The Midwives of the Shiphrah Bahay Paanakan (Shiphrah Birthing Home)

Here at the Paanakan everyone is a valuable part of the community and no one is left out. Everyone at the Paanakan has welcomed me and helped me so much in getting used to life here. Each family is open to having us students come into their family and community circles. They share their food, their family time, and their energy, all of which are extremely valuable! Each midwife is amazing at what they do, I will not be able to describe adequetely each one and how dedicated and loyal they are to the women at the Paanakan. They are incredible at being mothers, friends, and care givers. Each one of the midwives love to joke and laugh! they are all a vital part of the community at the birthing home. They all work extremely hard and diligently throughout the day and the night. They are ready to serve these women at anytime, even when it takes away from their personal lives. I am blessed beyond measure to be accepted by them and to be learning from them!!!

Ate Lyds is an amazing teacher! She's great at taking the time to explain things to me. She really allows me to be her shadow and involves me as much as possible in whatever she is doing with each patient. She is AMAZING at suturing! Lyd's really gets me in there and helps me get a lot of hands on experience! Lyd's husband, Effrain goes way above and beyond to take care of his family and to look out for others. He is always cooking, cleaning and helping out. One time I was trying to make lunch and I dropped a glass jar of jelly! Immediately he started cleaning it up with me and told me to go ahead and eat my lunch! Another thing I really appreciate about Effrain is that he speaks to me in tagalog despite the fact that he knows I don't understand it. It makes me feel really accepted.

Lyds and her beautiful family, Effrain and Rainlyds

Beautiful Rainlyds

Lyds talking with a family the day after their birth


Ate Bhel (pronounced Belle) is a very calming and gentle presence at births and in the Paanakan in general. She also knows how to joke and have fun; she has a great laugh! She has two beautiful baby girls who she sings to all the time. They are finally warming up to me a little bit! Her older daughter, Maybell is so adorable! She has such a cute little voice and contagious laugh! She also very fiery and determined, both characteristics remind me of my little sister when she was that age :) Maybell is really attached to the midwives, they are her aunties and she wants to be with them more than anything else! Marielle is a such a gorgeous girl! She is very shy of english speaking caucasians (understandable considering she has not been taken care of by any). I am still working to let her feel comfortable with me but she is letting me hold her sometimes now which is really exciting! I think her favorite people in the world are Mommy and Ate Dina. The only reason she's smiling in this picture is because Dina is the one behind the camara ;)

Ate Bhel and her youngest daughter, Marielle

Bhel's oldest, Maybell


Bhel also has a really sweet ya ya (nanny), Gladys who has very kindly translated for me during part of a late-night birth. She is a great ya ya and really loves Bhel's girls.

Ate Dina (pronounced Deena) is all of the kids favorite Ate (big sister)! She is very personal, loving and individual with all of the babies and kids. When they are upset she knows just how to calm each one of them down and to make them laugh. She is always holding and loving on Marielle and Maybell runs to her Ate Dina whenever she's upset. Dina is a great midwife, she's awesome at being assertive when she needs to. If a women's family is disruptive she won't hesitate to ask them to step out! The women really respect and listen to her. She is great at getting women into helpful positions. She knows how to teach women and husbands to work together during labor and to try different movements to bring the baby down. If a position isn't working quite right Dina immediately has another one for her to try.

Dina and Marielle

Grace is hilarious, very relatable and very sweet! Many times as soon as a baby is born she shouts "Thank you Lord Jesus!" or "Welcome baby!" Grace is really fun to work with! She gives you responsibility but is also right there to help. She is great at communicating and making things clear. She throws me right into the thick of a situation and helps me think things through while getting hands on experience. Grace has two beautiful kids, Roanne and Ryle. Her mom is also here at the Paanakan to help with baby Ryle. Roanne is very independent. She is also really spirited and friendly, you can tell she is a natural born leader. All the other little girls follow her around. Joy just beams out of her cute little face! Ryle is just about the cutest baby boy in Manila! Anyone can make him laugh; he's very giggly and sweet! Whenever I get to hold him it is an absolute treat!

Ate Grace, her daughter Roanne and her son Ryle

Adorable Ryle

Ryle and his Lola

Roanne and her huge personality!

Maybell and her Ate Roanne


Lornie is very reassuring and calm as a midwife, nothing seems to phase her. She also often brings humor into the birth experience in a tactful and helpful way. She's very steady and comforting for women in labor. One time she monitored a labor all night only to have it go into the next day and the next night! She never stopped working with the woman and trying to help her labor progress. Lornie is great at talking with women and their families! She, Grace, and Bell all are great at taking a step back and allowing us students to step up and accept some responsibility for these births. In this way, I am able to be involved and make a connection. Her sweet and beautiful daughter is named Johanna.

Lornie and her husband Joey at a school pageant where Johanna won many awards.

Lornie

Johanna

Although Helen is technically the house keeper at the Paanakan, she rises way above and beyond this role. She is basically the manager of the entire place, she keeps the whole thing going! She helps teach seminars, leads the exercises for the women in the mornings and organizes many of the details surrounding the Paanakan. Keeping this place clean and organized with so many people coming in and out is a huge task! She is always a smiling, joking face around here and knows almost everything about the Paanakan and how things are run. She is in charge of records and she knows just about as much about maternity care as a midwife does. She also has a beautiful daughter named Michelle.

Michelle at Johanna's 7th birthday party

Jorge is a great and very personable presence at the birthing home. He is the mission's driver which is a huge and extremely vital task. He is the one (along with Darren) who gets women to the hospital in an emergency. He is really a big part of the birthing home community and is great friends with all the midwives, their kids and their families. He's also really welcoming and accepting of me, Lauren, and Kim. He teaches us how to be more Filipino and welcomes us to eat with him all the time. He is a really fun teaser, he's very genuine and really ready to help in anyway. He's a huge jokester but very loving at the same time.