The wealth of knowledge I have gained since arriving in Uganda less than a week ago is priceless. I have learned a tremendous amount about the Ugandan culture (the good and the bad), birthing practices, and HIV/AIDS. Upon arriving in the Luweero District and checking into the guesthouse (along the lines of a youth hostel - 2 beds and a bathroom with a workable toilet if you were lucky and a shower between the toilet and the sink - our shower head didn't work so we used the faucet low to the ground for "rinsing off") we met with Natalie to bring us up to date on construction of the birthing center, current birth practices in Uganda and the other programs she established in this area.
In Kasana, which is probably more "equipped" than other parts of the country there are 3 options for a women when it's time for her to give birth. She can birth at home in her village with a traditional birth attendant (which by the way are illegal in Uganda), go to the local hospital where although it is free, the care is so extremely horrific and poor that the women are scared and reluctant to go there, or there is Bishop Asili Clinic where women can go to birth their child but they have to pay for every single piece of material used (gloves, towels, wash clothes, bandages, and it isn't even guaranteed the supplies will be readily accessible). They are advised to bring their own supplies and plastic bag to "hop" up onto on the birthing table when they are ready to push their baby out. Many women cannot afford to pay at Bishop Asili so they are often reluctant to go there - or if they do and cannot afford to pay they will stay there until someone comes with money or they escape. We were able to tour the clinic - and there were births going on while we were there (which I will talk about later) but by no means is this the place where "we" would want to deliver our babies under any circumstances. Although it is the best option in the area, their is no "love" given at all to the birthing mother. My friend Sarah, a doula, who is on this adventure with me witnessed and supported mothers during 3 births over the 2 days we were there. She explained to me that the current midwives at the clinic are harsh and almost instill a sense of "fear" to the birthing mother where they don't even want them to make any audible sounds while giving birth. You cannot even "hop" up onto 1 of the 2 birthing tables with the rusted metal stirrups until you are absolutely ready to push the baby out.
It is almost unfathomable how these women are giving birth and surviving - especially in our western world with our standards. Women in Uganda average between 4 and 10 children - not always by choice. It is illegal for women to practice any form of birth control without the written/verbal permission of their husband. Needless to say, there aren't many women on birth control. Husbands are typically not present during the birth of their child - and the mother isn't allowed to name her child until she brings them home to her husband. Also keep in mind these pregnant goddesses have to walk days to a clinic to give birth since they are so far and few between.
Now it is probably more obvious why Natalie was so deeply inspired and committed to create Shanti Uganda - by the way it's no coincidence that Natalie's last name is "Angell"). Shanti Uganda will focus on empowering women, change current birthing practices while incorporating cultural/traditional practices, and eventually create a midwifery program to train women to become midwives to take this birth practice back to their respective village. Natalie would like to see a relationship established between midvives and the mother and for a small fee provide the mother with a care package, food, and a commitment to prenatal care. There are about 50-70 births a month at Bishop Asili Clinic. Natalie hopes to accommodate 40-50 births a month at the new birth center. Also with our donation of 150k they just purchased a vehicle to act as an emergency transport if they need to take the birthing mother to the hospital or Bishop Asili for a c-section or any other medical complications they are unable to handle at Shanti Uganda.
As I mentioned previously there were a few births while we were at Bishop Asili Clinic. This birth center was my friend Sarah's (who is a doula) main focus when fundraising for this adventure so she wanted to assist in any way she could at the clinic. Her presence at the clinic was a true blessing for the 3 women (1 was a c-section) she helped birth. The women are typically by themselves when giving birth and the midwives at the clinic show no love, compassion, support for these beautiful women. Sarah, with the permission of these mothers in labor, empowered these women during their birth process (even giving her scarf to act as a wet wash cloth for one of the women as there were no towels). I had the opportunity to assist Sarah during the birth on the second day at the clinic. However, the night before my intuition was telling me to give up my slot (out of 24 of us total - we all couldn't be in the birthing room nor would it be appropriate; over the 2 days 7 of us witnessed, supported, assisted, gave their love to birthing mamas). As much of a beautiful experience the birth of a newborn baby is, I honestly felt it would be inappropriate for me to be there. I know I couldn't "hold the space" as well as some of the other women on this trip with me. As much as I would love to support a woman during labor, this would have been my first experience - and I truly felt the first birth I want to witness is my own. I asked my friend, Amanda (mother of 3 children from Oregon) if she would like to take my place. I know I made the right decision when I saw her at the end of the day back in Kampala - She said, "12 years ago today I gave birth to my first baby and today, exactly 12 years later I helped a woman give birth to her first baby" (it was a girl:). There are very few times in my life when I make a decision like this and don't look back and say - oh man, I wish I chose the other path......but today I was absolutely positive I made the right decision.
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