Below are previous blog posts from 2014 thru 2019. They are displayed with the most recent first and are accounts of my mission trips to Haiti and the DR, trainings, apprenticeships and events during these years. Your donations made these possible and have contributed to my learning and acquisition of skill. Thank you.
Hopeful
It has been the second most difficult year of my life. However, God has granted some hope. A group has plans to open birth centers everywhere! I want to be a part! Take a look at these places!! The big picture is to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes across the globe. Only medical donations and financial donations and lots of prayer make this happen! Can you help?
https://newlifebirthingcenters.com/our-birthing-centers
Usher Life In, Usher Life Out
A doula helps mothers become mothers welcoming the first breath of life. Sometimes doulas help mothers through the grieving process when that first breath is never taken. It’s that experience and knowledge that I call upon to help my father as he reaches his last breath.
My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer throughout his bones and organs. He had pain and went to the doctor on Valentines Day. Two weeks later he got the diagnosis. Nine days ago he started pain meds and we would run errands. The last three days he can barely make it to the couch where he sits until time for bed.
I am leaving my home by 8am to care for my parents all day. My mom is wheelchair bound from a stroke and paralyzed on the left side. I give pills, make meals, do laundry, give pills, clean, make calls, change clothes, give pills, clean some more, run home and sleep, feed our chickens and cats and do it all again dragging my boys along or dropping them off to a friend.
Most of the time my tears are for the gratefulness I feel towards all the acts of love and generous offers to help. So many are willing but it’s very hard to say sure, please change their clothes and help them to the bathroom. My mom has a condition that causes her to ask for so much unnecessary attention it is so draining. But in it all God has been there. I write down every blessing I see and I know there are many I don’t see. I’ve had family step in to hold me up when I didn’t feel I could stand.
Other tears are for the helplessness I feel as he cries in pain; and when enough meds are given for the pain, him no longer being of sound mind to enjoy time together.
So during this season of life I’m not getting to births or prenatals. I’m missing what brings me joy. That is painful too. My husband is not here to hold me when I need to be held. I’m now living what I’ve always feared as an only child.
A week to go!
It has been pretty slow. About a birth every 36 hours. We suspect moms are going to the hospital thinking MamaBaby is closed for the holidays. It was super busy then a screeching halt Christmas Day. But some ‘forced’ downtime in my life is God’s providence. My nature is to be busy doing something. I feel so wasteful if I’m not feeling productive. But this is a noted intentional change for me in 2018. Complete with ant bites, mosquito bites, questionable bites and other rashes I hope to return with a renewed focus.
I ask for specific prayer over my rashes. One can’t help but be concerned 🤪 I ask for prayer over the rest of the week and those we care for.
Much love and thanks to you all!! ❤️
Back to Calvaire
Doing prenatals outside Cap Haitain on Tuesday 12/26 I carried a 20lb box up 100’s of steps. The box contained supplement food for pregnant moms. We did a group prenatal and handed out Creole New Testements. We shared 1 Corinthians 13. Moms were age 16-21.
And I’m off
As I am packing my final things and leaving this evening all I can think need of is prayers. Prayers for calm nerves, for smooth baggage check, claim and travel. I have an all night layover in Miami, so prayers for rest there. Prayers for the women I will be providing care for and all the hands supporting them during this holiday season. Just covered in prayer.
A very special thank you to all of you that made this possible. I am taking a third bag and your donations are paying to make that happen. These supplies will be used in the birth center. My own personal items are in my carry-on. So many of you contributed generously and made this possible. I will meditate on that and give a prayer of thanks for each of you. I will have lots of travel time to do so!
May each of you search out a particular blessing this season and give thanks.
Much Love!!
Supplies for Haiti
Below you will find an extensive but not exhaustive list for supplies needed at the birth clinic in Haiti. I will need to receive these items before December 16, 2017.
Clicking on any item will take you to a website where it can be ordered. Some items may only be found through that supplier but other items such as gloves can be bought anywhere you choose. Some items do require a healthcare license for ordering. If you use smile.amazon.com there is an option to choose MamaBabyHaiti as your charity and a portion of the cost will actually be donated back to the clinic or maybe you want to choose your own organization for the donation to be given to. Double charity opportunity!
There are many ways to donate including going directly to the Mama Baby Haiti site and donating funds directly. Ship items to me, contact me for pickup, donate cash to me which I will use for supplies, donate used items to pass on to Haiti, are all ways I am happy to accept and get to the clinic on your behalf. Tax deductible donations with receipt should be done through the Mama Baby Haiti website.
Thank you for helping! I am so excited to use what you give to help others!
2. Medium sized nitrile gloves -5
3. Cord clamps -25+
4. Cord bands or cord rings -25+
5. Insulin type needles for vitamin K – 25+
6.Chromic gut sutures, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 -25+
7. Alcohol prep pads -2
8. Germicidal wipes or Chlorox wipes -2
9. Fitted sheets and Flat sheets (white)
10. Reusable underpads -5+ (used is fine)
11. Disposable underpads / chux pads -3
13. Printer toner Brother TN660
15. Towels -3+ (used is fine)
16. Large bottle of Acetaminophen
18. Large bottle of Hibiclens (or small ones)
19. Mosquito net treated or untreated fit twin
20. Bars of soap -3+
21. Hand sanitizer -3+
22. Liquid hand soap -3+
23. Pens
24. Baby blanket -3+ (used is fine)
25. Pillow
26. Bug spray (I plan on using oils and diffuser so a good travel diffuser recommendation?)
27. Shampoo
28. Protein snacks (suggestions welcome)
29. Clothespins
30. Water bottle
31. Wipes
33. Syringes 25+
34. Needles
35. Hotel lotions and toiletries to give to women
36. Medical textbooks in French! Midwifery would be a bonus!
37. Other items you know would be of use!
This is the link to the Amazon list (not all items were able to be put on the list)
Many many thanks!supplieshaitimamababyhaitibirthlovehomebirthbabygivingdonations
Haiti is Happening
It still doesn’t seem real but the plane ticket has been bought. I will be serving in Haiti at the Mama Baby Haiti birth center in Cap Haitian next month! My 18 day stay will consist of birth, birth and more birth. While my primary purpose will be to further my midwifery skills and experience for serving in any setting, I look forward to loving on these women. Just simple compassion.
A smile. A touch. A hug.
Please pray for me to have confidence in helping these women and to have clarity to remember what I need to remember and learn what I need to learn. To keep doubt away. I do covet prayer during this time and am feeling most led to ask this of you.
Most of you reading this are former clients so a great big THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making this possible. It is through your donations for doula services that I am able to go. You have made this possible and I am so very humbled by the abundant blessings you have bestowed on me. Watching God work through you has been an inspiration in my life.
I will also be making a purchase of supplies to take to the birth center. You will find a link below to learn more about the birth center and the organization. I have already had several people ask what things I will need to bring. I will be compiling a more thorough list through an Amazon link and posting later but for now here are some suggestions:
- chux pads
- exam gloves
- any toiletries; toothpaste, soap, lotions, etc
- Depends, sanitary pads
- herbs, mama teas, prenatal vitamins, iron, etc
- Clorox wipes or other medical grade wipes
- insect repellent
- sterile gauze
- healthy snacks of iron and protein
- suggestion of high grade water bottle (for me, safe water available just need quality container)
- FRENCH midwife/medical textbooks/CD/DVD
- Midwives: medications/medical supplies
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and pass it along! Look for more updates!!
MAMA BABY HAITImidwiferyhaitimamababyhaitisuppliesbirthbirthcenter
The Next Step
Things are getting serious! Things are getting busy! Things are getting real! I am truly in awe of where I stand now. I have enrolled in the National College of Midwifery and hitting the books. Many of my classes from my business degree transferred and the clinical work I have accomplished has transferred. This is a new terrain on the path and I am moving cautiously. Perhaps more alert. I could not have reached this place in my journey without all the support from my clients. Through them God has truly blessed. The funds were available to step forward and the uplifting encouragement each one of you shared gave me the courage to move ahead.
The midwives that have encouraged and taught me along the way help to motivate me to continue. I am truly inspired by other midwives who want to see more women become midwives and keep the profession alive and thriving. Each nugget of growth a midwife gives to me I will take it with me in my journey and one day pass it along to another future midwife.
I have often spoken of and even posted of the hope to go to Haiti and serve and learn. I am still looking toward that possibility if it be God’s will. Hopefully soon! Donations of medical supplies accepted! Specifically looking for medical books in French. I really hope my next post is my experience in Haiti!
Me and the Midwest
I have turned the curve where the winding down begins. But there is still so much to do! Today leaves a feeling of accomplishment as my training and certification in the ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics) came to an end with a group of Labor and Delivery nurses and Family Practice doctors with OB specialty including cesarean deliveries. There are six more births on the books and some skills signed off completed.
Experience has been profound. I have fallen in love with the sweet Amish. They really crack me up! Such sweet humor yet all as different as we are from each other. I am always leaving with a smile, even when we would tend to think there is nothing to smile about. There is heartache too as unfavorable pregnancy/birth outcomes has no respect of demographics or culture. But I see it all as God’s preparation for my life and the journey ahead.
Truthfully, it gets scary and I have thoughts that this is too much for me but then I am reminded: it is not of me.
I am invigorated with how much I have been able to learn and accomplish and how much there is still to come. I covet prayers that it remains ingrained in my mind and easy to recollect when the time comes.
Wisconsin
It is very exciting to be moving forward. Even more exciting to move forward with an adventure!
Midwives I have met previously had suggested a wonderful student Facebook group. I finally joined which led to a few other groups. I have really enjoyed learning and reading about birth and experience across the globe. The ‘real deal’ is so much more thought provoking than a biased article. These groups on occasion offer student positions. I have several factors affecting my ability to attend as a student including length of time away, time of year away, commitment to home clients, cost and what God says. I answered a few posts with all those factors leaving things in God’s hands knowing peacefully that if He so desired I should go, a door would open.
It did.
A midwife in Wisconsin was also prayerfully considering a student. As time passes I see where God was at work and I was unaware. I love that! This midwife in Wisconsin and I communicated via text and video chat and agreed for me to come during a particular busy time. While I am still in the United States, I am also serving a particular demographic where birth is slightly different. I love this! More experience! More vision! More knowledge to take where God sends.
So, today I have been in Wisconsin for one week. And what a week! A whirlwind of daily life that is different than my daily homeschool of two boys for sure. The area is very different than East TN with 1000′s of acres of rolling hills of corn and soybean and other agriculture. Yet somehow, in this vast open land, there are 100′s of babies being born. This week consisted of one full day meeting a panel of caregivers and health professionals conversing with them on best practices and communication, a FULL day of prenatals and postpartum visits driving to each home, visiting the capital and sitting in on an ultrasound, a birth in the wee hours and one full day horseback riding through the woods, pastures and over creeks. Yes, I have body parts that are sore I was unaware could get sore.
So far, I am loving being challenged. I covet prayers over me that will allow me to be adept to the tasks at hand. I have gotten comfortable in what I do know and it is time to step out of comfort and move on remembering fear is not of the Lord.
Observation Across America
I wanted to chronicle all the places I saw God at work. I am sad to say I did not get them all written down. It unnerves me to no be able to remember all the ways in which God has blessed but whether I can write them all down or not makes zero difference for all the blessings He allows that I do not see and will not be aware of until I am with Him in eternity. Hallelujah!
I am reminded that every person in the Bible God called to work had a struggle. Even in following God’s command they had struggle but in the end He was glorified. That is the goal. This trip to Utah all fell into place providentially. All the schedules coincided perfectly and I am thankful. Jeremy was home, there was a break in births here, sweet mothers at CC stepped in to cover my class and more! I did not contact the birth center until I completed my NRP and CPR certification and at last minute they had an opening for the month just for birth assistant, the level I needed to complete.
As the trip was planned people stepped in willing to host me along my trip across the country, one the day I left! I had initially looked at Airbnb.com but it turned to be that those that opened their homes were EXACT stops along my route. One family was the pastor of a church that had two boys the same age as mine that also do CC. Only God. It was an amazing experience meeting some for the first time and reconnecting with others I met last year at a midwife workshop.
So many were praying for me and I felt the prayers. I remembered the Scripture God gave me any time I had fear creep in;
Exodus 33:14 “And He said, My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest”.
I had no issues there or back with my vehicle, only my phone. Interestingly, God turned that into a situation for His glory I won’t go into here but just to mention when neither phone in my possession had cell activation, one continued working with GPS getting me to my final destination. Just wow.
The past year I had been abundantly blessed with more clients that I anticipated and larger donations than I ever dreamed of. I am humbled to say the least and can not express thanks enough to these wonderful women. I had one person give me her scrubs from when she worked Labor and Delivery. I had enough to wear a new set each day. That was a treat and fun, not to mention being comfortable all the time. Why don’t we just wear scrubs all the time?
All the births I attended went smoothly and working with the midwives went very well. I loved all the new people I met and the experience of birth in another place. God was present on several conversations. 😉
The boys flew by themselves from Nashville to Phoenix and I was so excited to see them walk off the plane. Other than a little tearful departure on the part of the youngest, he soon acclimated to the flight and we had a good time driving back across the US. We definitely created memories visiting the Grand Canyon, White Sands NM, stopping in El Paso TX for Lukas to fly a plane on his own, visiting Magnolia Farms in Waco TX, dropping in to visit with Michelle Duggar and a few of her littles, and finally digging for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds AR before entering TN again.
This journey will always be a part of my path to midwifery and I hope to return again in the winter if the Lord wills. This trip allowed me to complete 2/3 of Phase 2 of 4 Phases required by NARM. Now I know I can fly and take a train to the birth center city and rent a car. Although me driving only took $150 total for gas and food since I did not have lodging fees.
Now, the most amazing thing that stands out to me are the billboards. In every state over and over I saw billboards with God’s words. Some were about the death of Christ, some said Jesus saves, some read about God’s love, some read ‘In the beginning GOD created’, and more. When I began to see there were so many over and over through each and every state I had a renewed feeling about God and America. There is a sense of sadness and hopelessness of the current political and social climate of our country but seeing these reminded me nothing is impossible for God. I am glad I felt His presence and saw His love for this country.
Thank you so much for everyone who had a hand in guiding me on this journey.
thankfulnessmidwiferynarmdoulacrosscountrybillboardsdonationtravelmemories
What’s been going on?
I can not believe 3 weeks have passed. I feel like I have only been here one week. That is the feeling when you are doing what you love. I sincerely wish everyone on the planet could make a living doing what they love. It is so fulfilling.
These 3 weeks have been filled with 10 births and more than 20 postparturm visits and more than 30 prenatal visits. For my clinicals I have gotten to count 8 births and will complete the prenatals and postpartum requirements for this phase of training. My intent is to return and complete this phase and move on to the next phase toward CPM qualifications. Yes! Return to Utah!
I had the expectation that I would also have more ‘time’ to do other hobbies like running, focus on healthy eating and exercise, study, read, catch up on birth documentation, rest, etc. I have come to learn no matter how far we are from home, it follows. I’ve still had to maintain peace in the home between siblings, do taxes, pay bills, and other responsibilities. Although ‘time’ has allowed for the other hobbies, I have chosen to do what I do at home; eat unhealthy and lose myself in a movie. This was disheartening at first but I realized that is how I ‘check-out’, relax, step back from the stresses. I would like for it not to be, but it is. I have enjoyed not having to be somewhere at a certain time through the week; baseball games, AWANA, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. I REALLY AM NOT looking forward to those things when I return home. I AM looking forward to a renewed interest in the direction of our homeschool, gardening, opening the pool and ENJOYING my children. My prayer is I do not allow the extracurriculars to get in the way of that.
I have been so pleased with this program and their eagerness to let students learn, teach and provide opportunity. With only one week left I look forward to every visit, every birth God allows this week and seeing old faces that will arrive later! I met some midwives last year when I attended The Farm workshop and they are coming to this program for the month of April. Then, THEN I will be driving to my heaven on Earth, Phoenix….I just can’t even allow myself to think about it because I can’t contain the excitement!blessedmidwivesbirthingyourwayutahphoenixfamilybirthbabiescpm
Arrival!
I took a leisurely stroll across the country stopping in Columbia, MO with a midwife I met last summer, Kearney, NE and Fort Collins, CO. Classical Conversation friends spoke with a church member from NE who set me up with a pastor in NE. Turns out they had two boys same age as mine and homeschool doing Classical Conversations too! Made me sad to think we won’t be a part of it next year. Friends from our former church has family in Fort Collins and they arranged a stay there. God was with me! I am amazed and enjoyed each family!
Departing CO, I spent the day driving across Wyoming. My iPhone went black although Siri kept talking to me. I stopped at McDonald’s for Wifi but no plug in for my laptop. I found a public library but it didn’t open until 1pm and I had another 30 minutes. Plug in outside. I began the steps of activating a another phone I had with me. Finishing 2 hours later, neither phone working, I got back on the road. I remembered fear is not of God and the Word God gave me:
Exodus 33:14 “And He said, My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest”.
Although after dark because of all the Wifi stops checking in, I arrived Saturday night at the birth center in Utah. It was hard to get hold of someone without a phone but communication was managed and I got my things in and slept well!
Sunday was spent trying to find a Sprint store open, (not a lot open on Sunday here although the area is over 2 million people) I finally got my iPhone working again and had a restful day grocery shopping and getting acclimated. It is awe inspiring to see such evidence of God’s greatness walking out of Wal-Mart’s front doors and BAM! a towering mountain right in front of you reaching the clouds. I can go outside and turn 360 degrees and sort of feel I am in a huge crater surrounded by mountains that reach above the clouds. I am a little sad I will be on call 24/7 and can’t go exploring especially since cell phone range is spotty and being a large metropolis it takes a while to get a few miles.
Monday, just before my meeting with the director, I was called to open and set up the birth center! A mom was on her way in fast labor! Now, that’s the way to be broke in! It couldn’t have been a more perfect day. First, any day labor and delivery is nice but all the staff and midwives are AWESOME! They are really about teaching!! I love it! The other students were so helpful making me feel welcome and included. I. am. so. thankful.
I am scheduled for prenatals today and although I am still on Eastern time, I am up early for even there. I am looking forward to my day of learning!thankfulstudent midwifepreceptormidwife teacherbirth center
God’s on the move!
Last summer I was fortunate enough by way of donations to go to The Farm midwifery workshops. Since then I have been searching to find where God would have me go next and waiting patiently; sort of.
I came across a birthing center that graciously hosts midwife student and teaches and credits toward midwifery credentials. There were a few requirements I needed to meet and having completed those this month I called and inquired on a long-shot that last minute they would have an opening for a student for the month of March. They did.
I got my application and further requirements met including payment by way of donations for doula services in 2015. Within 48 hours it was confirmed I am driving to Utah to work solely on births for solid month!
I am extremely excited for this experience and once again amazed and in awe of God’s provision and hand laying out this road I am following. Even the little things. This morning He provided Scripture that highlights quest:
Exodus 33:14 “And He said, My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest”.
Planning the drive and stops, packing, getting all my responsibilities covered, and feeling inspired I feel I am in my 20′s again onto my next adventure. But this time around, my focus and thanks is where it should be. I am so very thankful! I mentioned going to The Farm last summer because in my plans I have found two of the midwives I met there will also be in Utah and another has offered me a bed on one leg of my trip! See what God does?!?
I will journaling updates here so if you want to know how it is going, check back the first week of March!midwifestudent midwifebirth centerthankfulnessGod’s plansbirthingyourwayutah boundbirthingapprenticeship learning
Where I hope to go next
Click link to find out more.
First-hand Report by Yuleisy
On our last day in the Dominican serving at Altagracia, we all had different ways of departing. Some of us stayed with the laboring women, some of us spent more time with the babies, some of us spent time on other levels of the hospital visiting with moms, nurses and giving out goodies. Between it all we gathered items, handed out items, traded contact information, and over all tied up loose ends.
Walking to and from, we spotted in the general waiting area a new mom alone with her new baby. One of us approached her with a baby pack to take home. We discovered she spoke English very well. I was very excited about this and paused to ask her more questions. They were answered with heartbreaking truth.
Yuleisy is nineteen. She was raised eighteen of those years in the United States. Let that sink in for a moment. Imagine, knowing what you experience here. Hospitals with individual air-conditioned rooms. Options for labor and pain relief given to you. Imagine now not having any of that and not knowing what to expect in its place. This young mother was thrown into the unknown (motherhood) and more unknown (third world living). My heart weeps thinking of what these women endure, but to think of one young girl accustomed to our luxuries and having never experienced anything less being thrust into such an environment is worse!
My suspicions were conclusive as she told us her story. She laid in the last bed behind a partition crying on her cell phone to her mother to please pay for the clinic birth. She begged her sister to come and get her. She was so scared. She was all alone. All I can think about is WHERE WERE WE??!! She was there Monday evening, so were we. Why didn’t one of us see her? Why didn’t I go over to her? How did we miss this perfect opportunity to help without a language barrier?
Her story continues and she is marked for a cesarean due to meconium. She is very fluent in Spanish but being scared, naked, cold and shouted at in the operating room, she could not understand some of the words and dialect she was being commanded. This made the doctors agitated and caused them to shout more. In turn, she was more terrified.
She made it through, however. We found her sitting, rocking her baby and full of breastfeeding questions. Thankfully we could help then. We answered all of her questions but I know it will be hard for her to remember all that we said. She was in a lot of pain too. See, it was less than 48 hours after her c-section and she was waiting for her ride home. She was to go home where she lives alone.
I don’t know the details of her story; why she was in the Dominican or why she lived alone. I don’t know why the Lord allowed her to go through that alone when we were there. I know although it makes me sad, I trust in my Lord for His all-knowing goodness and grace.
If you have a moment. Pray for Yuleisy and her baby boy, Jencarlos. Her sister and uncle who came to pick her up are pictured here with them.
Empuje! Empuje! Empuje!
Empuje means push. We have pushed through a lot this week. Sunday was the day set aside to take donations to a local village and worship with them. This is always more of a blessing to the giver than the village. It was so hard to hold back the joyous tears. They sang and danced and we played with kids. We visited a few locals and I even used the latrine. (pics of a latrine below.)
After the village we were treated to some time on the beach at a nearby villa. THAT was nice! It was an overcast day so not too hot and we enjoyed walking and collecting shells then eating some traditional food prepared by chefs. It was a beautiful day.
My shift has changed this week to the afternoon 2-10 so we have spent the morning shopping locally. I wish we could negotiate with Wal-Mart in the States the way we negotiate here! I really would enjoy the time to do all the touristy museums and things but I want to be with the moms more.
We had a mock scenario skills class before one of our shifts. A wonderful midwife specializing in disaster relief threw out some worse-case topics and we walked through them which included shoulder dystocia (shoulders of baby getting stuck) and having to go in after the placenta.
BOTH things happened to me today in separate births. It has really been amazing. I had a 4 handed catch yesterday, and my own today until the dystocia and a doctor stepped in to pull on the baby while I went in after the shoulder. (Yes they do things much different here but you have to work with it) They forcefully deliver the placenta and as I was doing so I felt it tear. They weren’t convinced until I followed the cord up to feel for sure it was separating from the placenta. It was, so the doctor went in to sweep it out.
Then I sutured! The mom had a small tear so a wonderful doctor that I want to put in my pocket and bring home guided my hands during suture and let me solo some stitches.
I know some of you reading this are wishing you weren’t. Sorry, I feel like I am telling my story to other midwives 🙂
There were some great coaches today and the other team members got deliveries too. There are things I am getting to experience here that I would otherwise never get to in the States. Some wonderful things and sad things. I have seen several dead babies born, one already born full term and beautiful but just would not live, and many preemies; some making it and some not. I am thankful for all the experience as I know it is preparing me for what God has laid for the future and I LOVE IT.
Friends! And our clown bus.
Katrina-delivered on bed. Worked hard with mom to bring baby down and about had before getting back to bed.
4 handed catch
Village Day
Latrine
Medieval And Modern Day Time Travel
My son has to write a creative writing paper on a medieval person time traveling to the modern day. He must describe things in the verbiage of the medieval tongue. I feel I am living this experience in reverse. Well almost.
Only going by what I have read and what that generation has told me, I feel like I may be witnessing what birth in the US was like 50 years ago. First I want all readers to understand it has taken me days to decide on how to best relay this information. I in no way want to bring detriment on the people or the country for in no way are they responsible for this trickle of inhumane treatment. Although, suffice it to say, thankfully there are some in the system that go as far as to allow their common sense to know it is wrong. However, they are stumped to find a way to stop it. This is why we are here.
I wrote before how strong the feel of God’s clearly laid path is and His Spirit’s leading. Just today some others were sharing the very same things of their path and it seems as if puzzle pieces are all fitting together. It really is amazing. God is amazing.
I will share some ugliness but please know their is such sweetness in all of this too. With Gods hand on things, how could there not be? Dr. Franklin is one of those great things. He speaks GREAT English so he answers so many questions for us. He is a first year resident. He has a lot of family in the States so we talk of the differences of how things are for doctors, not really procedure. He is so kind in nature and generous of his time although things are hustle and bustle 24/7.
Sidenote: I feel such urgency in getting a Spanish program and learning it with my sons and speaking it at home all the time. I side note this because I was actually typing some things in Spanish! I have been praying my mind be open to understanding and a few times I have actually had to think of what I’m trying to say in English! I love it! Jeremy is going to hate it. I just feel we are hindering our own selves by not learning a second language fluently. I basically know intro to Spanish and that little bit has been handy at times! For instance, the nurses are denoted by the color in their hat. I understood as she spoke of the different colors. It felt nice.
Back to birth. Fifty years ago in the US no one was allowed to go in with the mom to labor or deliver.
Same here.
Moms were poked and prodded in inhumane ways we would now not allow our animals to be treated.
Same here.
Moms were to give birth laying flat on their backs which is the narrowest way for a baby to come through the pelvis.
Same here but in the US there was twilight sleep. Here, there are no pain meds. Hear that American women? No epidurals!
Babies were taken naked down the hall to an over crowded nursery and do not see their mom for hours.
Same here. In fact, I haven’t figured out how long they are apart as my shift ends before I ever see them get to hold their baby for the first time.
Other attributes are no one looks at these moms in their eyes. They are laying on a bed with groups of 5-9 doctors every few hours doing rounds talking about them as if they are objects, not people laying there. The doctors do not leave and go down the hall to the next room. They are there all day because there is only one room. ONE ROOM no matter how many moms come in, there are 16 beds. Moms must share that bed with another mom who has just passed her stool and is moaning and rolling around in her other bodily fluids too. The moms must not forget to bring a change of clothes, their own pads, their own diapers and clothes for their baby, even their own towel. But hey, you can share the community bar of soap in your cold water bathing. (See bathroom picture below)
I honestly do not yet feel comfortable writing of the brutality these women endure. Maybe I should reference time travel to the Barbarian period but I seriously doubt the Barbarians did this to their women in labor and birth.
Probably because they had midwives.
Again, to reiterate it is not the fault of the doctors, nurses or workers. It is a fault of a system that has somehow lost the ability of upgrading to modern times along with the rest of its culture. Part of my heart can’t help but blame the US in passing down these ‘upgrades’ of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s but there has to be some responsibility on the part of the native country for always thinking the US always does it best thus copying without question. Think about this the next time you want to run out and get that flu shot or new vaccine or new diet food or drink or the next time you must vote on a seemingly wonderful education reform, tax reform or welfare reform.
The ability of learning is there for this hospital and country, the technology is available but a break in the cycle just isn’t visible. PLEASE NOTE that I am referring to a public hospital that gives free or low cost care. There are private hospitals with modern conveniences but I can not say just how modern as I have not witnessed but would love to. I can say breaking the circle at this hospital is why we are here and if it works, it will spread.
In the midst of more than three dead babies the last two days there has been happiness. Three of us got our first catches. Talk about in the midst, I stood by a mom who knew she was delivering a stillborn child, her first baby too. After her delivery with a four inch episiotomy, she got off the stirrup table holding her IV, catheter and wearing the dress she labored and delivered in and WALKED across the hall without a pad. My friend and I helped her wash off. She did not have a change of clothes and her shoes where not worth wearing. Using some of the supplies many of you graciously supplied, we took care of her. Taking her to her bed to share with another mom, the mom I delivered yesterday was in the next bed! I got to take pictures to remember them forever! I call her Lelani and she has not yet named her daughter.
I can not express how great if feels to serve.
There are times we feel as if we are crowding into the doctors and nurses space. Tension is there that we are taking over. Then I am reminded how Satan will seek to destroy. There have been relationships established and we have even witnessed some changes in the students and residents. They are astonished to see a birth without fundal pressure. They can not believe a first time mom can deliver without an episiotomy.
There is so much to share and I realize this is so very long and an overload of information. Understand I share this not to condemn, but to bring attention to the dire situation. Seeds are being planted. Education is being discussed in the form of doula-midwife schools. Moms feel the difference and pass it along to their friends. And best yet we got to visit with almost 30 pregnant ladies in a small church in the middle of the Capital. In the very short time we had we discussed basic nutrition, labor positions, breastfeeding tips and postpartum advice. It was pleasing to see how responsive they were and awing to see they were unaware of some basics. We took open floor questions and they asked about water births! Yay! But first things first.
This is why we are here.
Beautiful English speaking mom I just connected with. 5th year students going bed to bed. Here they are being taught verbally how to strip membranes, which is a whole different meaning here.
Just thought baby all sprawled was prettiest baby. Picture of a preemie and then other baby on oxygen was delivered torturously and resuscitated for 30 minutes.
Beautiful baby I delivered.
Independence
Today was Independence Day so there was no work for us. Our leaders treated us to a day at the yacht club. I have raccoon eyes now. The nurses will now really be laughing. We walked the tourist district this evening and watched the preparation for celebration. We expect celebration outside our hotel all night. We have a 6 AM shift in the morning. I can’t wait! I’m off to wash my laundry in the sink and try to get some sleep.
Adios!
Independence Day walk
Yacht Club
NEXT!
It was a factory job today. The other team came away from the hospital I was in today with news of 3 moms to a bed and births everywhere. Being our turn today, we had two. Vaginal that is.
Looking in the birth record there were 25 yesterday. We arrived at 10:40AM and got our bearings. We doulaed some moms and worked with one getting her to squat beside the bed. Just when she was pushing they checked her chart to see how long she had been there. Since it was past 8 hours, she was sent for a c-section.
NEXT!
It was a very slow day for this hospital. 16 moms all laying flat on their back with IV’s. All dehydrated. All anemic. Then came the blue gowns. They handed every woman but 3 a blue gown. Getting a blue gown means you were getting a c-section. Two of the women that didn’t get a gown were preeclamptic so I’m not sure why they didn’t get one. One was so pitifully swollen and as the hours passed I thought she just might pop. Her legs were balloons.
NEXT!
Giving that many women a c-section means a backed up surgery, thankfully allowing some moms to deliver naturally which was the case for the only one we had to this point.
Two others attended their mom to c-sections and there happened to be one more vaginal birth that was rushed with a double episiotomy. Double.
Episiotomies, c-sections for slow labors, c-sections for meconium, fundal pressure and more emergency procedures performed on EVERY laboring mom has been the norm here all day, every day. The directors want change and are at least seeking a way to make change happen but it will be a slow process.
To allow moms to labor when there are no beds or delivery rooms or anything is just impossible. There is no room or enough staff. To hurry things, when admitted and labor is established, it is standard to break the water of every mom seemingly regardless of station. So the cycle continues. Failure to progress is mostly because these moms-scratch that-these 14-19 year old babies are scared! Remember, no family is allowed to be with them. They are all alone.
NEXT!
9:00PM it’s time for the next mom even though the bed has not been cleaned!
These are horrific details yet what I see is an endless cycle. I have seen well over 50 doctors making rounds and this is what they learn is the norm. It isn’t their fault. There is no room for anything different because of the volume of births and the moms don’t even know there is a better way.
Lots to pray for. You choose something specific for me, won’t you?
PS-I chuckle at the thought of the reaction of most American women walking in to give birth and having to labor naturally WHILE sharing a bed with two other strangers all exposed and body fluids everywhere.
Blessing moms with handmade blankets.
Cutting Through The Layers
I knew I would be encountering emotions and I have diligently prayed for God to help me recognize them and deal with each one accordingly. As always, he is faithful but I must turned to Him with every encounter.
The first layer is perception. We were very well received yesterday and given information to expect several things today that did not come to fruition nor were the people there that gave the information. Their subordinates so graciously stepped up and did a supreme job of exhibiting patience as we did not have a formal translator but a homeschool mom stepped in and did fabulous! They showed us many things then allowed us to stay in labor and delivery.
This is a lower volume hospital but there were more than 9 births through the hours we were there which after touring was only about 4 hours. The next layer is digesting that some ‘moms’ are not even teenagers. Recently a 13 year old birthed triplets. When asked what she would like to have, her answer was a doll.
Chew on that. Next layer, the age is the norm.
Layers upon layers. Haitians are fleeing their country but not welcomed in the DR so treated meanly. No one is able to accompany these or any moms to to labor. Today a little 14 year old in her pink PJ’s with her Hello Kitty pink bag lay crying alone on the bed through contractions. All we could do was rub her and comfort her through touch. I bring the emotion of aggravation caused by lack of language before the Lord. I desired so badly to communicate Gods love to her and ways to cope with the pain.
I met Haitian Rosa Marie. She never showed signs of pain. Ever. Her baby presented breech so she was assigned a C-section. I got to go with her. Major surgery with open doors and people walking in and out was second nature to everyone. I watched them slice several times for the first layer. Several times again for the next and the next and the next and the next. Yes. That many.
This tiny mom was tugged and pushed until her 37 week old baby boy that was thought to be 33 weeks arrived calm as a cucumber with a sure APGAR of 9. He was suctioned and taken away. I videoed him being rubbed and checked so I could play it for Rosa Maria who smiled and smiled as she laid crucifix style on the table with the Betadine from prep seeping up to her hair and pooling around the plastic she lay on.
They stitched two layers. Then I thought they found an issue on her layer of muscle and had to tie it off. Once they cut the tip off and showed it too her with glee I was confused. They then searched her other side to do the same thing and it dawned on me it was her Fallopian Tubes. She was now sterile with her blood pressure falling fast. They stitched back three more layers as her blood pressure came back up from the fifth medicine I had seen her injected with for the day. I stayed and held her hand through the hold in recovery period. Now 1.5 hrs since the birth and she has yet to see her baby. She was moved and I had to say bye. Another emotion to hand over to The Lord. This is how He replied:
Forty minutes later after eating fabulous roasted chicken and yucca with sweet onion we are preparing to leave and hastily hand out baby/mom packs to moms on a different floor and side of the hospital. Walking into a 4 cot room I see Rosa Marie! She is still without her baby and laying in fluids but I got to see her again! Such a blessing to hand her a baby pack and love on her while she shared her beautiful smile. Thank you Lord. I will wonder of her but I can pray for her. Will you?
Later, we hear of the other teams’ 12 hour intense day at the other hospital. I shall save those layers for tomorrow when my team travels there.
Instead of button to call elevator, you knocked loudly for it to echo down the hole and little old elevator operator man brings it up. While waiting we are escorted by military guard complete with gun. Oh, while riding elevator, it is without a door as you whizz pass broken concrete and see others standing on other floors.
Most all births are premature. Thankfully they have their very own Kangaroo care program and room! We need this in the states! Babies can only stop Kangaroo care once they reach 6lbs. This is a twin! So many twins!
Universal Language
Today was a day filled with tour and travel but not what you are thinking. We were invited to meet the directors of two hospitals. A long drive and no food in between. So thankful it isn’t that hot here yet. It is perfect weather. Sunny and beautiful with a perfect breeze. This is the climate I was meant to live in, ahem, husband are you reading?
After a brief breakfast on the terrace we risked life and limb in Santo Domingo traffic. Americans who have never traveled outside the states just have no clue. Natives ignore road lanes, lights and other laws (if there are any) and cut in front of and around making their own lanes. Everyone speaks with their horn which could mean ‘hello’ or ‘stop cutting’ or ‘look out!’ Being able to reach my hand out the window and hug the person in the car next to me is the norm. Sometimes there isn’t even an inch between vehicles and its all okay!
Arriving at Alta Gracia we were greeted with such a welcoming committee. Some prominent people of the area and the Director discussed the future of doulas and midwife in the Dominican. I’m still not convinced that the difference in a midwife and doula are realized in the Spanish language but it was clear that they all know that there has been 100% vaginal deliveries when moms are accompanied by a doula. Let me repeat that: ONE HUNDRED PERCENT VAGINAL BIRTHS WITH DOULA! This coming from a hospital with 50% C-section although it is a high risk hospital so their C-section rate will be higher. The country has a 6% breastfeeding rate according to the Director but I understand formula feeding is a status symbol. They have formula billboards in the city promoting different brands. Officials are trying to promote breastfeeding as a better alternative. There is information available and a beautiful statue outside one hospital. It will be a slow change to get them to understand it is better. During our meeting, there was discussion of beginning a Midwife school with a CNM. A positive start!
After our tours and walking through NICU’s with many twins, HIV babies and one momma singing to her baby we headed to the mall to eat, exchange money and buy groceries. That was an event to see eggs sold unrefrigerated and milk in a box. They even sold some type of speckled egg not much bigger than a robin’s egg per dozen. It was a taste of home too as I saw Food Club and Value Time brand on every aisle! The produce section was heaven! Of course, we can walk down the street and buy produce anywhere.
Even beyond the crowds, trash, torn down buildings and crumbling areas it is beautiful. The people are beautiful with their anything goes attitude. The climate and palm trees are instant medicine. I have rested now from a tiring day and looks like we are to begin sorting all the supplies, thousands of them. We have shifts tomorrow with a team at each hospital. There seems to be an understanding of it all even with the language barrier. I have been assured of this as well from seasoned midwives that the universal language of birth will make no mind of the lack of a common speech. Off to rest for the big work coming tomorrow!! Prayers please!!
They put twins together due to lack of beds. Yay!!!! That’s helpful!!!
Breast milk pumping lounge and a beautiful statue.
These are bags filled with all your gifts for moms and babies. Outfits, diapers, shampoos, lotions and more. These are just a few!
Mom singing to her baby in the NICU
Departure-Look What God Has Done Already!
I’ve been so unbelievably blessed with so many medical and baby supplies. So much so, that the two bags allowed were overweight without packing all of the supplies. I continued to receive more supplies and it is all so important it was hard to choose what to take. I left a box of sutures out only to get an email a day later they are in need of sutures!
Many of you donated financially with instructions to use where needed. My husband and I discussed this and decided since The Lord provided thousands of dollars in medical supplies at no cost then $135 was a small amount to pay for a third bag. We packed it all!!
Even so, one bag was a pound over and another was three. The baggage check-in let it slide! I got on board complete with a rubber spider in my shoe one of my boys blessed me with. Even after removing my shoes for security check, I only discovered the spider boarding the plane. Heart attack #1.
I must say I really physically feel the prayers and it feels AMAZING!!!! Please continue to pray. Today I specifically ask for safety arriving in DR as taxi’s are dangerous and pickup is somewhat uncertain. Also, three large bags, two carry-ons and a walker all over 200lbs are hard to manage.
Take off time!! God has laid a path and I will follow!!
Doula By Donation 