PATTERAS:
A significant change of the use of patteras occurred around the 1950's. Mothers had switched from using the mid-wives to giving birth in the hospital. By 1951, the number of births in hospitals had increased, though the midwives were still being trained to assist the mothers after birth and provide good home care.
A significant change of the use of patteras occurred around the 1950's. Mothers had switched from using the mid-wives to giving birth in the hospital. By 1951, the number of births in hospitals had increased, though the midwives were still being trained to assist the mothers after birth and provide good home care.
“I help the people outside, to give birth in the jungle, in a carabao cart covered with a floor mat, or sometimes they cut coconut leaves and put it on the ground. [I] went to every village [where] they want me. I go to Umatac, Merizo, Inarajan. That’s why I am well known, because I always go everywhere and my husband sometimes go with me because [it’s] midnight [or] 2 o’clock in the morning [when] they call me to go. They contact me; so they just come [by] car that time. My husband said, ‘Never mind, I’ll take my wife.’ [We] had a car, a Jeep.” - Tan Ana M. Rosario |
“I remember how many [babies I delivered]. I think more than 200. We had two midwives in the village, but most of the time they call for me. They like me. You know, I never [had it] happen that a mother [or the baby] died in the house. Because as soon I reach the house, [I] get the blood pressure and everything checked [with] the mother. And if I knew that they had high blood pressure, I never allow them to have [the baby] at home. I never. I explain to the mother that ‘I want to help you, so try and [follow] my decision, and go to the hospital because that is the place where they can help you out.’ And there is no problem for me.” - Tan Joaquina B. Herrera |