MIDWIFE CLASSES
Once a year we organize 2-day classes for midwives (parteras in Spanish). Our learning curriculum is based on the guidelines from the Minister of Health in Peru. Classes are taught by local doctors and nurse-midwives (obstetrices) from the clinics and hospitals, as well as visiting doctors from the United States. At the end of the classes, each person who completes the program receives a certificate and a delivery kit - a basin filled with items such as gloves, scissors, umbilical clamps, suction bulb, soap, pads, measuring tape, etc.
In addition to the clinic staff, we have the good fortune of having the experienced midwives from the jungle, many with 25 years-plus experience share their knowledge and experience. Our focus is on safe deliveries and recognizing problems, as well as prenatal and post-delivery care. One of the advantages of the classes is the networking of the midwives from the different villages, encouraging the newer ones to call on the more experienced midwives as resources.
Class of October 2007 with instructor staff
Sally Dharmasaroj, RN from Thailand, far left
Jessica Portocarrero, Obstetriz from Mazán, 3rd from left
Dr. Katie Sietz and Dr. Amy Cook, both from Denver, Co and Renzo in front
Diana and Sally making delivery kits
We are currently requesting donations for the book Un Libro para Parteras (A Book for Midwives) published by the Hesperian Foundation. We would like to give every midwife who attends our classes a copy of this book. In USA, the cost is approximately $20.
If anyone is traveling to Peru and can bring books with them, we would be happy to pick them up at your hotel.
Photos of our classes and our babies
Above: Delivering the "baby" from the handmade vagina from a cardboard box
Right: Suctioning the baby after birth
Left: Amy teaching about problems during pregnancy
This class in 2006 was taught by Jessica Portocarrero, Obstetriz, and nurse Ruth at the clinic in Mazán
Below left: This baby cooperated by being born during the class, which provided an excellent opportunity for Jessica to demonstrate proper delivery techniques
Below: Listening to the fetal heart tones with a cone
Photos from our 2008 class held in September
41 promotores and midwives in attendance
To expedite turn-around time in diagnosis of malaria, Jessica Portocarrero, Obstetriz, is instructing the students on how to do fingersticks to obtain blood and properly do the blood smear on the slides. In practice the promotor or midwife would make the slide, then label it and send by river boat to the clinic in Mazan or Orellana. The results and medicine if necessary would be then sent to a jungle clinic for adminstration. This prevents unnecessary traveling for the sick patient and hopefully gets them treatment faster. Each student that was trained in technique was given a supply of slides and lancets.
Above and below, Brenda, RN and Amanda, Obstetriz, are instructing the students
in proper technique for intramuscular injections
Presentation of certificates and delivery kits, as well as the book
Libro para Parteras or Book for Midwives.
The promotores received a large bag of medicine as well as the book
Donde no hay doctor, or Where there is no doctor
