Rainy Season and Video

October 1, 2017October 2, 2017Leave a comment

by Amy Nguyen

amy pic It is the beginning of my third week with Dar a Luz Honduras and the rainy season has officially begun. I have started work in a another hospital in the capital and will be attending one of the workshops that Silvia teaches there later this week. This one in particular will be a workshop on teenage pregnancy.

Over the past couple months, Dar a Luz Honduras has been progressed in several different projects. As mentioned in a previous post, Silvia has been working on an eductaional video for Respectful Maternity Care and Human Rights in Childbirth with the approval of the Health Department of Honduras and has now begun the editing process with the studio. They are also nearing the final review of educational material (such as brochures and posters), to be distributed throughout all the labor and delivery wards of Honduras for expectant mothers and healthcare personnel.

Furthermore, due to the efforts of Dar a Luz, the curriculum for sixth year medical students now includes Continue reading →

Compassionate Maternity Care

September 8, 2017September 8, 2017Leave a comment

by Amy Nguyen

Being able to work as a doula with Dar a Luz Honduras has been an incredibly rewarding and eye-opening experience. I have been working at one of the hospitals for the past three days and already have seen how modeling compassionate and respectful care has had a large impact on the maternity ward. As a doula here, this can be through holding hands, giving massages, verbal reassurance, or giving the mothers reminders or suggestions on how to manage the pain, which is especially helpful since no family members are allowed into the unit. Much of the staff is supportive of the doulas and there are many student doctors here, who can be the ones to bring more compassionate care to all of Honduras.

Dar a Luz is currently producing a video to address human rights during childbirth, respectful maternity care, and obstetric violence. The contents have been approved by the Health Department of Honduras and the video will be distributed to hospitals and health education centers around the country to aid in providing consistency of care.

Amy, Silvia and Lic. Iris, thanks Amy!

As a doula in a foreign country, I have found that the advice Dar a Luz gives rings true: what is most important is to bring a compassionate and open heart.

– Amy, writing from Santa Lucía, Honduras

Respectful Maternity Care for all of Honduras

April 18, 2017July 3, 2017Leave a comment

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by Madison Herel

I am writing from Tegucigalpa, where I have been working as a doula for the past couple of weeks in one of the city’s public hospitals. As a doula with Dar a Luz, my job is to be with women, offering suggestions to manage pain, reminders to relax, and encouragement: sí, sí puede (yes, yes you can).

Thus far, my experience has been incredible; every day I am able to witness the power and strength of these mamas and the endless love they have for their babies. Continue reading →

November 18 2016

November 27, 2016November 24, 2016Leave a comment

Dar a Luz hosted an In-service, in collaboration with the Department of Gynecologists and the main national medical school, for over 250 5^th& 6^th year students and intern doctors. Silvia opened the day with a presentation focused on respectful maternal care and human rights during childbirth. The presentation was based on the recommendations that come from the World Health Organization for human rights in labour and delivery. Her message was reinforced with many exercises the students and interns took part in. These exercises aimed to bring awareness and conscientiousness to how a woman in labour is impacted by factors such as a lack of communication and advice between staff and patient, lack of consolation or empathy, and positions for women that are uncomfortable and in-conducive to labour.

Silvia was followed by presentations from guest speakers Dr. Rodriguez (PED), Dr. Ochoa (GNBO), Dr. Arita (GNBO) and Rachel, the head nurse from GNBO. Presentations included the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby, obstetric violence, and outdated and harmful practices during labour. Harmful practices that were discouraged were Kristeller Maneuver (fundal pressure during 2^nd stage of labour), manual dilation of the cervix, episiotomies, and manual removal of blood clots post birth. At one point, Dr. Valle who is Vice Dean of the medical school asked the students to stand and take an oath. Together with Dr. Valle the students swore to practice respectful maternal care with their best conscience and awareness of the patient. The moment was very moving and we thank you Dr. Valle for asking this of the future doctors. Dr. Arita concluded the informative In-service by reinforcing how important it is for the medical community to practice respectful maternity care and allow humanized birth.

It was a very busy morning and Dar a Luz would like to thank everyone involved with this momentous morning, especially our guest speakers who took time out of their busy day to inspire our participants. Your time and knowledge is greatly appreciated! This was the 3^rd event held in the medical school as part of our El Parto Respetado y Humanizado campaign .

An exercise to demonstrate how massages can promote the release of naturally occurring oxytocin in the body.

Nothing like a free massage!

Another exercise to demonstrate the power of positive thought

“Yes I can!” “I am strong!”

A demonstration of how exposed and alone a woman can feel in labour. Silvia encouraged the students and interns to make contact with the woman and to protect her dignity.

An amazing group of participants

Silvia presenting

Future doctors of Honduras

November 4 2016

November 26, 2016November 24, 2016Leave a comment

On November 4th a small intimate group of nursing instructors participated in a seminar as part of our El Parto Respetado y Parto Humanizado campaign. It was a great morning with lots of discussion. It was wonderful to hear these woman open up about their experiences working in the hospitals here. Silvia also demonstrated the many uses of a birthing ball in labour and many positions women can try in the vertical position to alleviate discomfort during labour. As always Dar a Luz provided some delicious snacks for everyone.

Thank you to the Medical School for providing lunch and for all those who came out and participated!

The nursing instructors, head- nurse of the maternity ward of one of the public hospitals, with Silvia and Amy (a volunteer Doula from Canada) saying Yes to respectful maternity care and human rights during childbirth!

Trying out the birth balls

Hurray for Respect in Labour and Birth!

A time full of sharing and listening

So comfortable!

Childbirth Education Class

November 25, 2016November 24, 2016Leave a comment

Pictures from one of our latest Childbirth Education Classes for the teenage pregnancy clinic located in the biggest hospital in Tegucigalpa.

October 28th 2016

November 24, 2016Leave a comment

Dar a Luz hosted a large group of gynecologist residents for a seminar as part of El Parto Respetado y Humanizado campaign. The day focused on Respectful Maternity Care. The head Gynecologist Nurse Rachel, of the biggest school hospital, supported the presentation and the cause. We were also joined by the Vice Director for the Department of Relations between the University and Society. The seminar was filled with informative presentations for respectful maternity and human rights during childbirth. We also focused on the harmful practice of fundal pressure during the second stage of labour (Kristalis Method).

Thank you to all who took time out of their day to support our campaign.

Dr. Eriberto Rodriguez

Dra. Gloria Gonzales

Head Nurse Rachel

Lic. Eva Padilla

Katia Engwicht from the German Embassy

Dr. Jose Luis Arita

Workshop on respectful maternity care and human rights during childbirth with nurses, Tegucigalpa

September 27, 2016October 14, 2016Leave a comment

A beautiful morning in Tegucigalpa for the first day of our respectful birth workshop with the nurses of the biggest labor ward of the country! The Hospital sees up to 65 birth a day and is the biggest School Hospital of Honduras, here medical and nurse students get trained. It was great to hear their viewpoints and see how we can work together to improve the experience of childbirth for women in Honduras.