Special Delivery in Borgne Maternal and Infant Projects by Kathy DeMott
In a country where infant and maternal mortality is the worst in the Western Hemisphere, we are intensifying our efforts to address these serious health issues in the community of Borgne. Through personal observation and formal interviews we continue to gather information from local women, traditional midwives and trained medical providers about birth practices and outcomes. We have identified five local data collectors who are recording information on infant and maternal mortality as well as newborn size. Two of these women are located in the village of Borgne and three live in outlying rural communities. Through their work we hope to verify birth outcomes and assess for prematurity. This summer we fulfilled our promise to provide training classes for the traditional birth attendants of the Borgne region. Nine lay midwives joined us, many walking from great distances to attend. We discussed fetal growth and taught the "three cleans" – clean hands, clean surface for delivery and clean cord cutting. We demonstrated techniques and listened as women told us that supplies of clean water, soap and Clorox are in short supply. We held a second class focused on "problems in pregnancy" and discussed management of difficulties, which can occur before, during and after delivery. We demonstrated simple neonatal resuscitation techniques during this lesson. At the conclusion of the training, each midwife received a bag of supplies and a new apron. As we donned our aprons for a "graduation picture" we reinforced our sisterhood in the practice of midwifery and took another step toward a healthier future of the women and children of Borgne. Through personal observation and formal interviews we continue to gather information from local women, traditional midwives and trained medical providers about birth practices and outcomes. We have identified five local data collectors who are recording information on infant and maternal mortality as well as newborn size. Two of these women are located in the village of Borgne and three live in outlying rural communities. Through their work we hope to verify birth outcomes and assess for prematurity. This summer we fulfilled our promise to provide training classes for the traditional birth attendants of the Borgne region. Nine lay midwives joined us, many walking from great distances to attend. We discussed fetal growth and taught the "three cleans" – clean hands, clean surface for delivery and clean cord cutting. We demonstrated techniques and listened as women told us that supplies of clean water, soap and Clorox are in short supply. We held a second class focused on "problems in pregnancy" and discussed management of difficulties, which can occur before, during and after delivery. We demonstrated simple neonatal resuscitation techniques during this lesson. At the conclusion of the training, each midwife received a bag of supplies and a new apron. As we donned our aprons for a "graduation picture" we reinforced our sisterhood in the practice of midwifery and took another step toward a healthier future of the women and children of Borgne Kathy DeMott |
It was our second day in Borgne. The midwife
arrived on our doorstep with an invitation. "Come quickly, we can see the baby’s
head…" All afternoon the young mother labored. We moved in and out of the circle
of women who supported and cajoled her through the birth of her first child. Finally,
after a prolonged labor and a transfer from home to hospital, little James was born (see
photo), named for the American priest who brought H.O.P.E. to the people of Borgne.