Tuesday 30th June 2020

After a successful two-day training in water birth in a private hospital, a doctor and a head nurse asked me if I could conduct a one-day training for the staff of the maternity ward and concentrate on attitude to mothers. I think she liked my passion and a positive approach to midwifery as such. It was easy to adjust the existing presentation and preparations was done within a week. I tend not to practice in advance as I already know how much time it may take. I save more time on a single topic, because I know there is always something to talk about if there is time to spare. I have learned that less is more and try to focus on a topic with a simple subtext and a strong connection between theory and practice. Most of the maternity staff speaks English, so I was able to speak on my own, even though I had a mask on. When I was on stage away from people, I took it off.

I gave the lecture title * Empower Empower * with a plan from 8-13.30 and with the following topics: the basics of childbirth, hormones during childbirth, effective communication and informed consent with a 30-minute comfort break and refreshments. The day before, I baked chocolate muffins, all of which were eaten with fish rolls, which the doctor had ordered. My theory is: when nurses, midwives, and doctors understand what a woman experiences and how physiologically it works, they will know how to treat them and what to expect from them. The best part is always practical, when they get a scenario that describes the practical situation and they have to role play in pairs / groups what it would look like in practice. They learn within their own group, but they also observe how others communicate and solve the situation, so it’s a double learning. Every lecture ends with “Take home message” and I always ask everyone what they have learned and what was most important to them from today’s lecture. Younger staff with flexible thinking are creative in their answers however some old colleges think they know everything, and it is difficult to change them. Hierarchy in Sri Lanka is well embedded in their DNA and it is difficult to break the thinking, it may take generation to this, most likely it will never change.

Even if I had changed attitude of only one nurse or midwife present, my effort and time was still worth it.  That one nurse can change lives and experiences of all the women in her care, and that’s victory, right?

Sister Yvonne came to thank me and presented me with a beautiful basket of fruit; it is good that they don’t give me chocolate or curry. She then invited me to lunch, as in the morning, I ordered salad and chicken with mashed potatoes. I think I deserved that lunch when all work I do is voluntary.

We will see how the situation develops on the maternity ward and whether the doctor in charge observes if any nurses have changed their approach to women. I’ll keep you informed.

 Recipe for chocolate muffins:

2.5 cups of plain flour

1 cup of granulated sugar

spoon of baking powder

half a cup of cocoa – stir all ingredients together

add a cup of milk

3/4 cup of oil

Tablespoon of vinegar – mix everything lightly, the mixture will be quite liquid

pour into paper cupcakes and bake in preheated oven 180C for 10-15min

Rennie