Local "Granny" Midwife Shares Forty Years of Experience

I recently had the pleasure of meeting this delightful Hindu lady, Eswari, age 67, who has been attending home births in the local creche area for forty years. Her own mother attended Eswari's births and encouraged her daughter to apprentice with her. She has a deep sense of God's calling on her life and His presence with her at births. If she receives any pay at all, it is often in the form of a new sari. And guess what, midwife friends? She uses castor oil!
She also serves her community at the time of death when she is called in to bathe the body, a job many shun.
Presently there is no one working with Eswari to carry on after her. Several women have told me that they had their mother or sister or friend present at their home birth to assist. For these untrained attendants, the Home-Based Life Saving Skills program which I have mentioned before and would like to implement here, would provide critical skills and knowledge.