COURSE OUTLINE
DAY 1
- introductions using a ‘talking circle’ with each person sharing their name where they were from and why they had come, i.e. what their expectations were
- handing out of manuals
- hand washing demonstration followed by everyone washing their hands
- anatomy and basic physiology lesson
- probable and definite signs of pregnancy
- calculating a probable due date for a specific pregnancy
- risk factors in pregnancy and how to identify them
- demonstration of prenatal interviews- what questions to ask to identify women at risk as well as making use of this time to teach the pregnant woman
- role-playing of prenatal interviews
Traditional Birth Attendants (midwives, or TBAs ) were asked to bring an item of food that she felt would be important for a pregnant woman to eat for the following day as we would be discussing nutrition.
DAY 2
- washing of hands
- review of day 1
- any questions or concerns
- nutrition, with each person sharing why they brought what they had and then further discussion about what nutritional needs a pregnant woman has
- practise of prenatal interviews through role playing
- demonstration of a complete prenatal exam: identification of potential risks, determining the position of the fetus in the uterus, signs of anemia, pre-eclampsia, etc.
- demonstation of a normal birth
- DVD of birthing and discussion of same
TBAs were asked to think about complications during birth that they would like to talk about the following day
We also ask for 4 volunteers to do a birth demonstration of a typical birth in their area for the following day.
DAY 3
- washing of hands
- watching of birthing DVD
- dramatization done by volunteers showing a typical birth in their community
- demonstrations and discussion about complications at birth such as hemorrhage, malpresentation of fetus, twins, pre-eclampsia, prolonged labor, premature rupture of membranes, a baby that doesn’t breathe, retained placenta, etc.
- many dramatizations of normal and complicated births
DAY 4
- washing of hands
- discussion re:
-family planning
-vaccinations of pregnant women and babies
-breastfeeding and watching of a DVD on breastfeeding
-STD’s
-local resources and a community emergency plan
-questions that anyone may have that haven’t been answered during the week - Final ‘talking circle’ for everyone to share their experience of the course
In the afternoon of the 4th day we hold a ‘graduation ceremony’. Each TBA receives a certificate and a birthing kit.
Each kit contains:
- nailbrush, nailclippers, soap and a soap container
- an apron and a plastic sheet
- stainless steel scissors, umbilical cord ties, Q-tips and a small bottle of alcohol
- guaze, gloves erythromycin eye ointment,
- a headlamp (as there is often no electricity where these women birth)
Each day of the course a midmorning snack and lunch is provided.