Showing posts with label Medical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medical. Show all posts

Friday, September 1, 2017

Doctors, Midwives, Doulas, and Birthing Centers in Peru

More and more women are choosing to give birth in birthing centers . While there aren't that many places in Peru, they exist and hopefully there will be more in the future. They don't seem to advertise much and I think people mainly hear about them by word of mouth. Sadly, I don't have much information about some of them. If you know of more places or have contact information for the ones listed, please email me at naturegirl321@yahoo.com

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Cost and Recovery
I'd like to believe that you can't put a price on something that happens once in a lifetime. Even if you give birth a dozen times, you only give birth to that particular baby once. It's also so much easier to recover from a vaginal birth than from major abdominal surgery, which is what a C-section is. Expect to pay about S/.10,000-S/.15,000 for a natural birth where the doctors will "allow" you to birth the way you want.

Midwives and Doctors
From what I've seen, the birthing centers mainly use doctors who believe in natural childbirth. Midwives don't seem to be the norm in Peru.

Views of Doulas and Natural Childbirth 
Amazon
Sadly, many doctors believe that they are gods and the C-section rate is high. In most places it's about 50%-60%. In Arequipa, it's about 90%. C-sections are fast, expensive, and the doctor is in complete control. None of those are the way that childbirth is meant to me. Many times the father isn't even allowed in the operating room. That's definitely not the way it's supposed to be.

And then after the baby is born, when they should be bonding and imprinting with their mother and father, they are taken away all alone to be observed for 8 hours. Sometimes if you cry a lot, they will let you hold your baby for 10 minutes. None of these procedures are evidence based. In fact, they are quite the opposite. 

This shows the importance of choosing a good place to give birth. You need to find a place that has similar views as you and ask the right questions to make sure they are not going to perform an unnecessary C-section on you.

VBACs
Having a vaginal birth after a C-section is going to be more difficult. Make sure you choose your provider carefully! Many women are able to have VBACs and report feeling empowered by this decision.

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My Experience
My children were not born in Peru. Having had a birth with a midwife and two doulas with my first. In fact, I was so moved by the birth of my first that I became a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, breastfeeding educator, and LLL Leader and started giving other women information through my blog, Tender Embrace Birthing.

My second was supposed to be born peaceful at home, but I ended up with an emergency transfer that lead to an emergency C-section. It was a traumatic nightmare. 8 hours after I gave birth to my first, I walked out of the clinic and slept in my own bed that night. 13 hours after my second I was still flat on my back with tubes and drugs being dripped into me and suffering from amnesia.

Where to Go
Below are the birthing centers, clinics, and doulas that I know of. Sadly, I don't have much information about some of them. If you know of more places or have contact information for the ones listed, please email me at naturegirl321@yahoo.com

Arequipa
Kusi Wachay is a natural birthing clinic focusing on wellness. From pregnancy, to birth, to the postpartum period, they offer a variety of services. Dr. Illa Camargo is a doctor at Kusi Wachay and specialises in homeopathy and natural birth.  It's expensive.
  • Classes for moms, dads, and babies, such why you would really need a C-sectionas prenatal and postpartum yoga, postpartum exercise, attachment parenting, nutrition, breastfeeding, and newborn care. 
  • Water labor and water births are offered here. 
  • Homeopath and herbal medicine. 
  • Andean belly binding aka Bengkung belly binding.
  • Social support for mothers.
  • Doulas
Mate Pardo de Schade used to be a doula in Arequipa but is not anymore.


Cusco
Ruruchay - Casa de Nacimiento (Facebook) is a natural birthing center. They also attend home births. Dr. Ruro Caituiro Monge is a doctor and doula at Ruruchay - Birthing Center. They offer a variety of services
  • Prenatal swimming, yoga, and dance.
  • Doulas.
  • Postpartum workshops, womens' circles.

Lima
Casa Pakarii - Casa de Nacimiento (Facebook) is a natural birthing center. Dr. Angela Brocker Wiebers, from Germany, is the director. The doctors also attend births at home and other clinics. They offer a variety of services.
  • Prenatal swimming, birthing and breastfeeding classes 
  • They have also offered these activities in the past: placenta ceremony, temascal / inipi / birthing ceremony, prenatal singing, clothing swaps, women's circles, nutrition classes. first aid, round table about the hidden problems with vaccines, Reiki, Mayan Calendar workshop, wooden toys conference.
  • Doulas.

Clinica Delgado-Auna (Facebook) is a regular clinic but the doctors will "allow" you to birth the way you want.

Doula.pe is a website for 2 doulas in Lima. 


Tarapoto
Carmen Ordonez (Facebook) is a doula.


Urubamba
Casa Lucero (Facebook) is a natural birthing clinic. Their Facebook page hasn't been updated in a while and their website isn't working. I'm not sure if they're still in business.



Disclaimer:

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Natural Peruvian Remedies

Updated 30 October 2017

Local remedies seem to abound in Peru. Many of them are made with food. Here are just a few. Peru Herbals and Peruvian recipes have some more.
  • Aloe vera juice: It's commonly drunk on the street where vendors use aloe vera plants. It's supposed to make your immune system stronger and make you healthier.
  • Ceviche: Cures hangovers and is an aphrodisiac. 
  • Chicken soup: Cures hangovers. 
  • Egg: Cures fright. If someone is scared you're supposed to break an egg under their bed and the evil spirits go into at while that person is sleeping. In the morning the egg will be fried. Don't use it with babies or young children since the are still delicate and can't handle the egg's powers.
  • Frog juice: If you can stomach have a frog killed in front of you and the juices squeezed out of you, frog juice is supposed to help with asthma, asthma, brochitis, impotence, and tiredness. It's also an aphrodisiac.You can see an advert for it on the right. 
  • Lemons: Small, green, and the size of a golf ball, most people would call them limes, but in Peru, they're lemons. They supposedly can find anything from a hangover to the common cold. 
  • Maca: It's supposed to make your immune system stronger and make you healthier.
  • Newspaper with or without kerosene: If someone is sick with a cough or fever you're supposed to put newspaper directly on their chest, under their clothes. If they're really sick then you should soak the newspaper in kerosene. Newspaper shouldn't be used on infants because it's too strong. You should use paper instead. My grandfather said that in Romania gypsies typically douse their heads in kerosene in order to kill lice.
  • Orange peel: Similar to newspaper, orange peel pulls out cough and fever. However, you're supposed to use orange peel before the person gets sick.
  • Pulling hair: If you have a headache, taking a couple strands of hair and pulling sharply can help relieve the pain. 
  • Quinoa: It's supposed to make your immune system stronger and make you healthier.




Disclaimer:

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Alcoholics Anonymous and Al Anon in Peru

Updated 19 September 2018
 
Most of these meetings are held in English. Here's AA's official website and here's information about meetings in Lima. You can also find contact information on their site.

There are many stories out there from men and women who have recovered from alcoholism. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is by far the most famous. Here's a blog written by a recovering alcoholic called Essentials of Recovery.



CUSCO
I found 2 Facebook pages for Cusco and have organized the information from them below. Please try all numbers and addresses until you find help. All the information that I found was in Spanish. I have not been able to find any meetings in English, however, still contact them as they might be able to put you in touch with someone who speaks English.


Al-Anon
"Grupo Solidaridad" (Al-Anon) El Triunfo Chapel located at 309 Calle El Triunfo. Meets Thursdays from 4:30pm a 5:45pm.
Alcoholicos Anonimos Cusco
They have 8 meetings listed on their Facebook page and I've kept the numbering system they used on their Facebook page so you can easily find it there as well.
  1. Grupo Compartir: Jr. Pumacahua N° 130 Urb Tahuantinsuyo. Meets Monday to Saturday from 8:30pm to 10pm.
  2. Grupo Illary: Calle Nueva N° 403 Oficina 206, Second Floor. Meets Monday to Saturday from 1pm to 8:30pm. 
  3. Grupo Lenguaje del Corazón: On the corner of Av. De de la Cultura and Av. Manchupicchu.  Urb. Manuel Prado. Meets Monday to Saturday from 7:30pm to 9pm.
  4. Grupo Puerta a la Vida: Av. Tullumayo 870-A (General Services is here). Meets Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 8:30pm. Their hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm. Phone 084 - 799-162. I also found that they had updated their info and said that they're not at Limacpampa Chico Nro 400, Interior, Second Floor. Phone is 974-753-115. Please contact both and see.
  5. Grupo Machupicchu. Calle Nueva N° 403 Oficina. 206. Meets Tuesday and Friday from 5pm to 6:30pm on the second floor.
  6. Grupo Vive y Deja Vivir: Los Angeles D-1 3er paradero - San Sebastian. Meets Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 7:30pm. 
  7. Grupo Solo por Hoy: Jr. Abancay N° 258 Quillabamba. Meets Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 8pm. 
  8. Vive Feliz: Calle Triunfo, Parroquia el Sagrario. Meets Monday to Friday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. 
Al-Anon
Grupo Solidaridad: El Triunfo Chapel located at 309 Calle El Triunfo. Meets Thursdays from 4:30pm a 5:45pm.

Alcoholicos Anonimos de Peru, Lenguaje del Corazon
  • Av. Tullumayo 870-A Oficina de Servicios Generales
  • Av. De la cultura Nro. 1880, Oficina 205. Second Floor. Altura Paradero Manuel Prado. RPC 984-250-975, Cell 991-961-327, or RCP 979-711-253. Monday to Saturday 7:30pm to 9pm.

LIMA

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Av Santa Cruz 491, Miraflores
Bob D.
Telephone: 4411947
Email: scotrdc@yahoo.com
Tuesday and Thursday 7.00pm to 8.00 pm
Here are directions

Carmelitas Catholic Church
7-8:30pm, every day. The meetings are not in the church itself but around the block believe it not in the Carmelitas Funeral Home facing Paseo de la Republica. Meeting's are in Spanish. The meeting is deep within the property but ask a security guard for directions and please respect ongoing funerals!

Fatima Catholic Church
7-8:30pm Monday to Friday. On Av. Armendariz (just past the KFC on the right. Walking distance from Larcomar Plaza & Marriott). Enter into the back courtyard facing the ocean. Meeting is in the 2nd floor classroom. Ask security guard if lost

Maria Reina Catholic Church
12-1:30pm. Monday to Friday. It's directly on the Ovalo Guitierrez. Meeting is behind the church in the school building, 2nd floor. You may have to wait for security to open the door, but there is a meeting there!

Pardo Cinco
12-1pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 537 Avenida Jose Pardo, Oficina 210. Near Parque Kennedy and Saga Fagabella. Here are directions.

Union Church
Av Angamos 1155, Miraflores, 4411472 or 4221665, Monday to Friday. al_anonperu@hotmail.com



Disclaimer:

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Medical Care in Peru

Updated 18 April 2014

Medical care in Peru at private clinics is fine, you’ll have nothing to worry about if you need to go to the hospital. If you have kids, that often complicates things. Make sure to know the basics of taking care of your child. Clinics and hospitals are clean and have modern equipment. Often doctors have studied in foreign countries and have come back to Peru to work. 

You can always check and see if your doctor is qualified by going to the Colegio Medico del Peru. Then on the left go to "Servicios" and "Conoce su medico". Doctors must be registered with the CMP in order to legally practise medicine in Peru. The US embassy has a list of recommended doctors.

Prevention
Wash food thoroughly before eating them. This includes foods with peeling, such as bananas. You can use a little bleach, vinegar or salt. Most grocery stores sell a special bleach for this purpose. If you're in a restaurant, avoid free salads or fruits unless you're certain they clean them well. Avoid street food. Carry toilet paper and a small container of liquid soap with you. Many places won't have these.

Vaccinations
You are not required to have any vaccinations for Peru. Yellow Fever is recommended if you're going to visit the jungle. However, some countries require you to have vaccinations to enter their country if you are coming from Peru, for example, Australia requires you to show proof of the Yellow Fever vaccine even if you haven’t visited the jungle.

Medical Insurance
Many medicines, including birth control, are cheaply available over-the-counter. Medical insurance is around 200 soles a month.
Eye Doctors
There are lots of eye doctors around blocks 19 and 20 of Arequipa where Jose Pardo de Zela crosses Arequipa. I was able to get 6 months of disposable contacts (Acuvue), glasses with frames, and an eye exam for 100 dollars.

Anti-Conception Medicine
Condoms are readily available here, so please use them. Good brands are Durex and Piel. As far as pills go, Yasmin (About 45 soles) is an international brand. AIDS, HIV and STDs are big problems here. Abortions are illegal, however, you can get them illegally, though I wouldn’t recommend it for safety reasons. The morning after pill is available at some pharmacies.

Giving Birth
Giving birth here can be a nightmare. The C-section rate is super high, at some places it's as high as 90%. You need to do your research ahead of time if you'd like to avoid tons of interventions and a C-section.  Many hospitals don't provide basic things such as diapers, hats, clothes, blankets, bottles, etc. For more information, please see the articles, babies born in Peru as well as doulas, midwives, and birthing centers in Peru.

Clinics in Lima


Alternative Medicine




Disclaimer:

Monday, June 9, 2008

Travel Insurance for Peru

Updated 23 April 2014

It's always a good idea to have insurance. Lost luggage or stolen goods can be troublesome. Being forced to go to an ATM and take all your money is another problem you might run into.

If you buy your own insurance ask if they cover medically supervised emergency evacuations, emergency reunions, repatriation of remains, and lost or stolen goods. Lonely Planet recommends World Nomad. Another popular insurance company for is BUPA.

However, which travel insurance you should get will depend on your needs. This guide will help you to travel smarter, pay less, and get the right coverage.



Medical Insurance
If you're only going to be in Peru for a short time, you might consider the places below. However, if you're going to stay for a while, because sure to look at the medical section for local medical insurance providers.




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