What a busy weekend. 11 of our master trainers who live all over the country met to receive continuing education We taught reviews of suturing, cardiovascular assessment, sepsis, and preeclampsia-eclampsia.
They worked hard, had great questions , and really enjoyed having a class reunion. They also love learning with mannequins. It’s a commitment for them to come. For example Cati’s bus ride was 12 hours each way.
I was also so happy that my friend/Guatemalan son Eric came to visit me with his daughter Diana. Thank you mijo for traveling 2 hours each way to visit. You’re the best!
What a busy weekend! Eleven midwives we’ve trained as master trainers traveled for continuing education that they chose — one of the master trainer’s bus ride was 12 hours!
We started the first training on Friday evening on suturing and continued until 8 pm Saturday. Lynn, a doctor, and Jeff, a retired veterinarian, did a great job with slides and hands-on practice with chicken breasts. The midwives loved the practice.
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Then Teresa reviewed and supervised practice of physical assessment, with special attention on cardiovascular and sepsis. The midwives did Hands-on Lung and heart assessment with help from our team members. We’ve realized that very few professionals here have any hands-on practice. I led a section on Preeclampsia- Eclampsia with review of blood pressure, reflexes, rapid assessment and care of patient experiencing a seizure. Then we concluded by reviewing a precipitous birth, including the delivery of a premature baby.
The midwives are incredibly engaged and motivated to improve their knowledge and skills. Donations and volunteers from Teresa and Jeff’s church included water resistant aprons, baby hats, and hand-sewn baby scales complete with attached fish scale. See photos
We ended the evening with a bonfire, including s’mores which allowed the midwives time with each other since most live in different cities. The love is almost palpable in this group.
Nancy Comello led a Supporting Safe Birth volunteer team that taught the Helping Mothers and Babies Survive Bleeding After Birth Complete Day 1 module. Sixteen nursing students participated in the hands-on training at the Galileo University in Guatemala City.
We had 2 productive teaching days with 2 groups of firefighters (bomberos) teaching about postpartum hemorrhage here in Guatemala City. They represented firefighters throughout Guatemala, were very engaged learners, and we enjoyed working with them very much. We were also able to have them practice with the anti-shock pants. We hope to expand our trainings with them in future trips.
Our team is working well together, although tired from the long days. Jill has to return to the states today — we’ll miss you Jill!
We arrived in Guatemala on Thursday, August 15 and prepared our 11 supply bags for each of our trainings. On Sunday, August 18, we had a class of 53 firefighter students! They each practiced on the mannequin, which was their first experience using mannequins. We taught them how to handle precipitous birth – they were very engaged, asking great questions. It was a great and tiring day!
Hello from Guatemala
We were happy to drive to Tecpan on Friday to assist Glendy, who was recognized as a master trainer in Essential Care for Labor & Birth. It was a smaller class than expected & was held in a home (see photo) and Glendy did an amazing job teaching traditional midwives (comadronas) much older than she in their indigenous language, Kachikel. Congratulations Glendy.
We also enjoyed a basket of sweet strawberries as Tecpan is surrounded by acres of strawberry fields. 🙂
Que le
Supporting Safe Birth’s small team is in Guatemala for 2 weeks and it’s already been a week since we arrived. Here’s a short summary of our activities: August 25-27
After collecting our 11 supply bags and reviewing the contents we traveled to San Marcos, Guatemala, ~ 6 hours by bus- to meet with a nurse who is responsible for a large area and many midwives about providing future trainings. We explained our trainings and she asked when we can come! This is an opportunity to train nurses who could then teach community midwives in rural settings far from a hospital with little support.
After returning we enjoyed meeting with Guatemalan Rotarians who are new to us about collaborating on future Rotary global grants to provide trainings and equipment for health care providers. We look forward to working with them, including providing training for EMTs and firefighters about obstetrical emergencies.
On Aug 28, 29 and 30 We had 3 training days on on the topic of Bleeding after Birth. First with nursing students, next day w doctors and nurses, and one with nurses. Each group had positive feedback. There was a lot of additional discussion on evidenced based practice like Respectful Maternity Care, and the benefits of delayed cord clamping and skin to skin. Photos to follow. Thank you for remembering us and also for praying for us.
Nancy
Hello everyone We spent the day with 9 of our Master Trainers who live throughout Guatemala. They wanted a review of hemorrhage after birth & practice with the Antishock pants; we also reviewed the new Helping Mothers and Babies Survive training called Prolonged & Obstructed Labor. Check out today’s photos for their photos and especially their reactions to the breech video. I love these brave & energetic professional midwives who provide prenatal, birth, and postnatal care and seek to learn more to help other women. Many thanks to Silvia for arranging all the details and Mariana, Who is
such a great interpreter and Jeannette for the printing! We couldn’t complete all that we planned so we’re scheduling future zoom meetings.
Hello to any who dropped in to this week’s blog posts from Guatemala, We’re enjoying perfect 75 degree weather and completed our 3rd day of training in San José Pinula. A couple of the supervisory staff have stopped by and asked that we do the training for all the doctors and nurses there. A good sign! Maybe during our next trip!
During today’s training while discussing patients dying, a midwife told her story of bleeding, hysterectomy and near death, and ended her story with a quite shocking quote I will remember: “A pregnant woman always has one foot in the grave.” This is a sad commentary; Supporting Safe Birth will continue to provide education to these amazing midwives as long as we can. Here’s a few photos of today’s class. Hasta luego!
Nancy
Supporting Safe Birth 