Wednesday, February 22, 2017

More than one right way


When I perform a delivery, I employ certain ingrained maneuvers that result in the baby lying along my left arm cradled against my side. Similar to how a running back holds a football. It keeps my right hand free for other things and provides a stable platform for the newborn.

That is not how it’s done here! Here there are no gowns to cover ones arms and clothes. And yes, those babies are messy and slippery when they’re born. Gowns are not really an option. Paper ones would be too expensive, and disposing of them would be a problem. Cloth gowns aren’t feasible as nearly everything is washed by hand. Here the midwife wears a standard pair of gloves and a long rubber apron over her pristine white dress. The maneuvers she uses result in the newborn hanging upside down by its feet, clear of her body and the apron. When the cord is clamped and cut a second nurse takes the baby to a nearby sink to wash and dress it. No one gets messy and no one gets dropped! Just another example of adapting to the circumstances and getting by with less.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Carol, my first instinct after reading your post was to research biodegradable surgical gowns, compostable surgical gowns. Find out how to raise funds in order to provide the hospital with paper gowns. The truth is that their, now your, system works. The old adage came to mind, "You don't miss what you don't have." Stay well. You're in our prayers. We look forward to your next post. - DeDe and Stuart

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  2. Fascinating tale of maneuvers, Carol. When I worked at the World Bank, the lead public health specialist was a Swedish doctor. She pointed out that the US is so unusual in the world at large in having so few midwives, especially when they can be so effective.
    The conditions of your hospital there remind me of an AIDS hospital I once visited in Ethiopia. Related question: Where do mothers in Douala go if they need PMTCT treatment?
    Be well. Looking forward to your next post.--Laura

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