Page 43 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 22

Health & Healing

yesterday, why? Because we have a in a completely different way and not the one delivering the baby, it’s
memory, we always remember how that realization actually helps us see the woman delivering the baby. If
that experience was like. So just that it doesn’t really need to be in a anything, midwives like to say that
making it a memorable experience particular institution, we just need to we catch the baby because there’s a
and allowing women especially to govern the safety around it and just way they come out and they jump
participate in their own body, in let it be, just lose control. and we just catch them.
their own experience becomes a
very powerful thing. But, even above I like what you’re saying I like to say I’m going to attend a
all that, because I might sound like because it then actually ad- birth, or I’m going to catch a baby
I am talking a lot about the wom- dresses foundational issues when I want to say it on a light note,
an and forgetting there is a baby in terms of the father and the but it’s not about me, it’s about
in there, you can imagine if you mother, whether it is a new the woman, and her baby, and her
were given a choice to be born at a father or mother situation or husband, and their family. What
hospital or to be born in your home, we’re doing is changing the hierar-
honestly if I was asked, I would enlarging as you’re saying, chy and putting the woman as the
prefer to be in my home because I bonding with each other and lead, her family next. I like what
think as a newborn a hospital can creating a new environment one midwife said, she said: “Mid-
be a very scary place to be. First, around this child and a new wives are like guardian angels who
you come out and there are all these environment around their just stand by you to make sure that
people shouting congratulations and home. That’s really enriching everything is alright with you.” You
you’re thinking “Wait, what hap- because it brings in a stabi- really never see your guardian angel
pened?” Then there are lights, cam- lization, a firmness a whole- but you know they are with you all
era, action! It’s bright, it’s loud, it’s ness an appreciation for one the time; they stop you from hitting
cold. “Where is my mother? I know another with the child. So, your toe and making mistakes of
that heartbeat. Who is this person the husband and the wife will turning left and right. It’s the same
holding me upside down or trying thing, I am quietly there allowing
to rub my back?” So, the gentleness see each other in a new way. this woman and her husband to
that comes with landing is complete- The child is embraced in this enjoy this moment, and her child,
ly eliminated. atmosphere, and because of if she has another child, because
that, they are able to build in we don’t mind where parents don’t
One of the things we try to do at a more stable fashion. Most mind, we involve other offspring
home is just bring the gentleness for of the births I have been told that they have had, just allowing that
the baby and that bonding for the about have come from that family to enjoy that moment. If you
mom, the baby, the dad… because place of fear. decide to include your other family
dads are also really eliminated in It’s the intentional effort to actually members or friends, it’s just allowing
childbirth yet they are part of the make the family the heroes as op- you to go through this experience
family that has just been born or posed to the healthcare workers. So, with the people you love people you
just enlarged. Getting midwives to you’re taking what is there and turn- feel care for you and also give other
recognize that side of things, which ing it upside down. It’s not about people the opportunity to care for
we really don’t focus on, is my me and how I caught your baby, it’s you. Because, I will be honest, in
dream, so that once we realize that about how you birthed your baby, hospital, we don’t have that time to
and we start focusing on the family it’s about how your husband sup- be by your side all the time. Check-
centered care - as opposed to just ported you in going through this ups are done every 3,4 hours. I have
checking blood pressure and doing process, it’s about how your baby six of you in labor, if I give you
vaginal examinations and making landed and what you guys did to re- ten minutes what’s happening to
sure baby’s heartrate is okay - but ceive that baby and to usher them in the others? I have to be somewhere
also just being involved in what the world in calmness in peace. And seated where you’re all available to
really are these guys going through yeah, it may sound bad and I know me and I see who goes first. That’s
what is this season like what are the a lot of my colleagues usually hate the ideal situation.
details mentally, emotionally, spiri- me for this, but I’m like really, I’m
tually? What are the details in these not going to deliver a baby, because So, we don’t have that quality time
people’s lives? It will actually make usually, that’s the term we use, “Oh to sit rub your back give you a sip of
us morph into supporting childbirth I’m going to deliver a baby.” You’re water, wipe your brow, homebirths

WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 22 | APRIL 2022 43