Giving birth in Usolonga Over the past month I’ve been able to attend four different births in the village. Before going into any specific details, I need to first provide a little background concerning the birthing process in Usolonga!
For starters, there is no shortage of expectant mothers! There are currently over 80 women –that we know of, that are due to give birth in the next five months, there are some who choose not to come to the clinic for a check-up and give birth at home. The 4000 shillings (about $3.50 cad.) that it cost to give birth in the clinic provides you a bed (just a bare plastic covered mattress) a midwife and a few medical supplies (rusting scissors to cut the cord, an IV if needed, and pain killers –when they’re not out of stock!). The expectant mother makes her way on foot to the clinic once labor has started, a journey that is anywhere from fifteen minutes to two hours depending on how far they live. Family members usually accompany her (rarely will the husband or boyfriend come) carrying a bucket of water (yes, they need to provide their own water, which is usually dirty river water!) an empty bucket (to put all the waste) and a bunch of kangas (to use as sheets, to wrap the baby in and to wash up the mattress!) If the labor happens to be at night then a kerosene lantern is lit in order to see, that is, if it’s not out of kerosene! Last week two solar panels were installed (as part of the solar panel project that EI is currently fundraising for!) so now there is one light bulb in the birthing room, which, as you can imagine, has come in VERY handy! (The first two births I attended were done by kerosene lamp . . .lets just say I’ll never complain about the health care facilities back home!)
For starters, there is no shortage of expectant mothers! There are currently over 80 women –that we know of, that are due to give birth in the next five months, there are some who choose not to come to the clinic for a check-up and give birth at home. The 4000 shillings (about $3.50 cad.) that it cost to give birth in the clinic provides you a bed (just a bare plastic covered mattress) a midwife and a few medical supplies (rusting scissors to cut the cord, an IV if needed, and pain killers –when they’re not out of stock!). The expectant mother makes her way on foot to the clinic once labor has started, a journey that is anywhere from fifteen minutes to two hours depending on how far they live. Family members usually accompany her (rarely will the husband or boyfriend come) carrying a bucket of water (yes, they need to provide their own water, which is usually dirty river water!) an empty bucket (to put all the waste) and a bunch of kangas (to use as sheets, to wrap the baby in and to wash up the mattress!) If the labor happens to be at night then a kerosene lantern is lit in order to see, that is, if it’s not out of kerosene! Last week two solar panels were installed (as part of the solar panel project that EI is currently fundraising for!) so now there is one light bulb in the birthing room, which, as you can imagine, has come in VERY handy! (The first two births I attended were done by kerosene lamp . . .lets just say I’ll never complain about the health care facilities back home!)
Just to clarify . . .it’s not part of my job description to attend any births (although I’m put to use when I do!) it is only out of a personal interest in midwifery that I chose to take part! So be rest assured if you’re interested in coming as an intern you won’t be forced to attend any labors!
In just the four labors I’ve attended so far I’ve seen and experienced quite a ride range of variety. The first two were pretty straight forward and actually made the whole process seem like a piece of cake! Both mothers were in and out of the birthing room within 30 minutes! One of the babies came out so fast I almost missed it! Unfortunately the third one wasn’t so easy and had a very sad ending. The mother gave birth to twin boys, one of them came out relatively easy while the other one tried coming out hand first. By the time the second one came out, he had already died. I had been holding the first twin, weighing 1.5 kilos, in my arms for three hours when the family finally consented that he needed medical attention and agreed to be driven to Iringa. The little guy didn’t make the two-hour journey, and died when they were half way to town. I’d like to think that this was an isolated event that only happens every now and again, but this being a rural village in Africa, it is unfortunately a fairly common occurrence. The fourth birth was a bit touch-and-go for a while –the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck- but fortunately Stella (nurse and midwife) was able to cut it in time! This labor was slightly more ‘hands on’ for me and made my stomach turn a bit as I witnessed the mother being sewn up from tearing! (yuck)
So there you have it, giving birth in the village! One thing that I always have to remember before attending a birth is that God is in control and already knows what is going to happen!
So there you have it, giving birth in the village! One thing that I always have to remember before attending a birth is that God is in control and already knows what is going to happen!
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