Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Rural Homestead Birth

Just got back from Mbabane Gov Hospital, took our friend Thokozani and his wife and brand new baby in. We tried to get to the homestead in time to take her for delivery. It takes a little over an hour to get to this homestead from town and the roads are really bad. Sometimes there really isn't a road or the road is washing away down the side of the hill! When we arrived Tabile, Thokozani's wife, was up walking around, cleaning up, but obviously in pain. I started asking her about the pains and when they started and how often they were occurring. She looked at me and said, "I already delivered." I felt really stupid! We are so spoiled! I am used to delivery in the hospital and being in bed and having nurses or family help with everything. She was up trying to get cleaned up with blood running down her leg, bending over in pain at intervals.

Anyway, we arrived too late, the baby girl, Bakazile had been born 2 hours earlier. Thokozani's sister helped deliver the baby. I asked what she used to cut the cord and she said a sharp piece of glass and tied the cord off with a piece of thread. The baby was having some difficulty breathing, lots of mucous. I felt really helpless, I had nothing to suction her with or anything. I prayed for her all the way to the hospital as I was holding her. We tried to get her to breast feed and she was not interested. I am very glad we took them, the nurses suctioned the baby to get the mucous out and Tabile had a very bad tear and had to have many internal and external stitches. They will stay overnight at the hospital. We got food for her and a packet of nappies (diapers) for mom and baby to share. They use the baby nappies for mom as a pad for the first 24 hours.

Praise God, mom and baby are safe and well. I am very happy that we were able to be of assistance to this precious family! Pictures of beautiful Bakazile to follow. They asked us what her English name could be and we said Becky.

3 comments:

Health Online said...

Thanks for sharing it

Wicked said...

Was not sure where to post this. Just wanted to let you know that someone is posing as you on craigslist and using the email . He/she is attempting to sell this apartment http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/apa/2528997822.html and is asking for a western union money transfer in the amount of 1300 dollars. This is almost always a scam. You seem like nice people and I sincerely hope this is a poser and not really you. Thought I would just inform you.

Elysa said...

Just found your blog for the first time. What a blessing it is to read. So much of what your family has felt is what God is speaking to our hearts as well.

Thank you for sharing this story. We take so much for granted in America.