"Compassion House" is a Christian birth and midwifery training center in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Casa Compasiva A.C.

Casa Compasiva A.C.
Birth Center

Typical Week at Casa Compasiva


What is a week at Casa Compasiva like? Well, on a typical Monday I might walk in and find the midwives teaching a prenatal education class to six or eight women and some husbands/boyfriends. One midwife is leading everyone in exercises, another shares the gospel in a devotional “chat,” one might demonstrate bathing and caring for a newborn, someone will show a birth video emphasizing breathing and a variety of positions, and finally one midwife will lead a “nutritional focus” awarding prizes for the mama with the healthiest diet or perhaps the most pure water consumed the day before. After class, the pregnant ladies disperse to different rooms all over Casa for their prenatal check-ups with the different midwives and usually a final once-over-the-chart with Doctora Donaji.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are quieter, with the midwives attending a handful of clients—many of whom are “walk-ins.” They can also be found working on promotional materials, preparing classes for the next week, going out on postpartum visits, sterilizing instruments, organizing inventory, etc. I am always impressed by their diligence, responsibility, and creativity in approaching each task! Fridays are taken up with staff Bible-study, staff meetings, and lots of client consultations.

And of course, any moment of any day or night the team could spring into action when a mama arrives in labour. Setting up the birth pool, getting mama (and dad) comfortable, and preparing for labour and birth are fun and rewarding activities, but also represent hard work. It is so wonderful to observe the growing confidence of the midwives as each one knows and executes well her area of responsibility on the birth team-- supporting the mama in labour, monitoring fetal heart and mama's vital signs, receiving the baby, newborn exam, lactation support, post-partum care, —in short, all the different aspects involved in labour and delivery.

So I just want to take a moment to say how proud I am of our staff. They are truly an amazing team!


No comments

Post a Comment

Professional Blog Designs by pipdig