but let love be the focus of what you do and I'm sure things will go a lot better.<br />
<br />
*I've changed the continent of origin of the offending parties.<br />
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<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-49154242969414575262013-09-17T00:40:00.001-07:002013-09-17T00:40:01.420-07:00Buried AliveI have been thinking a lot about the HIV positive lady that I helped through labor. I called her Kahlia on this blog. I heard stories today of two other HIV positive ladies who lived in my town here. One woman, when her family discovered her HIV status, they forced her into a coffin and nailed it shut. Then they buried her alive. Another they tied up and kept in a pit until she died a month later. There is such fear and such a stigma here when it comes to HIV! It makes me really sad. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-12139745414572992592013-09-15T23:08:00.001-07:002013-09-16T00:43:35.707-07:00Seeing them grow up and almost 70!Today we celebrated this country's independence. During the festivities I had three ladies that I had doula-d for approach me with their babies in tow! It was so fun to see them again and to hold the little ones. Volunteering as a doula has been so very rewarding. I've been a part of almost 70 births now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-63763521785914443302013-09-13T18:30:00.001-07:002013-09-21T21:04:09.902-07:00Life's Not Fair with HIV* Names and details were changed...but the story is true<br />
<br />
When I first saw Khalia, she was sitting with her mom on the hard wooden benches outside. Her mother made me promise to take care of her girl. There were tears in her eyes as she pleaded with me. Mom's aren't allowed past the heavy, paint chipped door of the labor and delivery ward. I told her I would be her daughter's "watch mama." <br />
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The nurses took Khalia back to take a cold bucket bath in the filthy shower stall. Her mother then pulled a very used Coca Cola bottle full of water out of her colorful string bag. She whispered to me that I needed to take this to her daughter to drink. It was from Khalia's village where she had grown up. All the women had "outed" their "heavies" (issues, grudges ect.) and blessed the water. Now if the laboring mother drinks it, it shows that they are all at peace. They believed it would make the labor go quickly and easily. The wrinkled little mother was thrilled that I understood and was familiar with the beliefs from my years in the bush. I gave it to Khalia, explained what her mom had said, and Khalia drank it up quickly. <br />
<br />
Khalia is 17 years old. Last year her husband bought her for about $3000. She then went to live in his village as his fourth wife. She spends her days tending the large gardens and cooking food. Probably caring for the kids of the older wives too. Her new husband gave her HIV on her wedding night. She is now HIV positive and has TB and herpes to go with it.<em></em><br />
<em></em><br />
Now, here she was delivering her first baby. The medical staff was standoffish about her medical conditions. (The herpes had done some awful looking things to her) They warned me not to be around her. I did consider just helping the other 8 ladies in labor but I felt that God would have me to love on Khalia. It was the right thing to do. It is what Jesus would do. I spent the next 8 hours with her. (and I did take precautions with fluids) She is a sweet and beautiful girl who labored very well. <br />
<br />
She begged me not to leave, even for a minute. I held her, massaged her, prayed with her, and encouraged her. <br />
<br />
Once she was ready to push, she pushed for almost 4 hours. They never checked the babies heart tones. <br />
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She got so exhausted. Her babies head had been slightly in view for two hours. No amount of squatting or position change was helping. I finally was able to convince someone to come help us. I was shocked at how she "helped." She grabbed a razor blade and cut Khalia four times. Four large episiotomies on her herpes enveloped skin. A beautiful baby girl emerged over the HIV infected blood. <br />
<br />
Khalia had more love in her eyes as she looked at her new daughter than most of the mom's I see here. The baby latched on a nursed just fine. It was hard to say goodbye to her. I am privileged to have been able to be with her on that day. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-80018966323032582552013-09-13T17:33:00.000-07:002013-09-21T21:08:00.671-07:00Do You See What I See?My last doula adventure was a crazy one. I have seen a lot since I last updated you all.<br />
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1. I have seen two new doulas (that I have had the privilege of training) spread their wings and do very well. <br />
<br />
2. I have seen a baby born right on the dirty hospital floor. Both mom and baby were fine. <br />
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3. I have seen a woman punched repeatedly while her baby was crowning. <br />
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4. I have seen God answer my prayers over and over again when a mom is having a very hard time or when a baby is not breathing.<br />
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5. I have seen an HIV positive mom shunned and shamed. <br />
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6. I have seen serious hemorrhages and babies that took a long time to breathe.<br />
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7. I've seen the midwives be very kind and show great skill in order to save a mom and baby.<br />
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8. I've seen the midwives share their own things and go the extra mile to be kind to a patient.<br />
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9. I've seen a movie on maternal death in childbirth put on for the laboring women to watch.<br />
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10. I've seen the squatting position spare many women from c sections and vacuum extractions.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-31594524280058225182013-09-13T17:10:00.001-07:002013-09-13T17:35:51.375-07:00Child Mortality in the News<div class="main-content-area detail-page">
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FACTBOX: Fighting child mortality around the world</h1>
<span class="meta source left">Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation - Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:58 AM</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.trust.org/profile/?id=003D0000017igCgIAI"><img alt="" src="http://utils.trust.org/utils/grimg-sfdc.php?url=http://trustorg.force.com/trustlawconnect/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00PD000000HG2rNMAT&w=50&h=50" width="50" /> </a> </div>
<span class="meta author">Author: <a href="http://www.trust.org/profile/?id=003D0000017igCgIAI">KatyMigiro</a></span> </div>
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<a href="http://d24pg1nxua23qm.cloudfront.net/contentAsset/image/adb082c4-7e03-4829-a3dc-6bea30c83acd/image/byInode/1/filter/Resize,Jpeg/jpeg_q/90/resize_w/960" id="enlargePhoto"><img alt="Enlarge image" class="enlarge-icon" src="http://d24pg1nxua23qm.cloudfront.net/application/assets/images/enlarge-icon.png" /> <img alt="" class="main-image" src="http://d24pg1nxua23qm.cloudfront.net/contentAsset/image/adb082c4-7e03-4829-a3dc-6bea30c83acd/image/byInode/1/filter/Resize,Jpeg/jpeg_q/90/resize_w/604" /> </a> <a class="tab-only-element" href="http://www.trust.org/search/?q=&f_theme="><span class="tab-only-element tab-theme"> More on: Health and Disease </span></a> </div>
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A woman feeds her malnourished child at a paediatric ward in Banadir hospital in Somalia's capital Mogadishu August 7, 2011. REUTERS/Omar Faruk</div>
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NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Eastern and southern Africa are reducing child mortality faster than any other regions in the world, the United Nations children’s fund (Unicef) said in a report on Friday, but more than 18,000 children die needlessly every day.<br />
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The report, <a href="http://progressreport.apromiserenewed.org/" target="_blank">'Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed’</a>, highlights the extent of child mortality globally and discusses what steps need to be taken to prevent babies and young children from dying.<br />
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Below are some facts and figures from the report:<br />
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<li>216 million children died before the age of 5 between 1990 and 2012 – more than the total population of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world.</li>
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<li>Half of all under-five deaths occur in just five countries: India (22 per cent), Nigeria (13 per cent), Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo (both 6 per cent) and China (4 per cent).</li>
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<li>In sub-Saharan Africa, one in every 10 children dies before their fifth birthday, nearly 16 times the average rate in high-income countries.</li>
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<li>Globally, the leading causes of deaths among children under five include pneumonia (18 per cent), pre-term birth complications (15 per cent), birth-related complications (10 per cent), diarrhoea (9 per cent) and malaria (7 per cent).</li>
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<li>Immunisation is among the most successful and most cost-effective health interventions, saving two to three million lives globally every year.</li>
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<li>The 24 hours around the time of childbirth carry the greatest risk. Each year, more than 1 million babies die on the day they are born.</li>
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<li>If a mother is under 18, the risk of her infant dying in its first year of life is 60 percent greater than an infant born to a mother older than 19.</li>
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<li>To end preventable child deaths, women must be provided with good quality maternal care and nutrition and newborns need a safe delivery. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets, vaccines, proper breastfeeding, nutritional supplements, rehydration treatment for diarrhoea, safe water and sanitation are also important.</li>
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<li>In Rwanda, community health workers are using SMS to track pregnancies, report on danger signs during pregnancy and to send alerts to health services to ensure women can access emergency obstetric care quickly.</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-63357422868584821172013-08-16T15:08:00.000-07:002013-08-16T15:08:13.572-07:00New Doulas!I haven't written in awhile! Life's been busy. Two wonderful women have decided to join me in my "doula-ing" efforts. We did this countries first official "doula training." It was fun and I'm excited. Last time I was at the hospital I brought one of the new doulas with me. She is a natural. We rejoiced in being able to help a young woman narrowly escape a vacuum extraction. Squatting is AWESOME during pushing when things are just taking a long long time. More updates to come!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-54101880197352745082013-07-21T01:06:00.003-07:002013-07-21T01:06:49.586-07:00Sweet Babies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36iFdpjWTRCzcy1RSlfM4GJWqTpZKvPWkqagFPjoZOMIcy7w7uaRFimJEuiD0Dmfd4VWJy9-_Lfd6_9iTCFSY0KRqWY96ngLrykNr2wY8WMAjeMgePEfQqE6RT55dvJP3Eu6yUGSlFg0r/s1600/haus+sik+bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36iFdpjWTRCzcy1RSlfM4GJWqTpZKvPWkqagFPjoZOMIcy7w7uaRFimJEuiD0Dmfd4VWJy9-_Lfd6_9iTCFSY0KRqWY96ngLrykNr2wY8WMAjeMgePEfQqE6RT55dvJP3Eu6yUGSlFg0r/s640/haus+sik+bath.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The post partum ward....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-37331747343676229552013-07-13T20:48:00.000-07:002013-07-19T03:53:39.489-07:00Baby Heads and Doula SmilesI smiled a lot yesterday while I was with all the laboring moms.<br />
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I smiled when Rosa pushed out a baby boy with ease.<br />
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I smiled when Rosa dressed him up super cute and I could tell she was in love with her new little bundle. She had her tubes tied a few years ago, so he was quite a surprise.<br />
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I smiled when Helley gave me a skeptical look when I told her that her baby was coming soon and she was going to be okay. It was a look that said "you are insane, I know I am going to die." <br />
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I smiled when Helley came back from the bathroom a few minutes later and lifted her skirt to show me what was going on. I could see quite a bit of baby head. She was holding a baby boy just a few minutes later. Now she had a look on her face that said she was quite pleased with herself for having delivered her first child.<br />
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I smiled when Toola and I finally worked out a system to get her calmly through her contractions without going screaming and rolling around in panic and terror. I had never seen a woman quite so active and creative with her laboring postitions. <br />
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I smiled when Toola's baby girl finally emerged. It took awhile and the little one arrived with a short cord 3x around her neck. I smiled because she was okay despite that. I was so glad the midwife had arrived on that one, her head was halfway out before the midwife came.<br />
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I smiled when Toolah made it safely through a post partum hemmorage and when her baby girl finally latched on and nursed.<br />
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I smiled when Mallinah delivered her ten and a half pound baby boy (most babies here are between 5-7lb). She was 44 weeks pregnant. Yes, I meant to write 44. She measured 44 weeks, and her dates said 44 weeks. She had been completely dilated for hours, but the head was too high and not engaged. She walked, she lunged, she sat on the toilet. We had no birthball, that would have been helpful. She was so drained and still the babe was high. Her water finally broke and eventually she felt like pushing. After 2 more hours I finally convinced her to squat and push. She did and within 15 minutes there was a baby head. The midwife was there just in time to see the rest of it's body slide out.<br />
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There were five births and 7 moms and it was just really fun as well as really amazing. I'm getting more comfortable in my role as a doula and in trusting the mom's own instincts. I am also amazed at what a woman can birth if she squats instead of laying on her back!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-45122583530403587522013-07-08T16:56:00.002-07:002013-07-08T16:56:52.767-07:00Double Doula-ingI have been mastering the art of double doula-ing. No, I am not talking about mom's having twins. I'm talking about two moms moving into one space so that I can support them both at once. I would never ask them to do this, it's their idea.<br />
<br />
It is much easier if their contractions are opposite of each other in timing. Then I can support through the pains one at a time. Unfortunately this is not usually the case, which leaves me trying to massage/focus on two women at once. It reminds me of trying to pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time. <br />
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I feel rather silly looking, rubbing two backs at once, but I'm glad to be there for them. I think it is time to train some more doulas to come along with me.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-17640345776461964302013-07-07T02:24:00.000-07:002013-07-07T02:24:28.611-07:00Is He Dead?I thought he was dead, but I prayed and prayed that he would be okay.<br />
<br />
I had been attending his mother as her labor support person for many hours. There was no sign that there would be a problem, but when he was born, he was grey, limp, and he did not start breathing or crying on his own. There was a cord around his neck that was not removed by the student that was delivering him. Maybe that was the problem, I don't know.<br />
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After a couple of minutes, the student realized that this baby needed more than a little stimulation. I had run and gotten the ambu bag thingy for them just in case. Sure enough, they started to try and resuscitate him and after what seemed like a very long time he started to cry. Soon he was nursing. <br />
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I thanked God for another little one that lived. It was the 2nd close call in one day.<br />
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In the tribe I lived with for years, they do not stimulate a baby after it is born. They just watch and wait to see if it is alive or not. They never pick it up or touch it unless it cries. So many of their babies were "stillborn." In reality though I wonder if they could have lived if they were helped along a bit to take that first breathe. <br />
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Whatever the case, I hate that 50% of children there never have the chance to grow up. I want to help see that change.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-74504559722521290852013-07-01T03:25:00.001-07:002013-07-01T03:29:20.014-07:00Walk that Baby Out!!!!!!!<br />
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I volunteer in the labor and delivery ward here mostly because the laboring women are not allowed to bring even one support person with in with them. I love it though when a brave mother in law or grandma comes marching in anyway. I never tell on them, so sometimes they manage to hide out for a hour or so. <br />
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Yesterday this wrinkly, ancient and very wise looking old woman came bursting in. Policy meant nothing to her. She had squatted on banana leaves and borne 13 babies in her lifetime. <strong> This is what she had to say to her granddaughter who was in labor with her first child.<em> "Get up! Walk, walk, walk, faster. GO! Do want this pain to last all day? If you do, then lay down. I</em><em>f not, then get up and go!"</em></strong><br />
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Amen Grandma! I have seen many other veteran mothers here offer the same advice. I also noticed that the women who just walk and walk have their babies so much faster than the ones who just lay on their sides. I personally was a walker in all of my 4 labors and recommend it to anyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-34420894441547528382013-06-29T23:43:00.000-07:002013-06-29T23:43:29.869-07:00Twins and a Prolapsed CordThis weekend at the hospital was nuts. There were naked women on the dirty floor yelling, "The baby is coming!" There were not enough beds for them all, and there were more pukers than usual.<br />
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The operating theatre was not "in service" due to the air conditioner being broken. I am not sure why the air-con is necessary to operate, but apparently it is. The vacuum extractor was also broken. <br />
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So into this environment, a lady named Malley (not her real name) walked in. Her belly was HUGE (in an adorable way) and she had not had prenatal care. She walked around until a baby started to fall out bum first. A little girl was born breech. Then another baby started to make his way into the room head first. Unfortunately his umbilical cord led the way. So now the midwives were dealing with a prolapsed cord.<br />
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The midwives flipped her over to a head down/ on her knees position and tried to push the cord back up into the mom. They also pushed the head up and then flipped her back to her back and applied suprapubic pressure in an upward direction to hold the head up off the chord while trying to fix the vacuum extractor. They couldn't get it to work and they called the doctor. Meanwhile there was still a heartbeat. I was holding Malley's hand, praying with her and comforting her. She asked me to sing a hymn while we waited. Singing is not my gift, but we sang anyway. <br />
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The doctor arrived and without the option of C section or the vacuum, he proceeded to just have her try to deliver the baby quickly. Two contractions later the head was in the birth canal and the chord had stopped pulsating. Two more contractions. We all started to anticipate a dead baby. I prayed and prayed. A very grey and limp 5lb baby emerged. After some stimulation though he pinked up and cried. I checked on him a lot throughout the rest of the day. He was a champion nurser and very alert little guy. I'm so thankful that he is okay.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-82431207715926859752013-06-25T20:38:00.000-07:002013-06-25T20:39:24.974-07:00A Chicken, a Needle and a Natural Birth<br />
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When I was pregnant with my first child in the USA, I read a lot about childbirth and how to have a natural childbirth. I wanted this mostly because I went to the epidural class at the local hospital (just in case) and the guy there passed around a GIANT needle and talked about sticking it into my back and how there were many risks with an epidural, including death. Hmmm...do I want to go with the contractions that have never permanently damaged a person, or the giant needle that may kill me...?<br />
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<strong>I may be the only person in history who chose natural childbirth, not because I am so brave, but because I am a chicken.</strong><br />
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So after that, I decided to skip the drugs, and I read every birth story I could. I wanted to learn all the "tricks" to getting through labor on my own. <br />
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I have been to over 40 births here now, and helped almost 40 other women in labor besides that. I have noticed something. <strong> None of these women have ever seen a pregnancy book. Not one of them has been to a childbirth education class, and only some have attended other women's births. </strong>They have natural labors because the other choice is a C section. <br />
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The thing is, they seem to just go with their instincts as far as positions and laboring....and it lines up with all the things we write books about and think we are so smart to know as doulas. Funny how moving around, changing positions, and using gravity to our advantage is just what they instinctively know to do. I guess so much of what we read and are taught is supposed to just come "naturally."<br />
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Maybe we are born with the knowledge of how to give birth well, just like the rest of the creatures in creation. <br />
<em></em><br />
<em>.</em><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-75856460166059418692013-06-15T16:44:00.002-07:002013-06-15T19:20:40.979-07:00Vaccuming a Baby HeadSo, apart from accidently cussing and fainting yesterday...I also got to see my first vacuum extraction birth. It was brutal, but mom and baby are alive and happy, so it seems to me it was worth it in the end.<br />
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These days, I tend to judge a birth by whether or not everyone lived. I would love to see each mother satisfied with her experience...it just doesn't take much for these women...if they are alive in the end, they are happy.<br />
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I could hear Mavis (not her real name) yelling long before I got to the labor and delivery room. This was her first baby and she was NOT afraid to make noise. When the midwives told her to quiet down, ( they actually were pretty kind and concerned for her) she just looked at them and screamed louder. She alternated biting the mattress, rolling around on the floor and throwing things. ( So much for the "women in other countries just squat, push out a baby, and keep on working in the field" theory.) <br />
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When I arrived she had been in active labor for 24 hours. She had been at 9 centimeters for 3 hours. Her baby was slightly transverse. (Basically it was laying diagonally with the side of head and ear trying to head down the birth canal. It is a good thing that she was one of the 30% of women in this country who had a skilled birth attendant for her birth.<br />
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I walked in to be with her and she clung to me and begged me not to leave. She was sick of being alone and in pain. It was one of the roughest births I have helped with so far (except for the ones where there was a death). We worked with gravity trying to jiggle the baby down into the right position. I had her try polar bear position alternated with standing and dancing the baby down. Interestingly, it seemed that she naturally wanted to do those things anyway.<br />
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She was complete by 8:30 am and then started pushing. She pushed for six hours. At this point she was going on 48 hours of active labor and was refusing food and drink of any kind. She was constantly falling asleep standing up, and I was trying to keep her from falling over. She was about 100 pounds more than I was and it wasn't an easy task. I used every "trick" I could think of.<br />
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After 3 hours, I begged the midwives to come check for fetal heart tones, something they hadn't done at all since I had arrived. It took them awhile to hear anything, and when they did, the baby was in distress. Her head had moved into a better position to come down though. After two more hours of pushing they brought in a broken vacuum extractor (it would only go up to half of the suction it was supposed to have) and gave her a huge episiotomy and finally dragged out a beautiful baby girl.<br />
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It was not a pleasant birth, but when I left, mom and baby were alive, healthy and happy. Oh, and Mavis named the little girl after me. I was so proud of her making it through....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113580494950095911.post-65475504592783484602013-06-15T00:52:00.000-07:002013-07-07T01:14:56.762-07:00A Cussing, Fainting Missionary ladyMy head hurts.<br />
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I just spent a very long and wonderful day at the hospital as a doula to many lovely women. <br />
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Unfortuately, I had to learn an important lesson the hard way. No matter how "needed" I am, I need to take little breaks and eat and drink to keep up my stamina. After birth number five, I started feeling really lightheaded, and yes, I passed out on the floor. <br />
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That is why my head hurts. It was embarrassing. <br />
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I also shocked all the staff with my dirty mouth. They call me the missionary lady and have high expectations for what words I may or may not use. Due to a language mess up on my part I accidently swore a few times while trying to say. "I think we need to put a new sheet on the bed." I just mixed up two words that were very close. I never did explain myself either as there was a baby coming out right about then. Oh well.<br />
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Part of the reason that I didn't take breaks is that I had two women in a row that were terrified for me to leave them. Both had been laboring completely alone for over 24 hours and both would cling to me and beg me to stay if I even took a step in another direction. <br />
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There were four girls and one boy born today, and apparently there have been five girls for every boy born at this hospital for over a year now. This would cause future problems if we were in the USA - but here, some guys have 5 wives...so I guess it will all work out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0