Today 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.
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.
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.
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. What a blessing that she was protected from the vaginal fluids on her way out. I didn't get to hear if she was born HIV positive or not.
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.
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.
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. 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. The midwives did a great job on that one.
In the end, everybody was doing great...and we headed home after another awesome day of loving the women God loves.
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Tribal Midwives and Jungle Waterbirths
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?
Answer: A very fun Saturday.
I learned a lot, for example....
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Going 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.
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.
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 so excited to be here because they were allowed to do stuff that would be unlawful for them to do in their own country.
They had never worked with laboring mothers, ever, and wanted to waltz in and deliver a "cute little brown baby." 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."
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. 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. At least that is how I see it.
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.
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.
Here are some the problems I saw in these nurses:
1. Arrogance
2. A focus on the "experience" for themselves instead of serving the people
3. A failure to see these woman as intelligent and amazing people who are worthy of respect.
4. An excitement to do things "they aren't allowed to do" elsewhere.
5. A lack of respect for the culture and experiences of people different than themselves.
Instead, if you are going to volunteer in a country that is not your own:
1. Go in humility, with the heart of a learner and a willingness to lay down "your ways."
2. Do not go to "get your numbers" or to "have an awesome story to tell." Go to serve. Go to learn.
3. See these beautiful women of another land as strong and someone you can learn from.
4. Know your limits. Do not do what you are not trained to do.
5. Study their language and culture. Respect who they are and how they do things.
6. Be kind and treat people the way you would want to be treated.
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.
*I've changed the continent of origin of the offending parties.
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.
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 so excited to be here because they were allowed to do stuff that would be unlawful for them to do in their own country.
They had never worked with laboring mothers, ever, and wanted to waltz in and deliver a "cute little brown baby." 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."
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. 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. At least that is how I see it.
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.
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.
Here are some the problems I saw in these nurses:
1. Arrogance
2. A focus on the "experience" for themselves instead of serving the people
3. A failure to see these woman as intelligent and amazing people who are worthy of respect.
4. An excitement to do things "they aren't allowed to do" elsewhere.
5. A lack of respect for the culture and experiences of people different than themselves.
Instead, if you are going to volunteer in a country that is not your own:
1. Go in humility, with the heart of a learner and a willingness to lay down "your ways."
2. Do not go to "get your numbers" or to "have an awesome story to tell." Go to serve. Go to learn.
3. See these beautiful women of another land as strong and someone you can learn from.
4. Know your limits. Do not do what you are not trained to do.
5. Study their language and culture. Respect who they are and how they do things.
6. Be kind and treat people the way you would want to be treated.
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.
*I've changed the continent of origin of the offending parties.
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Buried Alive
I 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.
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Seeing 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!
Friday, 13 September 2013
Life's Not Fair with HIV
* Names and details were changed...but the story is true
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."
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.
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.
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.
She begged me not to leave, even for a minute. I held her, massaged her, prayed with her, and encouraged her.
Once she was ready to push, she pushed for almost 4 hours. They never checked the babies heart tones.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
She begged me not to leave, even for a minute. I held her, massaged her, prayed with her, and encouraged her.
Once she was ready to push, she pushed for almost 4 hours. They never checked the babies heart tones.
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.
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.
Do You See What I See?
My last doula adventure was a crazy one. I have seen a lot since I last updated you all.
1. I have seen two new doulas (that I have had the privilege of training) spread their wings and do very well.
2. I have seen a baby born right on the dirty hospital floor. Both mom and baby were fine.
3. I have seen a woman punched repeatedly while her baby was crowning.
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.
5. I have seen an HIV positive mom shunned and shamed.
6. I have seen serious hemorrhages and babies that took a long time to breathe.
7. I've seen the midwives be very kind and show great skill in order to save a mom and baby.
8. I've seen the midwives share their own things and go the extra mile to be kind to a patient.
9. I've seen a movie on maternal death in childbirth put on for the laboring women to watch.
10. I've seen the squatting position spare many women from c sections and vacuum extractions.
1. I have seen two new doulas (that I have had the privilege of training) spread their wings and do very well.
2. I have seen a baby born right on the dirty hospital floor. Both mom and baby were fine.
3. I have seen a woman punched repeatedly while her baby was crowning.
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.
5. I have seen an HIV positive mom shunned and shamed.
6. I have seen serious hemorrhages and babies that took a long time to breathe.
7. I've seen the midwives be very kind and show great skill in order to save a mom and baby.
8. I've seen the midwives share their own things and go the extra mile to be kind to a patient.
9. I've seen a movie on maternal death in childbirth put on for the laboring women to watch.
10. I've seen the squatting position spare many women from c sections and vacuum extractions.
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