LAOS BIRTHWORK
11th January, 2017 - 15th January, 2017
Day 1
Our first day of Birthwork training in Luang Prabang was such a pleasure to be a part of. 22 midwives & health workers & several district trainers were present from two of the poorest districts surrounding Luang Prabang. Many of these women work on their own in very remote & hard to access areas with limited resources.The day focused on the importance of kindness, respect & gentility in midwifery care & also introduced an array of wise teachings around pelvic anatomy & its potential for mobility. We were met with much enthusiasm & affirmation from the beautiful women present. It is such a privilege to be apart of sharing this wonderful work with the world. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this cause. It truely feels so worthwhile
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DAY 2
Another beautiful & heart warming day of Birthwork training in Laos.
Today we explored the benefits of dynamic labour & the importance of providing a birthing mother with the freedom, support & encouragement to assume whatever position feels most comfortable for her & best supports the birth of her baby. In hospitals & health centres in Laos today birthing on one's back, on a high & narrow bed, often with feet in stirrups has become the norm.
It was exciting to help inspire different & more creative alternatives which we all know can, truly make a difference.
It felt wonderful to encourage the possibility of using a rope or door mounted cloth for the birthing mother to hang from. Until recently squating, with the support of a hanging rope was a commonly used traditional Laotion birthing position which is rarely seen today, in hospitals or health centres. Only one of the 26 midwives in attendance had ever seen a woman birth in this way. The women were excited to have this old way of supporting birth encouraged.
We explored the importance of relaxation for the mother, how a mother's quality of breathing during birth can greatly influence her state of wellbeing & introduced some simple bodywork practices to support relaxation & the creation of more space & mobility in the pelvis. All simple practices in theory but sadly new & untouched in these lovely midwive's training thus far.
As language is a barrier & accurate translation has proved challenging we had lots of fun with role plays & theatrical enactments. There was so much laughter experienced by us all!
Today we explored the benefits of dynamic labour & the importance of providing a birthing mother with the freedom, support & encouragement to assume whatever position feels most comfortable for her & best supports the birth of her baby. In hospitals & health centres in Laos today birthing on one's back, on a high & narrow bed, often with feet in stirrups has become the norm.
It was exciting to help inspire different & more creative alternatives which we all know can, truly make a difference.
It felt wonderful to encourage the possibility of using a rope or door mounted cloth for the birthing mother to hang from. Until recently squating, with the support of a hanging rope was a commonly used traditional Laotion birthing position which is rarely seen today, in hospitals or health centres. Only one of the 26 midwives in attendance had ever seen a woman birth in this way. The women were excited to have this old way of supporting birth encouraged.
We explored the importance of relaxation for the mother, how a mother's quality of breathing during birth can greatly influence her state of wellbeing & introduced some simple bodywork practices to support relaxation & the creation of more space & mobility in the pelvis. All simple practices in theory but sadly new & untouched in these lovely midwive's training thus far.
As language is a barrier & accurate translation has proved challenging we had lots of fun with role plays & theatrical enactments. There was so much laughter experienced by us all!
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DAY 3
We are all thrilled once again by another wonderful day of Birthwork training in Luang Prabang with a big group of over 30 midwives.
We introduced the basics of effective palpation & the value of using the pinard or even one's ear to get a clearer sense of the baby's position during pregnancy. Alike to the greater world the use of a Doppler for baby heart monitoring has become the norm in Lao & non sonic heart monitoring skills are at risk of being lost.
We also began to delve into the realm of potential birth complications beginning with slow labour, failure to progress, obstructed labour & shoulder dystocia.
Many of the women work in health clinics that are very far from medical support. One midwife shared that it takes 3 hours, by rough & sometimes impassable roads & then a river journey before she can access medical support. Although the women are encouraged to refer & transfer if required it is sometimes, simply not possible. We hope we have given them some more tools & creatively to assist in times of challenge.
Once again we had a lot of fun with enacted labour situations & the sharing of different bodywork techniques that have proven invaluable for each of us in our work with birth. In contrast to the more classroom style & clinical modes of training that these gorgeous women are accustomed to it has been so delightful to be down on the floor together, using the types of mats & cloths that they use in their own villages & teaching with such a joyful flavour of warmth, fun, equality & once again lots of laughter.
We introduced the basics of effective palpation & the value of using the pinard or even one's ear to get a clearer sense of the baby's position during pregnancy. Alike to the greater world the use of a Doppler for baby heart monitoring has become the norm in Lao & non sonic heart monitoring skills are at risk of being lost.
We also began to delve into the realm of potential birth complications beginning with slow labour, failure to progress, obstructed labour & shoulder dystocia.
Many of the women work in health clinics that are very far from medical support. One midwife shared that it takes 3 hours, by rough & sometimes impassable roads & then a river journey before she can access medical support. Although the women are encouraged to refer & transfer if required it is sometimes, simply not possible. We hope we have given them some more tools & creatively to assist in times of challenge.
Once again we had a lot of fun with enacted labour situations & the sharing of different bodywork techniques that have proven invaluable for each of us in our work with birth. In contrast to the more classroom style & clinical modes of training that these gorgeous women are accustomed to it has been so delightful to be down on the floor together, using the types of mats & cloths that they use in their own villages & teaching with such a joyful flavour of warmth, fun, equality & once again lots of laughter.
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DAY 4
A big & rather intense day of Birthwork training in Lao, exploring emergency midwifery care in remote circumstances & looking primarily at Postpartum haemorrhage & newborn resuscitation. We also explored caring for the perineum during birth & managing a surprise breach birth in a variety of upright positions.
One of the most heartening parts of the day was when one of the midwives shared the birth story of her first child. Her unexpected breach baby had come quickly, while she was alone, at home in her village. She birthed her baby on her knees & everything was was ok. She shared the story with much joy & showed us pictures of her now adult daughter - everyone cheered!
Our day finished with a beautiful & playful circle of holding one another's hands & giving thanks for the good work, wisdom, care & kindness offered through the service of each woman's hands in support of mother's & baby's wellbeing. The women then broke into song & dance & we completed the day with a beautiful sense of celebration💗
One of the most heartening parts of the day was when one of the midwives shared the birth story of her first child. Her unexpected breach baby had come quickly, while she was alone, at home in her village. She birthed her baby on her knees & everything was was ok. She shared the story with much joy & showed us pictures of her now adult daughter - everyone cheered!
Our day finished with a beautiful & playful circle of holding one another's hands & giving thanks for the good work, wisdom, care & kindness offered through the service of each woman's hands in support of mother's & baby's wellbeing. The women then broke into song & dance & we completed the day with a beautiful sense of celebration💗
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DAY 5
We have had a beautiful & moving conclusion to our Laos Birthwork Training training today.
Discussing the post birth period & the care of the mother & newborn through this precious & vulnerable time, we explored the importance of nutrition & hydration for maternal wellbeing & milk production & the essential need for a mother to eat diversely, from all food groups, with an emphasis on adequate protein.
20% of all babies born in Laos have a low birth weight( less than 2.5 kg) & many mothers suffer from malnutrition & in turn struggle to produce adequate milk for their babies. From the information we have gathered this, is in part due to genuine food shortage & diversity in some areas, to the culture practice of a mother often eating last in the line of family members & also to the practice of restrictive eating through pregnancy & breastfeeding. One ethnic group follows the practice of feeding the breastfeeding mother only rice & salt. There is a high rate of B1 deficiency in mothers & subsequently in babies. B1 deficiency in babies, left untreated can be fatal.
This issue could be remedied by the mother eating adequate protein - one egg a day would be enough. Sadly both lack of food & restrictive eating practices can make this hard to manage.
We are also unsure of whether colostrum is always respected for its plethora of essential benefits. We have heard many stories of babies being given sweet & condensed milk when milk is slow to come in or low in supply- the women even sang a lovely song which we were shocked to hear translated into
'Sweet & condensed milk is for the baby but mother's milk is for the husband!' It was sung with a lot of laughter & said to be a joke but nonetheless it was worrying to hear!
We were also joined by our Australian friends Caroline & Denise who have carried a big supply of donated women's hygiene packs
( reusable menstrual pads, undies,soap & a wash/ storage bag. The packs are made by a noble organisation of women, (www.daysforgirls.org) who voluntarily sew & distribute the packs to disadvantaged women around the world. We were able to supply the women with both packs for their personal use & for mothers post birth.
We were also able to gift the women an array of midwifery supplies & equipment for their clinics & hospitals, all kindly donated by midwives in Australia & New Zealand.
Our time finished with lots of photos, more singing & dancing & a moving series of speeches acknowledging the unique nature of the topics we had covered & the gratitude that was felt. There were many enquires about when we would be returning next & many beautiful tears of thanks giving shed by both our team & the Lao midwives.
We all so grateful for what this rich & heart opening experience has offered us - thank you so much to everyone who had contributed so generously - without your support it could not have come to fruition & thank you, dearest Jenny Blyth for the inspiration, spirit & fortitude to bring this wonderful experience into being for us all - so many blessings upon your generous & creative spirit!
Discussing the post birth period & the care of the mother & newborn through this precious & vulnerable time, we explored the importance of nutrition & hydration for maternal wellbeing & milk production & the essential need for a mother to eat diversely, from all food groups, with an emphasis on adequate protein.
20% of all babies born in Laos have a low birth weight( less than 2.5 kg) & many mothers suffer from malnutrition & in turn struggle to produce adequate milk for their babies. From the information we have gathered this, is in part due to genuine food shortage & diversity in some areas, to the culture practice of a mother often eating last in the line of family members & also to the practice of restrictive eating through pregnancy & breastfeeding. One ethnic group follows the practice of feeding the breastfeeding mother only rice & salt. There is a high rate of B1 deficiency in mothers & subsequently in babies. B1 deficiency in babies, left untreated can be fatal.
This issue could be remedied by the mother eating adequate protein - one egg a day would be enough. Sadly both lack of food & restrictive eating practices can make this hard to manage.
We are also unsure of whether colostrum is always respected for its plethora of essential benefits. We have heard many stories of babies being given sweet & condensed milk when milk is slow to come in or low in supply- the women even sang a lovely song which we were shocked to hear translated into
'Sweet & condensed milk is for the baby but mother's milk is for the husband!' It was sung with a lot of laughter & said to be a joke but nonetheless it was worrying to hear!
We were also joined by our Australian friends Caroline & Denise who have carried a big supply of donated women's hygiene packs
( reusable menstrual pads, undies,soap & a wash/ storage bag. The packs are made by a noble organisation of women, (www.daysforgirls.org) who voluntarily sew & distribute the packs to disadvantaged women around the world. We were able to supply the women with both packs for their personal use & for mothers post birth.
We were also able to gift the women an array of midwifery supplies & equipment for their clinics & hospitals, all kindly donated by midwives in Australia & New Zealand.
Our time finished with lots of photos, more singing & dancing & a moving series of speeches acknowledging the unique nature of the topics we had covered & the gratitude that was felt. There were many enquires about when we would be returning next & many beautiful tears of thanks giving shed by both our team & the Lao midwives.
We all so grateful for what this rich & heart opening experience has offered us - thank you so much to everyone who had contributed so generously - without your support it could not have come to fruition & thank you, dearest Jenny Blyth for the inspiration, spirit & fortitude to bring this wonderful experience into being for us all - so many blessings upon your generous & creative spirit!
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