The Comedronas

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AKA the Guatemetecan Midwife.

These brightly coloured ladies are the fear of all medical students in Guatemala. It is the responsibility of the students during their public health rotation (which is what I doing), to monitor and meet with these woman twice a month in at their local outreach clinics, and once a month juntos in a school in San Juan. The students also have to monitor mala practica of these scary women and teach them basic facts about pregnancy, including when to push, warning signs before delivery for pre-eclampsia and malpresentations (breech etc), and after delivery for haemorrhage and infection. These woman have little formal training but are often the most respected women in the villages. They adore coca cola and cake, and will kiss anyone with a smile! The pictures say it all.

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Comments

[Mum and Dad]

Pictures
I would think you had your work cut out for you. I expect you are walking around with Coke and cake and wondered why you always had that big smile on your face

[Finola]

Scary mamas
Hi Megs. These women look incredible. What lives have they lived? What have they seen? I´ve had email issues for the last couple of weeks, which I´m hoping to rectify now. Expect another update very soon. Hope you´re hanging on in there. Just over a week to go....Fins x

[Erin]

familiar!
Ah, good to see vaguely familiar faces (in a very general manner). Meant to ask you for your blog address so thanks for sending it, will keep an eye out on what's happening there. Stay safe and have fun.

[Tom Jennings]

Hello Megan
I saw your dad's link to this blog in his message to the Men's Bible Study Group. Congratulations on your accomplishments.

[Camilla]

Heavy Duty!
Fantastic! Like the old style medicine women - any sign of guinea pigs being used to cure headaches? So, some interpersonal skills and cunning persuasion needed I guess. They must have some stories to tell, do you get much chance to have a (translated) chat or is it all work? Cx