After the first few brutal births we were able to take over management of the births we attended! Woo hoo! The night watchman would walk the half block from the clinic to our house and shout into our windows in French that there was a birth and we'd all crawl out of our mosquito nets and into our scrubs.
The group of women that stuck it out to the end were amazing and we all worked really well together so most of the births went smoothly but not just on our account. Senegalese women are very stoic, usually have lots of kids...8 or 9 and they have enormous pelvises to boot. As they say, you could drive a truck through them. That said, some things are universal. Childbirth in Senegal is no walk in the park. Just like anywhere else in the world, every woman who believes in a God begs him for mercy in the throes of natural childbirth. It's like that.
The mothers we worked with were very sweet and we were touched at how they took to us despite the language barrier. They are so used to coming in to give birth without the support of family or friends, being hit, yelled at and treated poorly but just because they are used to it doesn't mean that they don't want and need the kindness and support any woman wants in labor. When we started doing massage and counter pressure they took to it immediately and we got to be part of some really nice births.
The group of women that stuck it out to the end were amazing and we all worked really well together so most of the births went smoothly but not just on our account. Senegalese women are very stoic, usually have lots of kids...8 or 9 and they have enormous pelvises to boot. As they say, you could drive a truck through them. That said, some things are universal. Childbirth in Senegal is no walk in the park. Just like anywhere else in the world, every woman who believes in a God begs him for mercy in the throes of natural childbirth. It's like that.
The mothers we worked with were very sweet and we were touched at how they took to us despite the language barrier. They are so used to coming in to give birth without the support of family or friends, being hit, yelled at and treated poorly but just because they are used to it doesn't mean that they don't want and need the kindness and support any woman wants in labor. When we started doing massage and counter pressure they took to it immediately and we got to be part of some really nice births.
Karly,
ReplyDeleteI'm reading this avidly! So in awe of your work and strength. And I love your writing.
Katharyne
xx
Give thanks for your patience and perserverence. I hope that the experience has changed you in positive ways and motivated you to further action. Great blog. Can I link it to our site? Kaya Skye, Executive Director of the African Birth Collective
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