The one where they made F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Kiley here!

It's been a busy few days since we landed. As Britney mentioned, we met with Goma, the current president of the Midwifery Society of Nepal (MIDSON). Goma is the third president of MIDSON since it was established in 2010. She taught us about the history and development of midwifery in Nepal, and their vision of growing midwifery by 2030. They currently have 66 trained midwives in Nepal, with 20 more waiting to write their registration exams, and over 300 midwifery students registered to midwifery schools throughout the country. The primary objectives of MIDSON are to improve maternal and child health, decrease maternal mortality, standardize quality maternity care, and advocate for midwifery practice in Nepal. They have been working hard at a strategic plan, with 8 new midwifery programs opening across the country since 2016.

Image 1. Captured from left to right: Cathy, Goma, Britney, Kiley, and Mickey

Image 2. MIDSON Office

Next we met students and educators at one of the schools in Kathmandu to exchange information about physiologic birth with a class of first year students. Some of their students had attended deliveries with past experience in maternity nursing, while others had specialized in other areas of nursing before beginning their midwifery education. They were keen, they taught us about nursing and midwifery in Nepal, and had questions about midwifery scope of practice in Canada. We discussed physiologic birth, birth environments, and respectful maternity care before my performance as a birthing person about to deliver. Cathy, our instructor, was an epic support person at my birth, and Britney modelled respectful birth and slow delivery of the head. I got into character and was sweaty after all those contractions... the principle of the school told me I was "quite the actor" but I told her I could not quit midwifery to pursue acting at this age.

We met Bimala Rai, an ICU nurse who shared her own birth story with us in the garden of our hotel. We spent hours listening to her take on midwifery and health care systems in Nepal, how culture affects maternity practices, and how she sees the role of global midwifery students in placement here as a person who had two babies in Nepal. Bimala Rai is an incredible healthcare provider, conversationalist, and we will better midwives because we met her.

Last day in Katmandu we sped out at 5am for the 10hr jeep ride to Phaplu. We had our first encounters with real toilets in Nepal and were proud of our leg strength.

Image 3. Cathy and Britney at our first breakfast stop in Nepalthok on our way to Phaplu

Image 4. The jeep we took on our way to Phaplu.

Once arriving in Phaplu, we met the famous Pema, a close friend of Cathy and Mickey's. Pema will be joining us along our travels to help guide us, and keep Cathy in line (just kidding). Pema has changed maternity care as a Nepalese midwife and travelling ultrasound technician, among other titles in her communities. We feel really fortunate to meet her and her family. She is the kind of role model you dream to resemble fractions of by the end of your career. After hearing many stories from Cathy, we were a little starstruck to meet Pema. We were also stunned by her lodge, this has got to be the most beautiful accommodation I have ever stayed in the world (If you are reading this you should quickly pause to check out flights to Phaplu so you can stay here and enjoy the trekking nearby). Her daughter-in-law, Rashmita, and grandsons, Sangye and Pasan, made our first stop outside of Katmandu feel like a home away from home with their food, stories, and impressive Pokémon card collection.

Image 6. Lunch today at Kyirmu Lodge.

We will have to write more about Pema's lodge, Kyirmu Lodge, and the Phaplu hospital when we return here for more practical experience in a few weeks. Tomorrow we are off to Sotang by jeep early in the morning.

Thank you for reading along with us!

Ki