Baby Girl Lene

I have excitig news and thanks to my amazing sister, I now have a smart phone so can get online in village, so I want to share right away. Wait, back up. Did you catch that? I may not have electricity, running water, or public transportation but I can send emails from my own humble abode in the middle of an African village!

So on to my news. There is a new baby in the Lene family who also happens to be my family. Here is Africa, your siblings' and cousins' children are considered your own so really I have a new baby!

I have seen hundreds of babies born in the last year and half and there were 3 baby girls born into my family during my first few months at site. All these are exciting events for me but its even better now that I know the mom well, have been here throughout the pregnancy and really feel like a part of this family!

This is the sixth pregnancy and sixth child (unfortunately its often not the same number with so many miscarriages and childhood deaths) for the mom. I have written about and posted pictures of her other kids since I spend a lot of time with them. The new baby joins Barkissa (age 13), Yacouba (11), Djoudatou (7); my little peanut Arachide (4) and Omairatou (22 months). I would always say that's a lot of kids and a lot of pregnancies for one woman and I am even more convinced after watching their mom, Adjaratou. She is absolutely exhausted and this pregnancy was very hard on her body. Like so many pregnancies around the world, this was unplanned but not unwanted since as they tell me, it is a gift from God. I agree with that but also see the unmet needs of her older children and the exhaustion in her face. She has told me multiple times that she doesn't want more children and we have discussed family planning so hopefully can prevent any future pregnancies.

I have been working with Adjaratou throughout her pregnancy about how to stay healthy and help her baby including going to 4 prenatal consultations (which I usually help with), taking iron pills and a malaria prophylatic,planning ahead to give birth at the maternity, and eating well. I try to do this with all women that I see are pregnant but its been much easier and more important to me when its my "sister."

Adjaratou and I went to the maternity Sunday evening when she thought she might be in labor. She was but birth was a while away so she wanted to go home to sleep. She rested all day yesterday before going back to the maternity last night about 8 pm when she thought she it was close.

At the maternity, she laid on the floor alone after being checked to see how dilated she was. When the baby's head started to crown, we helped her climb onto the birthing table and a few minutes later (at 9:03 pm) there was a new baby girl. She weighs 3 kg and has a head full of curly hair. No pictures yet but I promise to post some as soon as I get to the real internet.

One of the ideas I have really tried to introduce to women here is the importance of beginning to breastfeed immediately after giving birth because it is good for both mom and baby. It helps stop bleeding after the birth, provides the baby with antibodies to prevent infections and illness, and encourages bonding. Unfortunately there is an old belief here that colostrum, the first milk, is bad for babies so it is often thrown out or women wait at least a day before starting to breastfeed. This is an old custom that is hard to break especially because its often the grandma, mother of the husband, who tell women to do this and doesn't want to change. I tried to explain this all to Adjaratou and was thrilled that she tried to breastfeed and the baby latched on less than 10 minutes after being born! Many women have come to visit the baby and mama and commented about her eating already. She tells them I told her to start breastfeeding and the women are surprised but seem to accept. Its these little things, individuals that will make small changes, that is the best and I feel most important part of my work here!

The next culture practice I will challenge with this baby and have done with many others is the thought that infants need water. I explain that milk is made up of water and is cleaner and healthier for the baby plus they won't drink enough milk if they fill up on water but women still want to give their infants water and other foods. This too is slowly changing and, when questioned, many women say babies shouldn't eat or drink anything but breastmilk for the first six months. This knowledge must come first and hopefully there will be some behavior change eventually.

Its amazing how this little girl represents so much of my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It saddens me to think I won't be here to watch her take her first steps as I have with the other babies born in my family though.