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Not one, not two but three-Triplets born at MHI Uganda clinic

Alice arrived in the Eleventh hour. Literally, translated from the Acholi language, 5 am is called the Eleventh hour, with 6 am being the Twelfth and 7 am being the First hour; the first hour of light and a new day. She arrived in what she believed would be her Ninth and final labor. Having walked about 6 miles to reach help, she was ready to push shortly after arrival. Her body was tired, she had barely eaten the previous day, and was encouraged to drink sweet tea to give her energy for the push.


The baby's tiny head emerged, quickly followed by the rest of her, and yet the mountain of Alice’s belly still loomed before us, undiminished. As her body called her to push again, she believed the placenta would be born, yet instead, tiny feet made their appearance, then disappeared again to be replaced by another, tinier head. Then the second little girl was born, followed immediately by those persistent, delicate little feet that had tried to cut the line. And then there were three. Three tiny, beautiful little girls, instead of the last, single child that Alice had been expecting.


Needless to say it was a bit of a shock, to all involved. Earlier in the pregnancy, Alice's husband had divorced her, after bearing him 5 live children. He maintained that because he had used condoms with Alice when they had intimate relations, he had nothing to do with this new pregnancy, and sent her back to her fathers village with all of her children. She found herself suddenly single, now with 8 children all under the age of 12.


The first days were challenging, but the babies, named in Acholi tradition: Apiyo (first born), Acen (second born) and Adoch (born breech) were strong spirits, all able to latch and nurse well. Apiyo was 2 kg/ 4.4 lbs, Acen 1.8 kg/ 3.9 lbs, and tiny Adoch was only .9 kg/ 1.9 lbs. Alice was very despondent at first, overwhelmed with the reality before her. She was reluctant to hold them or nurse them, believing that at least one or more would surely die, afraid to love them. Her tired body refused to cooperate, and two, three, four days passed and still her milk failed to come in. We fed her, gave her teas, vitamins, homeopathics and loving support... yet still her milk did not come.


By the second day, the babies were crying in hunger, so we supplemented their milk, always having them first nurse for some time on Alice to continue stimulating her milk supply. The most difficult in the beginning was Adoch. She was so weak, it would take her five minutes of dripping milk into her mouth for her to gain enough strength to suck. By the third night of sleep deprivation, Alice asked me to take Adoch at night, and I was happy to, because I could see that as the weakest, unable to express her needs, she was wasting at night while the other two grew slowly stronger. And she thrived, sleeping on my chest at night and spending the day curled up with her sisters, by a week old she was starting to gain on them.


It took 6 long days for Alice's milk to come, but thankfully it did, as we knew it must. She was able to fully nurse Apiyo, but we had to continue helping her with Acen, who developed reflux, and needed to be fed small quantities in an upright position and then burped and held upright for 10 minutes after each frequent feeding. As for Adoch, more and more Alice asked that she remain with us midwives. She expressed her belief that she might be unable to care for all of her many children, collect firewood, cook, wash, find food for so many with three small babies. Who would carry the other two while she worked with one on her back? How would she manage while they were still so small and unable to be worn on the back? Several days later, her milk supply was still not adequate for three, not even quite enough for two, no matter how much we fed and hydrated her.


One afternoon, as I sat bathing the babies with her, Alice looked me in the eye, told me about her concerns and asked if I would like to have Adoch. I asked her if she was serious. She said she knew now that she could not take care of these babies alone. Could I, or someone else take one or even two of them?


With Adoch bound to my chest, and my own one-year-old daughter on my hip, I went to my co-midwife Rachel, to cry the pain in my heart because I knew I could not take this baby, yet I knew if I did not, she would surely die. And as she often does, Rachel inspired me... what if we could find an adoptive family? And as soon as we put the word out to the universe, a miracle was provided! 


Two weeks postpartum, a grateful and stronger Alice returned to her village with Apiyo, the first and strongest of the baby girls. Acen and Adoch grew steadily with us, and just a couple of days later met their new mother. Although the legal process in Uganda is lengthy, the new parents are committed to give their daughters the very best and are sticking with it through thick and thin.


At 2 1/2 months old, all the girls are now over 4 kg/ 8 1/2 lbs , healthy, strong and beautiful.
Olivia Kimball, Traditional Midwife
 

Happy Birthday Sankofa

When I was leaving my home in Hawai’i my family said, “we will see you on your birthday.” I had already seen that my birthday this year would be on a full moon, just as when I was born on a full moon 57 years again and so I answered, “no, there will be a baby born on my birthday and I will be there for her.” We have always in our family given to others on our birthdays, as the material gifts do not mean much in the bigger picture of life. The morning of my birthday as I was teaching a class before a morning full of prenatals, I noticed a young girl in a beautiful white dress with green, yellow and red colors at the top of her dress squirming as if she was having contractions. I was teaching about how important it was that the women claim their birth experience and understand what is happening to our bodies in birth. Mary Antoinette would soon have the women up doing primal dance moves that will move them and their babies through this primal experience we call birth. I watched this young mother tighten up her shoulders as another one of the Haitian apprentice midwives, Cason, gently massaged her shoulders. I explained the importance of allowing the baby to be born through our bodies and how relaxation allows the release of hormones and endorphins. I kept an eye on this young mother, now knowing that she was the reason why I stayed a couple days longer. Soon we were up doing our exercises and forming a circle of women that would learn our primal dance steps and gently massage each other’s shoulders as we moved in a circle one way, only to reverse the dancing circle and now massage the hips in front of you.

As the dancing was ending, I snuck away before prenatals started on the thirty plus women that showed up to go and connect with Betina, the young mother. We smiled, connected and said a few words as she was allowing her body to have contractions. Since she was in early labor, I worked the morning doing prenatals with the women. As the afternoon progressed and the women left, Mary Antoinette, the first translator and then apprentice at MHI, stayed with me with Betina. Her sister came and I was to find out that both of them were professional dancers in Ayiti (Haiti). Mary and I too are dancers so it was just normal for us all to dance, we could hear the drums in our heads and we would move our hips and bodies to the beat either bringing on the contractions or moving through them. Betina and her sweet baby were figuring out how to move with this birthing ceremony of life. Again it was a great honor to be there with the women doing a primal dance of life.

As night came onto us, Mary Antoinette being very pregnant, went to rest and take a nap. Betina’s mom and husband did the same. That just left Betina, her sweet baby and me to move together. I gave her a strong deep massage that loosened up all the muscles in the front and back of her pelvis and touched and talked to the baby while I was massaging. I massaged her through contractions and restful minutes, as labor was now getting more intense. This intensity is something as a midwife that I love, it not only brings the baby closer but it brings the woman to a powerful place that connects her to the greatest of all mother, the earth. It is a powerful energy that I am able to tap into as the mother now is well connected to her “work” and of course the work of her baby that connects her to a deep primal place. This hard work that we do for the earth and of course it comes back to us as women in our own personal growth.

Betina then got up after her massage and started moving in her dance, the African bird was opening her up, her baby was moving down through her pelvis and I was there to again witness and help. When the baby got low, she moved to the ground and curled up, I went and got two pillows, one for her head and one between her legs and laid down to hold her. Betina had chosen the ground, not a bed to birth and I knew and she knew just where to be. She was holding onto me tightly in a big hug and she looked and me so sweetly and said,” I love you Clare,” I did not even know she spoke English. I was so touched and honored to be part of love again. I called out to Mary Antoinette to come and catch her baby and to her mom who was also resting and to her supportive husband. Mary Antoinette gracefully supported the head and Betina as the baby come into the world, I was privileged to keep her in my arms breathing with her. Betina controlled her breath in a deep “aaaa” as her body opened up to let her baby come so peacefully to her. Again I was blessed to witness this ceremony of birth and the power of a young woman.

Later Betina and her husband asked Mary to interpret for them, they asked me if I would name their baby. I was shocked, as it is a big responsibility to name a baby, the name that they will hear and it will become who they are. At first, I was questioning whether I was ready to do this naming of a baby, but I heard my “motherwit” speak…say yes. I answered that I was honored but the name would be African,. it would go back to their ancestors just as she did when she birthed. They smiled and the next day, Mary Antoinette and I went to her home to give the baby her name. It came to me so strongly, Sankofa…the name of an African bird that means to go back and get it. It meant for me that Sankofa had come to her mom, allowed her to fill the power of that mighty African bird which Betina had become during her dance of birth. I explained this to the family when I came, and they all smiled, it was the name that they wanted. I was asked to be the godmother of my special birthday baby gift, Sankofa.

Father Love

Mary and proud Mamma & Papa of Sankofa

Clare & Sankofa's family

The Birth of Esther

Summer has arrived at MHI. It was only 7:00am and we were already feeling the intense heat of the sun as a woman arrived at the clinic in active labor. Though her contractions were strong she seemed grateful to finally be doing the necessary work. She’d spent the night in the dome a week ago thinking that it was her time only to have labor stop.

We settled her in the dome and began preparing for her birth. Sweat was pouring down all of our bodies, hers most of all as her contractions intensified. The mother asked if she could birth outside. It was a beautiful quiet Sunday morning. We rigged up some sheets to give her privacy. She was without family as her husband is a preacher and needed to be at church. We took turns massaging and encouraging her.

Before long the woman’s voice changed and we knew she would soon begin to push. Her membranes ruptured revealing copious dark meconium. Baby’s fetal heart tones were normal and since we could tell birth was imminent, we prepared the equipment to help the baby if needed. The woman really wanted to be sitting upright as she began to push so Melinda got behind her to hold her up. Soon Melinda needed support and she asked my daughter, who was working in the garden to lend us her back. Tara positioned herself with her back against Melinda’s and pushed against the concrete wall with her feet and hands.

As the baby’s head emerged, Kari, the student midwife and myself acted quickly to suction, unwrap the umbilical cord and get the baby up to her Mama’s waiting arms. The baby was slow to start but came around thanks to our combined skill. I felt all of us praying, each in her own spiritual way as we welcomed baby Esther. As she began to come into her own her little voice joined the chorus of distant voices singing in their morning worship service.

Women helping women birth their babies is as ancient as our existence. What a privilege it was to be a part of baby Esther’s arrival. She is another beautiful light in our world.

Kathi Mulder, CPM. Volunteer Midwife at MHI, Jacmel, Haiti

Help us meet Millennium Development Goal (MGD) #7

Mother Health International is making every effort to reduce our waste and move away from using disposable products at our birth clinic. We are no longer using disposable diapers, moon pads and Chux pads.
Help us meet Millennium Development Goal  #7
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Mother Health International has created health protocols to provide a safe, clean and sanitized place for mothers to birth their babies. We have also incorporated into our protocols cord-burning to greatly reduce the risk of infection. Our clinic is based a traditional model of the midwifery model of care, which tends to use less medical interventions, also uses and generates less toxic medical wastes. Efforts to utilize local nutritional and botanical medicinal resources also enhance sustainability. Mother Health International has eliminated the use of as many disposable products as possible to reduce the amount of waste our birth clinic creates.
In order to help us meet this goal we are asking for donations of cloth diapers, reusable moon pads and cotton mattress pads to name a few of the products. To help us succeed in this effort we have created an Amazon Wish List to make purchases of these items which will be hand carried to Haiti by our fabulous volunteers. Thank you in advance for supporting these efforts.

Happy 1st Birthday Mother Health International

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

To the Mother Health International Community:

With a tremendous amount of hard work, generous financial contributions from those individuals and organizations who believe in the MHI model of care, a lot of love, kindness, and a strong desire to preserve the sacredness of birth and offer a safe place for Haitian women to birth, the MHI birth clinic was officially born a year ago today.  
Happy 1st Birthday Mother Health International! 

"We're building a new generation in Haiti, starting in Jacmel, where love is in the middle of the MHI team and all the women that we've been taken care of. Our Haitian women are very courageous and strong, they know how to take care of their children but, they are some things that they do not know that can make the difference between life and death. Through the course of prenatal care at MHI birth center, each woman gets an opportunity to further their education to maintain a healthy pregnancy and family through teaching on hygiene, nutrition, breast feeding, gentle parenting and much more. We're trying to create a relationship between us and the women, something that can help to touch their heart. When you touch someone's heart you can change their life. My relationship with MHI clients shows me that we are indeed doing that. Thank you for keeping us alive this past year! Over 400 babies were lovingly born here and thousands of women cared for. Help us continue to live out our vision for the families in Jacmel," Ninotte Lubin, MHI Administrator & Midwifery Student

"From the original seed of a disaster relief clinic, MHI's birth clinic in Jacmel has evolved to a Haitian community traditional birthing center. The Haitian women have now become the primary administrators and care givers to their community. We are grateful for their strength, their dedication and love for this project. International support now consists of donations and mentoring by midwifes and other healthcare professionals. This clinic is continuing to grow and evolve with your financial help and love. We are becoming a unique example of a culturally based traditional midwifery model of care. We could not do it without all of your support. Our deepest thanks and love go out to all of you." Clare Loprinzi, Traditional Midwife, CPM & Dr. Joseph Kassel, ND, LAc., MHI Volunteer Medical Advisory Board Members

"To all the women in Haiti and the amazing volunteer team I work with each day, thank you. To the many individual and corporate donors who have been so generous with your contributions and support, thank you. To the many many volunteers who have come to Haiti, thank you.  I am personally blessed and honored to work along side such an amazing team who gives of their heart and soul each day to sustain this beautiful birth clinic. It is truly a privileged to do this work and it has forever transformed me. This is what I was born to do in this lifetime. Merci ladies of Haiti for giving me the opportunity to fulfill this calling." Heather L. Maurer, MHI Volunteer Executive Director & Co-founder


Please consider donating today to help us celebrate our 1 year anniversary and our recently granted 501(c)3 status. Visit our website: www.motherhealthinternational.org

In great gratitude,
The Mother Health International Team  

Mother Health International is a 501(c)3 tax exempt public charity. Your donation is considered tax deductible under the guidelines and rules of the IRS-USA.

The Wisdom of the 13 Moons-Traditional Midwifery Education

The Wisdom of the Thirteen Moons was created to help midwives that are already working and those aspiring to become midwives to learn traditional ways of working with natural modalities instead of working with pharmaceutical drugs and ultra sounds in birth. The Wisdom Series will be specifically for dealing with many situations that experienced midwives face and give a more traditional approach to dealing with them. Dealing the overall health of the pregnant woman, bleeding after birth and more importantly avoiding it in the first place. Greater work with specific herbs and moxa burning and identification of a deeper knowledge of prevention with hot/cold are included. Chinese medicinal approaches are taught at a deeper level. Working without ultrasound and more effective monitoring of mother and baby are taught. These are just some of the classes offered. There will be about ten sections to this series. My hope is to keep this series updated and broaden the knowledge to make us stronger midwives. As we show respect to the thirteen moons that guide us each year, we return to some of the traditional ways that have always been giving us light and always been honored and respected throughout history. Of course, 100% of this programs’ proceeds are donated to Mother Health International.

To enroll today, click here.

Imaccula's Birth Story

Imaccula, 30 years old having her first baby. She comes to the clinic faithfully for prenatal check ups. There is something slightly different about this sweet woman. Three days after she was born, she was given water to drink instead of breastmilk. Sadly this water was contaiminated with typhoid and she deveolped typhoid fever. As a result her right arm became paralyzed to some degree and she has no use of her hand, it is all cripped and tight. Her right leg is also affected and cannot walk straight or run. However she made it through the typhoid and has become a stronger woman because of it. Imaccula just came to our clinic to give birth the night before last. She labored thoroughout the day and into the early evening. She got up and hobbled around despite contractions coming like waves upon her fragile body, she was active and in charge of her birth. As the time got closer to pushing, her mother drew near her side and massaged her, and talked to her firmly when she felt overwhelmed with the sensation of a baby making its way through her. Her mother was almost one with her in the labor, not doting on her but sharing in everything. You could see and feel the anticipation she had for this baby and the love for her daughter.


Immacula was on her hands and knees rocking back and forth during contractions, midwives and mothers standing by ready and present, however after one of those contractions, suprising to all around, the mother announced, “the head it out, the head it out”. She pushed so silently that no one realized the baby was just a push away. The midwive kneeled down to gently catch the baby as it came into her hands, the baby was then passed to the mother and lay on the bed with Imaccula looking over her baby in utter awe and wonder. Minutes later both mom and baby are settled snuggly in the bed and the first words I hear Imaccula say aftet birth is the sweet words only a mother can say “my child, my child, oh, look at my daughter, my child”. Some of us broke out in tears at the sound of these words. The pride and love you heard in her voice is not something I can transmit on paper, something that I will never forget. Then all of a sudden she became very strong in her voice and said....."I told you I am not going to give birth in the hospital, I am happy that I gave birth here, thank you, thank, you take care of me so sweet.” The birth was like a victory for her. It was amazing to watch her in the hours that followed, smiles and tender affection. Her mom told one of our assistant midwives, “you gave me everything for my daughter, may God bless you.”

It was indeed a blessing that she had a gentle birth, unfortunatley often times women like her that are different, crippled, etc are not treated well. Knowing how it could be for her in this situation, we gave her the best care and love that we could.

The next day, she was sitting outside on a bed under our porch. One of our translators walked up to her as she was coming on shift. Imaccula, looked from the translator to her baby and back to the translator with the biggest, shyest smile I have seen. She could not contain the joy and pride in being a mom, in holding her baby for the translator and the world to see. These moments are so precious in a cruel hard world. For this baby peace started at birth.

Melinda Maclaren, MHI Volunteer Midwife & Ninotte Lubin, MHI Administrator, Midwifery Student

Meet Shela Barthelemy-Student Midwife

My name is Shela Barthelemy. I am 23 years and I am from across the river from Jacmel. I am a very strong young Haitian woman. I want to work to find money, I have a lot on my plate now I had four sisters but I lost three sisters in the earthquake and my one brother is very sick now, close to death. I have been taking care of myself all the time, my father died when I was 10 years old and my mother lives in the Dominician Republic. MHI is helping me in my life so much and I thankful for this.


I want to congratulate the clinic for the care it give the women in pregnancy. I am very thankful for Clare Loprinzi for giving me the opportunity to learn about midwifery and English. I am in school taking English every day now so that I can translate in the clnic. Before I came to MHI I was already thinking that I would like to learn to become a Fanm Sage (midwife). I have had this thought since I was in third grade, but I did not have the money to go to school to learn this skill. When I came to MHI to accompany my sister in law was in labor, I was watching everything the midwives were doing during labor and helping as much as I could. When the midwives noticed how eager I was to learn, they asked if I would want to come regularly to learn and volunteer with the other midwives. I was so happy because my dream of becoming a midwife is coming true. And now I also have the opportunity to learn English. I am very excited for my future. I can’t believe that I get to live out my passion and that is to help women and babies.

I believe in this work so much, I would like to see that everyone is very serious about the care we give at the clinic.

Mother Health International has first set of twins!

 First set of twin, baby girls, born at the 

Mother Health International birth clinic, November 2010.

I was up early and went downstairs to have some tea and was laying in the hammock when Sherline came down and said there was a laboring woman at the Dome. Marie Antoinette was up at the clinic helping the woman get settled in and told Sherline to send for me. So although Melinda was going to be considered "first-on" that day I figured I was up so instead of waking her to do a labor assessment I thought I would go up there to check in. I knew Sabine had had a multip birth in the night so I went up to check on everyone. 

When I arrived I could see that the mom was in a good active labor (G4P2) - close contractions and vomiting - so I set up and settled in with Marie Antoinette and Sherline. It was about 6:15 a.m. at this point and the mom said that she had been in labor since 5 a.m. - so really not long at all.

Marie said she would like to catch the baby so I got her a pair of scrubs and put her in receiving position at the foot of the bed. I asked what she needed and Marie replied, "just to have you by my side." 

The birthing mom's Godmother was there and I could see that she had a knowledge of midwifery, an inherent skill and sense of the mom and baby and the process - she had that energy and wisdom of a wise woman about her. I found out that she had attended births as a midwife over the years. I liked her very much.

The birthing mom said that she had felt the baby move but not really that morning and I thought I would check for heart tones just for reference but I was having difficulty finding where to hear them best so I am gently palpating her belly in between a couple of contractions and it's was a bit confusing - feeling for sure there's a back here but there also seems to be a lot of "fullness" on the other side as well but doesn't seem posterior (you know, that train of midwifery thoughts and "hmmmmms..." that go through one's mind). 

I catch a bit of heart tone and it sounds good and labor is progressing really well so I just set back, get everything prepped and ready. I support the Mamma and Marie. Marie suggested to the mother to get off of her back and possibly walk or change position but the mother reported that she was shaking too much and couldn't do it. She had told Marie when she first arrived that this labor felt "strange", different from her other labors.

Sabine, who came up to check on her post partum mother, came in to help us out when she heard that the mother was pushing.

The mom starts pushing around 7:15 a.m. and it 's obvious progress but the baby isn't flying out, in fact, it's coming slow enough that I just consider the possibility of big shoulders (as the mom's belly was quite big) and then watch and observe. So slowly and beautifully a head emerges and after a couple of contractions and it rotates to an posterior position and comes out the rest of the way.....hmmmmm, I'm thinking, that sure is a small baby for a term gestation - a little baggy and wrinkly - possible IUGR - but it is a vigorous little baby and we put her on Mom's belly. It has a pretty short cord. She rests a moment and touches her babe when she seems to push again, or really, scrunch up her face as if she's getting an approaching contraction. Marie says, the placenta is coming and I think, "Gee, that's an awfully strong contraction for a placenta, and so soon after the baby!" 

So I look down and I see a bulging BOW and a head behind and I say, "that's not a placenta, that's another baby!"

Marie was really surprised and jumped back a little reporting later that she didn't know what was coming - at first she thought, placenta but then thought something "worse" but she looked into her heart and told herself she would not be afraid, she would not run away, she would stay and do her job. So as the baby emerged out gently, completely in the caul, I received that babe and laid it on the bed and then removed the membranes. This child was the most peaceful looking babe in the caul - you could see her perfectly and you could tell she was doing great. The baby was small enough that it did not break the amniotic sac at all on the way out and the baby was completely encased in the sac. It was like getting a peak into the womb. The placenta came with the baby. She barely bled at all, uterus was great, I had given her some Yunnan soon after the first babe came out just to be sure we didn't get an extra bleeding but her body was really doing all the right things.

Second baby was smaller but actually "pinked" up more quickly than the first although both babies were really quite vigorous! We got them to breast pretty quickly and it was bit of a juggle but it was also all so smooth. One couldn't have asked for a smoother twins birth. Both baby girls, fused placenta, two amniotic sacs, both head down, baby #1 5lbs and baby #2 just over 4 lbs, and both babies and mom were so strong!

Looking back at her chart I saw that her last baby died because it came prematurely....she said that she already had 2 boys at home and her family told her not to come home with anymore boys so she was pretty happy that she balanced everything out with 2 girls! She got an extra spirit to come back to her after the loss of one - it was all just really beautiful. Sherline reports that the mother told her after the babies were born that she had had a dream earlier the morning of the labor of two girls, her girls, playing outside of her home.

I asked the Godmother if she knew there were two babies because I could just see that wisdom in her being and she said that yes, she could tell but that she never said anything to the birthing mom because, as is tradition to Haitian culture, you don't tell a woman because you don't want her to be afraid.

I looked back at her prenatal chart and no one had ever suspected twins and she had been measuring appropriately and she went to term.

Anyway, there was never any hitches and after several hours everyone was ready to go home. We talked about keeping the babies warm, nursing them plenty, and having them sleep together. They were the most vigorous little babes I've seen who were that small. I never once doubted their strength, or moms, it was all flowing smoothly.

The babies are now 9 days post partum and came in for their first visit since the birth. Both babies have gained weight and are over their birth weights by about 300 grams. The mother has no complaints and her body feels good. She says she isn't too tired and finds that nursing two babies is not too difficult. Everyone who was at the birth reports feeling blessed and thankful to have been a part of this beautiful experience. One couldn't have asked for a more perfect birth to welcome the first set of twins to Mother Health International, Haiti!

Emily Baker, volunteer midwife

Meet Marie Antoinette Helen Jeune, Assistant Midwife at Mother Health International

Over the next few weeks our blog will feature the wonderful MHI team on the ground in Jacmel, Haiti. Your financial contributions help support the salaries of these team members. Thank you. Each person has been asked to write up a short story describing themselves and the work they do. Enjoy!

Marie Antoinette Helen Jeune

Assistant Midwife, Translator
Mother Health International birth clinic in Jacmel, Haiti

Marie Antoinette Helen Jeune

Marie Antoinette Helen Jeune

Marie, Melinda and a beautiful mother on prenatal day at the clinic.

I am Marie Antoinette Helene Jeune. I was born in 1981 in  Jeremie in the area of the grand Anse in the south of Haiti. I have a son who is five years old. I have been working with MHI as a translator and now I am studying to become a midwife. I am a Haitian woman coming from a long line of strong women. My people were brought here to Haiti as slaves from America in 1503. In 1804 we got our freedom. My people bought our freedom for $90 million in 1825 from France. I want to become a traditional midwife so that I can work for my country and this clinic.

I have the patience to be a midwife. The MHI birth clinic provides very good care to the women in my community during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum. The focus of a midwife is on natural methods for pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. I recognize the difference in care when I see a doctor attend a birth; it is not the same thing that we do as midwives when we work with birth and women. I am talking about the pitocin used routinely in birth in Haiti, and the other drugs that make the it very hard for the mamma and the baby. I see the way a midwife works with birth. She makes the women comfortable during labor using massage, and uses movement such as traditional dancing during birth. My passion is to become a midwife and make a difference in women’s lives. The first time I came here to work was at the beginning when Bumi Sehat started the clinic. Now the clinic is under new leadership and is Mother Health International, and when I first came here I did not know anything about natural birth. When I saw the way the birth clinic treated women, I felt so good and love within myself. I loved the pregnant women and this work. I massaged them, give them some ideas to make them happy during labor, create some dancing steps to relax the woman so she would not be afraid. One day when I was working with Kelly, I said I want to share some ways with the the mother to make her happy, to make her dance and laugh. Kelly said to me, “Yes Marie, the woman will be very happy that you do with her her." I felt so happy inside in myself, I knew that I was a midwife and not every one else knew, but I knew.

One time while a woman was laboring she asked me, “Oh marie mwen kapab fe pa sa y o wap tiye nou avan bebe sa sa fet.” (Oh Mary I can’t do these steps, you are killing me before my baby is born.” I said no, never quit, do not be discouraged. I am here and I will support you to make the steps.” She answered me afterward her baby was born, “Oh Mary I love you and sometimes when she looks at me and our eyes are together and we are connected.”

MHI midwifery model of care is a good model for Jacmel because it is hard to find good care for pregnant women. We are kind here, we treat the women with respect. The families come to the clinic and they are very happy because their women are finding good care in the clinic. The families tell me why wasn’t this clinic here before. They asked me, “Why are you working this work of midwifery? You treat us well, like the foreign midwife, are you a midwife?” They tell me I will become a great midiwfe and that makes me feel good. I hear them say, “You know Mary this clinic is very good, it is giving good care and you especially. If the foreign midwives leave you will be there here to help us. Stay strong, do not change your behavior.”

Some of the women and families ask me who are the midwives that come here, where do they come from. I explain to them they are midwives and come after the time of the earthquake to work in Haiti but they come and they plan to help the women and pregnancy for care. I explain, the damage of the earthquake brought the midwives.

I never thought about birth much before I worked here. In 2004 I was pregnant with son, my mom wanted me to follow a midwife and she gave me all the natural medicine. I was as 23 yrs old and the midwife checked positions of my baby but I never knew what she was doing and was very afraid when she touched my belly. My mom said there is not difference between the midwife and doctor. She told me to accept the midwife, let the midwife do her work, let her give me natural medicine and check my baby. When I was in labor, I lost my mucous plug. The midwife checked me and said the baby was ready to be born. My mom said to me, "Let her help you birth and I told my mom no and she said it was my decision. So we went to the hospital. She said that I would see the difference between a midwife and a doctor. I told her “I do not know but I told her that I trust the doctor.” If I was to have another baby again I of course I would do it with the midwife. 

We are working as midwives and as professionals and rarely we to bring a mother or baby to the hospital. But if we bring a baby or a mother to the hospital we treat them with respect and they will treat us with respect. The families are very satisfied, 100%, with the care that the clinic gives to the women. They like the way the midwives treat the women, very natural. There are some families that have told me that hospital, even if the woman is having a normal pregnancy and labor with no complications, that they make problems for the mother and baby. That means that they will cut the women (episiotomy or c-section). They said to me it is not the same as when we work with a midwife to do the birth. I met a lot of the girls and families telling me often the way the midwife  works because it is natural, and it is better for the birth of the baby.

First, when a woman comes to me in labor, we share some ideas with the woman and get to  know each other in labor. You can tell the woman some jokes to make her laugh and help her not stress and help her not be afraid. For the dance for the birth, I make the woman understand that it is not a game, it is to help the woman relax and help the baby get into position. Sometimes I create some steps to show the women to be relaxed, to be happy,to be laughing with me or smile with me. I explain to the women the baby wants love even when the baby is inside of his/her mom. I tell the women, let the baby know that they are something special and that everyone is going to receive them with a lot of love. This is throughout a woman's pregnancy, I explain to the baby everybody is waiting for the baby and will receive them with love. The baby needs the love.

Marie Antoinette, Haitian Assistant Midwife

(This was slightly edited to assist with the translation.) 

A reflection from Volunteer Melinda

A beautiful talented skilled group of midwives had made their way here and we are forming a strong team already! Everyone is busy at work. Friday our last prenatal consultation day of the week went as usual. Many Moms came into our care for the first time, most hear about us through friends that have given birth with us in the previous months and hear about the good care we give. I often ask Moms why they are choosing to birth with us and the answer is always the same, you are kind, patience and give good care. I spent time with a mom for a consultation and she was amazed at how much time I took to ask her questions and help her along. Our reputation is spreading! Women are looking for other options than what has been available. My heart breaks when I hear moms say things like, “I would have come here sooner if I had known you were so kind and gentle”. It makes you wonder what their past experiences have been and makes me want to cherish and support them all the more! These women deserve the dignity, respect and love that we foster in the clinic setting. It makes me so thankful to be here helping to create a new standard of how women need to be treated and cared for during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

As a write we have a Mama in labor up at the dome. Last time I was up there, I poked my head in the room to see her and as I stole a glance I watched her rise with a mighty contraction and reach out for her midwife’s hand to hold. The bond that they have going can’t be stopped by language, culture, time and place, the bond is one of trust and security. It is beautiful to watch how quickly this can happen, how quickly two people who are complete strangers and then through a couple of hours of pain and progress, a bond is built between the one wanting support and the one wanting to give her support. Birth brings women together in a beautiful way.

Volunteer Melinda McLaren

©2010 Mother Health International