Skilled birth Attendant, Heema Shiris, tells the story of Rupa Pun’s breeched delivery:

Her name is Rupa. On 39 August 2013, around 11pm at night the female community health volunteer called me. She told me that the mother was in pain. Then I requested that she bring her to the health post immediately. They arrived at about 11:30pm. Then we admitted her. After that I checked her over completely. The pain was unbearable so we checked the cervix and found that it was already open 8-9cm. So we started a drip, but the pain was still increasing more and more. Around 2-3am I checked the cervix again, and it was already fully opened. After that I advised her she needs to begin to push. Then we took her to the delivery room and she started to push. At that time while examining I found out the baby’s leg was coming out first. We did not know before that the baby was turned around. I even had told her to go get an ultrasound, and when they did the report has come back normal. If we had known this from the start, we would have taken her to Baglung Hospital at the beginning. We trusted the report, but later during the labour we found it is leg first.

Now we begin to be more careful. Then I told her husband and her mother-in-law, we may be able to deliver the baby here or maybe not. You need to be prepared for any scenario. But I kept trying to do my best. Then around 5am by using all the techniques and training I have received I was able to make this delivery successful. Both mother and baby are healthy. When the baby came out it had asphyxia and we did a little massage, and made her cry by using dili suction. Then I put her on her mother’s chest, which we call Kangaroo method. Then I finished the after delivery care for the mother. This happened while the mother in law has returned to their home to make preparations. The mother in law was very anxious about what will happen to her daughter in law and grandchild. She was crying, but we consoled her by saying we will do our best. If possible we will do here, if not we will refer. When the mother in law returned, she was happy. Her husband returned with her. Afterwards everything was well, and we discharged her.

Story translated and collected by Suraj Shah.