It's a Boy

Basotho women are tough. We continue to be amazed with how they deal with hard work and few conveniences, pain and child birth. Our friends, Ntate Kuena and 'M'e Malibuseng, were expecting their third child. 'M'e is a student in her second year of teacher training, and is currently doing an extended practicum placement in an outlying village. She recently mentioned to me that students don't get maternity leave.

On Thursday evening 'M'e Malibuseng had some discomfort, but the next morning she was feeling better. So, off to school she went. She taught her first three classes, but by then things were happening. While the students went to an assembly, and with help from one of her teacher colleagues, she delivered a baby boy, in her classroom. Someone then helped her to a local clinic where everything appeared okay, but just to make sure they sent her off to the hospital. That is where Ntate Kuena and I found her.

Everything checked out okay at the hospital. At 2:30 p.m., still in a lot of discomfort with back soreness and (likely) after pains, we helped her into my vehicle. The baby by then was all of 2 hrs and 20 minutes old.

We headed back to where she was staying at her school and the teachers helped her with whatever women help one another with in times like this, and than at about 4:45 we loaded her and the baby up and headed in to Maseru. Her teacher/midwife colleague came along to be with her for the night.

She will be home for the weekend, but is planning to be back in the classroom on Monday. Thankfully within two or three weeks school breaks for the winter holidays. She will get about six weeks of time with her little boy before recommencing her practicum placement.

Baby Tsokotsa - 2 days old

I am left just shaking my head at how tough the women here are. 'Tonka tough' as our Australian friend, Sarah, would say.

~ Benno ~