One Voice

Today I saw the light of inspiration in a young African girl and her two aunties

I have been contracted to a large hospital in the South this week, and spent most of today ‘bitting and bobbing’ ...... helping out in other rooms, discharging and admitting... anything that helps my colleagues throughout the day.

I answered a call bell that took me to the room of a young 17 year old girl who was in advanced second stage of labour but with the fetal heart rate slow to recover after contractions. After letting the appropriate people know what was happening, I went back into the room to help the Midwife caring for her.

This beautiful young girl was being supported by her family... the closest she had because her mother was unable to be there.

All of the time, without any respite, one or the other Auntie would give words of encouragement to her, calling her a wonderful mother, a powerful woman, a beautiful creator of Life... taking it in turns to give praise to her.

She pushed out a big baby girl and cut the cord herself... whilst everybody in the room.. including the paediatrician..... felt a knot of emotion in their hearts.

We often go into rooms filled with people where women are desperately trying to

Birth their baby, whilst the atmosphere is filled with confusion and fear.... just because people think that they are doing their best for her by shouting so called ‘encouragement’.

I remember the words of a Midwife who looked after me with my own children, and also mentored me as a student.

One of the most profound things that she taught me was to give the woman one voice to listen to..... one voice of encouragement for her to focus on.

Its difficult to facilitate this when the medics are wanting to take control and the family think they are ‘doing the right thing’



Maybe its up to us to spread the word .......