Most of the mamas have never seen a fetal doppler machine before. The hospitals and clinics in Uganda typically use the old school Pinard Horn to listen to baby. This is a great way to do it, but then the mamas do not get to hear their babies. I love to see the look on the mama’s face when we explain that sound is her baby’s strong heartbeat.
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| Example of a nurse using a Pinard Horn. |
Often these “exams” are done in very interesting places and conditions. We’ve done checks on our bus, behind curtains in a church, and on the floor of a school room. During this last trip, we did checks at one church in a very dark storage room. The women had to lay down on the skinniest benches I have ever seen and it was low to the ground. They didn’t even really bat an eye at doing it. I would have thrown a fit if someone asked me to do that at 8 months pregnant.
During the same outreach as the one pictured above, missionary Kathy Vaughan, was checking out one of the women’s babies. This baby was born with a cleft palette and lip and was awaiting surgery. The baby had been sick with a bad cough and Kathy was trying to assess if he needed further treatment. After listening to baby, Kathy took off her stethoscope and let the mama hear her baby’s heart. It was such a precious moment. Kathy is such a beautiful example to me of how to love and care for others with gentleness and respect.
And the best news of all…the mama pictured here listening to her baby’s heartbeat had received Christ as her Savior at church the day before. She started coming to the church after coming to the women’s meetings Kathy and her Ugandan team lead. She got plugged into the local church and saw the way everyone rallied around her to help her with her baby. All of these things put her on the right path to accept Christ. She now has true hope and peace to carry her through the days ahead. This is what it is all about.