The women in our maternity program are all special and unique in their own ways. Some ladies we accept in into the program because of their age, some it's because of connections they have to us, and others we accept because of their stories.
Yolette is a woman we accepted because of her story. Yolette is vivacious full of energy. Her smile is contagious, and her personality is larger then life.
When we initially met with her to talk about her childbearing history, I was taken back by her story. She was pregnant one previous time. Seven months into her pregnancy she started bleeding. She ended up loosing the baby and almost dying herself. I can't imagine what it would be like to loose a baby like that then be pregnant again. She stated her story as a matter of fact and was excited to be pregnant again.
I have a soft spot in my heart for women in this situation. Women who have lost a first child then are faced with pregnancy and birth for a second time. These ladies have a unique vulnerability cause of their situation. Because of the trust we build with each woman, their birth can be a place of love and healing.
Yolette called late afternoon saying that she was in labor. Beth and I jumped in the truck and headed on down to the maternity center to be with her. Yolette labored well. She was centered and confident. She wanted to be upright and work with her body. She was ready to push shortly after we got there. She sat on our birth stool and I sat beside her. She was content being with Beth and I. Slowly with each contraction the baby started coming down. As the birth came closer we suspected that the baby's shoulder was stuck behind his mother's pubic bone. Yolette moved onto her hands and knees which allowed the baby's shoulder to pass under the pubic bone and come out.
The baby boy went straight into his mother's arms. We all rejoiced when he let out a big lusty cry. Yolette's sisters on the porch were singing praises and came to the window to see the new baby.
Yolette grabbed and hugged Beth and I with her baby on her lap and thanked us. In that moment I thought how amazing and special it was for this baby to be born surrounded by such love. Yesterday Yolette wrote a beautiful new chapter in her story.
I can honestly say I do not think I have seen such a healthy baby born here in Haiti. He weighed 8 lbs, 4 0z. at birth.
