In Mexico, there are three types of midwives, depending on their educational background. There are about 15,000 traditional midwives, who are empirical in their knowledge. Their knowledge varies from midwife to midwife. They have knowledge of the herbs and cultural birth customs. Many have been trained by the government, and use medical techniques that are outdated. There are nurse midwives who have a more updated medical knowledge, however, have trained in a deficient system. Many do not have a lot of practice for home births. Then there are technical midwives who have trained in the midwifery model of care. They are respectful of traditional practices and updated in medical techniques. Many are still young and just graduating. Also, there are foreign midwives living in Mexico and fighting for homebirth and humanized births.
To choose a midwife it would be really wise to ask her a lot of detailed questions, on how long she has been working, where she trained, who her network of health providers are. In case of emergency what would happen. How many clients she has approximately a month
Midwives have supported women through centuries in many states. Only 2 presidents ago, the government launched a campaign to institutionalize all births and many midwives were affected by this marginalization. However, today the government is realizing that this has not reduced maternal mortality significantly or does it satisfy the women. There is a lot of obstetric violence in the hospitals and the government is reopening a dialogue on how to reinstate their work.
September 30 is the birthday of José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón, yet another hero of the Mexican war for independence. He was born in Valladolid, Michoacan which was renamed Morelia in his honor as was the state of Morelos. In those areas, a bit of a hoopla goes on in honor of the birthday boy. Not so much in other areas.
Miguel Hidalgo and Morelos
Morelos was a student at the school Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo where Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a teacher and became an ordained priest. He had three children with Brigida Almonte, two sons and a daughter. He sent his oldest son Juan Nepomuceno Almonte to the United States both for educational and safety reasons.
Under Morelos’s military leadership, the fight for independence progressed. He headed the National Constituent Congress of Chilpancingo in 1813 which drafted the “Sentimientos de la Nación” (Sentiments of the Nation) declaring Mexico’s independence from Spain. Congress offered the title Generalissimo (Your Highness) to Morelos but he declined and asked to be called el Siervo de la Nación (Servant of the Nation).
Morelos was captured by the Spanish in 1815 tried for treason, disloyalty to the crown, and transgressions in his personal life. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by firing squad on December 22.
Morelos is found on the 50 peso note along with the state symbol, the Monarch butterfly. The reverse pictures the aqueduct in Morelia, the Bank of Mexico symbol and the prehispanic symbol for Michoacan. And yes, it is pink. Pink is an acceptable masculine color here in Mexico.
So I’ve discussed healthcare in general, but there are some things ladies need to know to take care of their needs living in Mexico.
Family Planning
Mexican health care covers hormonal contraceptives including anticonceptivos hormonales orales/pastillas anticonceptivas (the pill), inyecciones anticonceptivas de aplicación mensual y la trimestral (depo shot monthly or every other month), and los parches anticonceptivos (the patch). It’s also possible to get el dispositivo intrauterino de cobre (DIU) (copper IUD), el dispositivo intrauterino con levonorgestrel (IUD with progestin) and el implante subdérmico (implants).
Seguro Popular will provide medical instruction on how to use the condón masculino (condom), but you’ll have to get a pack yourself from the pharmacy or your local super (grocery store). Packs are most often behind the counter so you’ll have to ask just like you do for cigarettes, aspirin, and matches. Supposedly, the female condom is also available in some areas, but I have yet to see it where I live.
You can also find douches and pregnancy tests at the pharmacy. And if your man is getting up in years, Cialis and Viagra are available here without a prescription.
Abortion is illegal everywhere in the country except Mexico City, however, you can get the morning after pill (anticoncepción de emergencia/anticoncepción hormonal postcoito).
If you decide you are done having children, you can have your tubes tied with the procedure oclusión tubaria bilateral (OTB) also called salpingoclasia. Believe or not, there is a yearly vasectomy campaign in November and if your male counterpart is willing, he might qualify for a free Vasectomía sin Bisturí (Vasectomy without scalpel). However much vasectomies are promoted, they are still not fully accepted culturally.
Sanitary pads and alternatives
If you aren’t pregnant and Aunt Flo makes her monthly visit, you need to be aware that tampons are hard to find in Mexico. In fact, in some areas, impossible to find. So what’s a lady to do?
Well, there are pads. Most of the pads are wafer thin and scented. Yes, scented. Just like most of the toilet paper. Apparently, Mexico hasn’t made the connection between infections and perfumes in your genital area. So you might want to consider making your own cloth pads. If you aren’t crafty, you can order them online.
Apparently, some version or other of cloth pads have been around for awhile. To say someone is having her period in my husband’s town you say “tiene caballo” which literally means she has a horse but refers to having so much material stuffed between her legs that she is walking bowlegged as if she were riding a horse.
So if the bowlegged trot isn’t for you, you might try a menstrual cup. There are a variety of cups available to accommodate every vagina size. You may need to try a few different types to find something you are comfortable with but I guarantee you, once you find the right fit, you’ll NEVER go back to pads.
If the cup isn’t your cup of tea, you might try period panties or menstrual sponges. I haven’t found either of these options available in stores in my area, but you can find them online. (Check out this discount for Thinx panties)
So there you go ladies. More information that you probably need, but since no one talks about these things locally, you gotta find out from somewhere.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to share this summit with you all. I mean, well, I’m not 50 yet and some of the topics seemed a bit woo-woo even for me. I’m not so sure I want to be a juicy crone quite yet and astrology…well, perhaps not? However, not only is it free, but also some of my favorite authors will be presenting. Take a look at the topics I plan on tuning in for….
If you aren’t able to make the scheduled session, you’ll be able to access the taped version up to 48 hours after. See the full list here. And it’s FREE! You know how I love that!
