The End!

3 out of us for us are now safely back home: Sarah, Lyanne and myself. Alix has now been reunited with her husband in Casablanca is off to new adventures for a couple of weeks.

It will be interesting as the summer months go by to reflect on what has changed for us after this experience of practicing midwifery in Uganda. How have we changed within? How have the way we practice midwifery changed or will change? It is impossible to go through such an experience and stay the same, nor would I want to. Certainly all of us now feel more confident about practicing many skills, and dealing with emergencies. There is a renewed commitment to women's health, reproductive choice, and the 'art' of midwifery. I hope there is more mindfulness, more appreciation for what we have, and more compassion.

There are also aspects to going back to work in Canada that I anticipate will be challenging. Dealing with the overabundance of supplies which leads to so much waste will be difficult.  Consider that in a 24 hour period, approximately 30 birthing women will fill up 3 small garbage pails while in Canada,  one birth will fill one laundry bag and one garbage bag! I also foresee that another challenge will be to maintain sterility in the way that is expected in Canada. Finally, after seeing women be in labor for days, DAYS, without any pain medication, I believe it will take somewhat of an effort at times to continue to be present to a woman who is finding it difficult to cope while she has been waiting a 1/2 hour or an hour for an epidural. I may dislike to admit that, but it is true. So to sum up, what will be most challenging will be to keep births in Africa in their context and keep births in Canada in theirs.

Thank you to all of you who have read our blog and have written us with your kind words and encouragement. It was much appreciated.

Carolyn