¡Hay Parteras en Nicaragua!

Today was my absolute favorite day in Nicaragua so far. My instructor had told me about a female healthcare provider who had helped him a lot after he suffered a neck injury. I was interested to find out if she was a chriopractor or physical therapist, but he called her a "sobadura", which comes from the word, sobar-to knead or massage. (Remember, I am getting all of my info. completely in Spanish, so it is like piecing together a puzzle.) It sounded to me like she was something between a chiropractor and a massage therapist. Then he told me that one of his family had gone to her when she was pregnant because she was in a lot of pain due to the baby's position. This pregnant mom had been to doctors, and noone could do anything for her. The Sobadura was able to manipulate the baby's position and relieve the mom's pain. So, I asked, "Is she a midwife?", but he said, "No". Well, we made a spontaneous visit to her home today (unfortunately my camera battery had just died). She brought plastic chairs outside for us to sit on and talked awhile. The teacher asked her if she was a midwife, and she said, "Yes". When he told her that I am studying to be a midwife, she went in her house and came back with her government I.D. card/license to be a midwife, several midwifery books, and a birth log with details of births that she had attended. She told me that she uses "botanicos ", mostly herbs and natural medicines to help women. She also gives prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care. She said that she is a traditional midwife, but has received classes from the government, too. When I looked at one of her books and asked where I could get a copy, she told me that it was a gift for me! (The books are only issued to Nicaraguan midwives after they complete the government training) I was so excited. I told my instructor that this was going to be our Spanish lesson book from now on (: and he agreed. I asked the midwife if she attended home or hospital births and she said home births. Then I asked if the people paid her in good, services, or money, and she told me that she gets $15-$20 per birth. In perpective, her monthly rent is only $70. Wow. I didn't stay long because she had a little bit of a cold, but I can't wait to go back to talk with her more!