By Emily Tinsley, RN, MSNed As an experienced international educator of nurses in the developing world, I began my journey with Midwives for Haiti for the first time 2 weeks ago. Though I am not a midwife and my experience with mothers and infants is narrow, my abiding passion remains
STORIES FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS
“WELCOME TO THE SISTERHOOD OF MIDWIVES!”
The following is the opening address from Midwives For Haiti’s longtime volunteer, Wendy Dotson, CNM, on the first day of classes for our 7th Class of Skilled Birth Attendants in March 2014. More stories can be found on Wendy’s blog: I am so happy to talk to you today on the first
IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE STUDENTS
I lived for five months in Hinche, Haiti, working with Midwives For Haiti. I was co-teaching with a Haitian nurse midwife in their small school that trains Skilled Birth Attendants in a 12 month course of midwifery study. I am not an instructor; I am a clinical nurse midwife with
Under The Mango Tree: Reflections on Haiti
People often ask me “Is Haiti getting better?” My answer is alway a resounding “Yes!” Granted, Haiti still has severe struggles with bad driving, poverty, pollution, a countryside stripped of its tropical forest, people at all education levels working hard at escaping to another country, a social mindset of violent
Sweat, Dirt, and Love
The following is an excerpt from the blog of midwife volunteer, Tara Elrod, and her husband, Dr. Glen Elrod: Today was our first day of work. Glen went to the hospital to help the Haitian OBs and midwives wherever needed, and I went on a mobile clinic to a town
Traveling to Haiti During the Mosquito Season and Chik-V
The following is a personal account of recent volunteer, Jackie Brooks, on her July trip to Haiti amidst the presence of Chikungunya Fever: When I got the email from Midwives For Haiti about the risk of Chik-V, I read all the information from CDC and WHO. My family was concerned
Two Lives Saved
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, we are sharing this powerful story from a volunteer: Gearing up and preparing for my trip, I wanted to teach as much as I could but knew I had to be very cautious with my approach because I wasn’t sure how well it would
POSTNATAL CARE PROGRAM: IT’S WORKING!
We launched a new Postnatal Care Program! In collaboration with Haiti’s Ministry of Health and Population, Haiti’s Kids, our new Postnatal Care Program ensures that every mother who delivers at Hospital Ste. Therese and her baby are thoroughly evaluated before discharge, given excellent education and scheduled for follow-up visits in our
A HARD REALITY
On my third shift in the hospital, I worked with an American nurse-midwife named Cathy. I helped with a couple of deliveries as she labor-sat with a 9th timer who was almost complete. It was unusual that she wasn’t just spitting her baby out. Her contractions were short and far apart.
AT A REMOTE PRENATAL CLINIC, A BABY IS BORN
A seemingly typical day is under way for the Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) trained by Midwives for Haiti. Their vehicle is loaded and departs from the town of Hinche. It’s a specially equipped Land Cruiser able to ford streams, climb steep, rutted dirt roads, dodge goats, dogs, donkeys and motorcycles as it