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First Posted on Inside Mindanao: December 8, 2006

Homebirths
By Terry D.C. Betonio

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY-Lilia Barros braved the heavy rain one afternoon as she rode in a single motorcycle locally called as habal-habal that would bring her to a remote barangay in Gitagum town, one of the 24 municipalities of Misamis Oriental.

Lilia is a midwife who resides in Barangay Bulua, in this city, but works at the government's health center in Gitagum.

As she was about to go home that rainy afternoon, a husband came over to fetch her as his wife was showing signs of labor.

Bringing nothing but her delivery kit, Lilia went with the husband to help the mother birth her baby.

Lilia felt relieved, even as she quivered from extreme cold, when she heard the baby cry. She has attended another successful home delivery, a common practice for pregnant women in the barangays.

Gina Saavedra, a 19-year-old mother from Barangay Bulua, said she prefers giving birth at home than at the hospital because she "does not want to be humiliated."

"Ulaw man kung sa hospital kay daghan mag-atong sa imo. Mao man gud na ang nahitabo sa akong auntie katong nanganak siya mao nga nag decide ko nga sa balay ra gyud manganak (It is uncomfortable at the hospital because a lot of strangers are around you. My aunt went through that and I witnessed it and that is why I resolved to have my child delivered at home)," Gina shared.

Lilia had helped Gina delivered her first child last year and got Philippine Peso (Php) 1,500 for her services.

Even at a very young age and a first-timer, Gina said she did not feel any fear when she lay on her own familiar bed, pushed hard and successfully brought her baby out.