When you come to the birth center at Haiti, you will be part of a birth team that sees many pregnant women, babies and women in labor.  In addition to the many births we do at the birth center, we often do the prenatal and postpartum care for women who will choose to birth in their home with a traditional birth attendant.

I hope that you have a wonderful experience here and learn a great deal about being a midwife in a low resource setting as well as a great deal about the history of Haiti and her people.  I would suggest “Uses of Haiti” by Paul Farmer as well as “Islands in the Sea” and  ”Mountains Beyond Mountains”.  Also “Farming the Bones”.

I am asking each midwife/ student to come prepared to practice midwifery with a birth bag of their own.  You may choose to leave this here or take it back home when you leave.   You will practice in many different spaces and rooms so you will need a basket or bag that can move from place to place.

Imagine what you would want in your own midwifery bag.  There is no way to go and get these things, so imagine you are on an island (as you will be) and what you would need.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES – The following items are suggestions:

Doppler with batteries

Fetascope

BP cuff and stethoscope

Watch with second hand

Head lamp ( a must )

A small lantern for night births

Tape measure and wheel

Instruments for cord care and suturing

Cord clamp for each day you are here

Delee and clean bulb syringe

Box alcohol wipes

Thermometer – digital

Baby sling and scale

Box non-sterile gloves for each week here

Five pair sterile gloves for each day here

Small hand sanitizer container – you can fill here

One box baby wipes

Three water proof, WASHABLE underpads

UA sticks – one bottle (we can always use more if you can get!)

Method for testing hgb and glucose

PHARMACY - We are always in need of the following pharmacy to treat a wide variety of common complaints:

If possible, one vial of Pitocin for each day you are here ( we use one after each birth)

Eye ointment

Hibiclens

Bottle of probiotics for each week here

Bottle of cranberry for each week here

Tube of anti fungal for each week here (such as lotrimin)

Nystatin solution

The following are suggestions of things that are always welcomed at the center:

Food that is easy to cook with hot water for Sunday dinner when the cook has off

Towels to share

Nature movies for movie night with the orphanage nearby

A recent magazine or paper to share with others who have no access

COMMUNITY DRIVES – You may know groups who would love to support you in your trip, and the people of Haiti. Here are some suggested drives.   It’s good to educate them about Haiti when you start the drive ( location, demographics, history, statistics )

Condoms – We need to be able to pass out many each week (Put all in a ziplock bag for ease of transport and storage)

Baby kits – cloth diapers, pins, diaper cream, short sleeve shirt, light receiving blanket

Momma Kit – washcloth, soap, toothcare, little shampoo, comb, cloth menstrual pads.

Prenatal vitamins – We need them, but please look for a company that would sell a big box instead of many small jars.  Still a prenatal vitamin drive is very helpful as we never have even close to enough.

Traditional Birth Attendant Kits – The local midwives need clean razor blades and cord clamps or heavy dental floss and alcohol pads.  We hope to have a once a month class / lunch with a give away.  It is a big gift to sponsor a one day training for twenty traditional birth midwives. They can not read or write in most cases.  

With many thanks for your efforts,

From MamaBaby Haiti Resident Midwife