March 2021

Mummy No 21 made contact with me on her 12th week scan when in Colombo, and we met in one of the nice cafés for a chat and making acquaintance.  A free spirited, almost hippy and so in love couple radiated happiness and I knew they would take control and get the birth they desired as they had all the correct values and life attitudes.

We met a couple of times, but most of our contact was via WhatsApp messaging, which I find a fast and very effective way of supporting pregnant women to achieve an individual and holistic approach.

Pregnancy went well, with the baby closely monitored at the end of third trimester and at 39 weeks, induced. A day in one of the smaller family-like maternity hospitala was full of waiting and hopes, but prayers were answered and I was called to the hospital at 22.30. I was there in 30mins finding her using a hot shower and took over her husband who went to prepare the birthing room.

All labour rooms are full of equipment and cupboards of sterile materials and equipment, machines, and a big clinical bed in the middle. When we made our way into the labour room via long corridor outside in the garden, in the middle of the night and only stars to see, you could smell cinnamon, hear calming music and see just tea lights lingering in the dark. What a peaceful place to birth a baby – something Sri Lankan maternity unit don’t see that often. She went into her complete inner self and used meditation and breathing techniques as pain relief. Her bby girl was born at 2.40am and the couple were overjoyed at the amazing birth story they will have to proudly share with the world.

Partnership, and trust in a woman’s body and its power was apparent throughout the pregnancy and birth and all I was doing was giving them reassurance and comfort. They knew what they were doing even though it was their first experience – they were both natural. I left them to enjoy the moment and waited for them to arrive back into their room, where it had all started.  I was so proud of her, witnessing another loving family being born is just priceless. All was well and they were discharged home the next day as a three members family.

Coming for check-up a few weeks later, they brought some aromatherapy oils and a diffuser to gift to the labour room staff to use for other women. One by one, slowly and surely, we may be able to change the attitude and outlook of nursing staff in Sri Lanka to become women centred, not system centred.

We just have to be patient.

Rennie