Midwives

Emily Ellis

»When I was younger I had a dream about babies playing in the water,¨says Maria Feliciana Chojolan Lopez, folding her hands complacently over her woven skirt. ¨Then I knew God was telling me what to do with my life. It was my destiny.¨

Maria has been a midwife in Cantel for over 20 years, and has never lost a baby or mother to birth-related complications – a record any licensed doctor would be proud of, but truly impressive when you consider that Maria has no formal medical training and usually works alone, with no tools other than medicinal plants and hot water.

Although powerful women are often identified by their success in male-dominated occupations, some of the most skilled, tough, and generous women inhabit one of the most feminine vocations imaginable.    Midwifery is particularly essential in Guatemala, since the majority of births happen out of the hospital. This is due in part to the long distance to hospitals from villages, the high cost of medical services, and countryside´s wealth of medicinal plants. Maria knows that she can offer something to women that doctors cannot. “A mother trusts me because I am from the community, I have helped deliver babies that she knows. We make the house nice, we pray, the whole family is there.”

Jenna Houston, E.D at Midwives for Midwives, has spent years working with midwives around Antigua, arranging apprenticeships between American and European midwifery students and Guatemalan comodronas. She says that many people underestimate the importance of these women to Guatemalan communities.  ¨The majority [ of midwives ] are dedicated angels to mothers and babies,¨she says. ¨They do the best they can, given a lack of resources.¨

Since Guatemalan mothers will use the services of midwives no matter what, a recognition of their value and respect for their craft is essential to preventing infantile and maternal deaths from birth complications. ¨There are skilled knowledgeable midwives, and there are also women at high risk and many deaths could be prevented,” Jenna explains. “Midwives need more support from the public system and better training to those midwives that are under resourced.”

Offering further training and resources to women who are already skilled and knowledgeable can do nothing but benefit the medical community. There are some free training programs available for midwives, however;  Maria travels to Quetzaltenango about once a week to take courses at Codicut, an organization that, in addition to training midwives, educates them on women’s rights. Maria feels that the classes gives her pride in what she does, and pride in being a woman.  “Women are more valuable than men, though, even though we are mistreated,” she tells me with conviction. “We can give birth. We have more knowledge than men because men can’t do what we do.”

What Maria does is certainly fascinating; she describes a typically birth. “First, I give the mother cinnamon tea heat and relax her body,” she says. “Then, I lay two hot water bottles on either side of her stomach, to help the baby come down straight.” For those accustomed to the Western model of birth – and the machines, drugs, and army of nurses that go with it – Maria´s sparse but effective methods are particularly impressive.  Jenna, who has worked as a midwife since 1975, agrees.

“Guatemalan midwives are brave and willing,” she says. “They are the ones on the true front lines, never knowing what they may walk into.”

As I took my leave of Maria, she grinned and remarked wickedly, “If you get pregnant while you’re in Guatemala, call me!”

Although I’m not planning on it, I’m sure I would be in good hands.