 Birth & Midwifery in Dominican Republic
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND PRACTITIONERS
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Birth Situation Room Report
Midwifery Today Country Contact*
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 Experiences in the Dominican Republic
[June 2011]
I am a licensed midwife from the state of South Carolina; I have been bringing student midwives and doulas from my online course (http://midwifetobe.com ), as well as others who want more experience, down to the Dominican Republic a few times a year.
Conditions are difficult and poverty is an issue, but the women sure know how to deliver babies without a lot of fuss! It is a joy to bless the women and hospital staff with sheets, baby packs, birth photos and medical supplies. We don’t hear much at all about midwives in the country. Most women seem able to make it to one of the free hospitals for the general population. The ones who have connections go to smaller, nicer hospitals that can handle preterm babies and other special circumstances.
We work in the poorer hospitals that need help. Spanish is spoken, so translators are needed. We try to teach staff about neonatal resuscitation, kangaroo care for preterm babies, etc. The staff, for the most part, are open to learning new ideas.
Directors of hospitals change often, so we go to numerous hospitals to try and find the place where students can learn the most and where we can be of service. We’ll sometimes help with 20 to 30 births a day. They do let us catch babies if not high risk, but we don’t really manage the births. There are plenty of moms to doula, babies to exam and experiences to be had. I know we have saved lives on numerous occasions. Come join us if you want to bless the poor.
— Lisa Aman
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