Our busy days

Our busy days have been productive.  We have had a good turn out on all days. There is so much to teach and so small amount of time.  I am comforted to know that there will be lots of days ahead to review and go over and over the material for the ladies.

In all the excitement, there has been an interested undercurrent of despair with several of the ladies regarding the helpless tide of unnecessary c-sections here in Oaxaca and in all of Mexico.

Marked sorrow lines the face of one national women in particular.  She mourns the loss of a chance to birth normally.  The vertical uterine scar is often used here many times, so some women feel that they have been doubly cheated from a second chance at a vaginal birth.

In the states, the new trend is allowing at least a trial of labor and hopefully a VBAC.  The women here in Mexico feel like the doctors are not wanting to do anymore vaginal births.  They are using any excuse, made up or imagined, to coheres a woman in labor to consent to a surgical birth.  They are rough and unkind to the women.

So, the idea of kindness, hospitality at the birth center and gentle birth is very attractive.  They want to tell all their friends.  They all wish they could have their babies this way.  This is the way is used to be.

A woman physician who feels strongly about keeping the traditions of natural birth alive, is supporting Casa Compasiva and is working 2 days a week doing prenatals and then the births.  She is open to the midwife ways and learning the different philosophies behind creating a natural, empowering birth that is safe and positive.

Day 1 – This was into the second week of training that I arrived.  They were working on taking blood pressure skills when I walked into the room.  Within a ½ hour of arriving, I was teaching via an interpreter the different ways of midwives and the medical system.

Day 2 – Luggage arrives! Just in the absolute moment I needed my learning props.  The pelvis and doll helped me explain how a baby is born and the different positioning.  We also go though the different positions for birth, comfort measures and their job as a Doula.  I am getting very good at acting out birth scenes.

Day 3 – Prenatal skills.  We do a lot of role playing.  I am understanding about 1/3 of what is being spoken, so I can usually get the gist of the conversation. The sobering part of the day was teaching emergency skills with NNR and shock treatment.  There is nothing like talking about the scary side to make births sound just a little bit risky.