With the head midwife
Head midwife pops in to see how things are going in the labour & delivery ward. Cathy and Rachelle are attending a woman in 2nd stage to deliver her baby. No other midwives are present in the ward.
Cathy: “We should let you know that we will be leaving after this birth, but the two women in Beds 2 & 3 are about to have their babies.”
Head midwife [as she walks out of labour & delivery]: “We shall pray for them.”
Between head-midwife and student midwife
Student midwife: “There is no stretcher to take this woman to theatre.”
Senior midwife: “Midwife – walk your woman.”
With a labouring woman
Winnie: “Sista – help me!”
Rachelle: “I’m here.”
W: “Help me.”
R: [puts counter pressure on laboring woman’s back.] “I am here. You are doing great.”
W: “I’m dying!”
R: “You’re not dying. You are having a baby!”
W: “When?”
R: “Today! You will have your baby today.”
W: “What time?”
R: “I don’t know what time!”
W: “Tell me when my baby will come!”
R: “I don’t know what time, but it will be today.”
W: “I’m dying!”
R: “No, you are not dying. Here is some sugar-tea. Do you think you can lie on your side?…”
W: “Don’t leave me!”
R: “I won’t leave you.”
[Baby is born about 45 minutes later.]
W: “I am so happy. Thank you. I am so happy.” [Big smiles.]
R: “I am so happy too!
With a stranger at the bank
After a friendly exchange with a Ugandan woman at the bank…
Friendly stranger: A man once said to me, “You are strong like a man.” But I said, “You are mistaken. I am woman.”