“My name is Shirley but it is pronounced: Sirléy” she expresses with a wide smile. Then she looks me straight in the eye and proudly states: “I recognize myself as a warrior mother. I love midwifery, I am in love with midwifery and the midwives I have in charge. I'm happy". 

 

Shirley Maturana is thirty-nine years old and has six children. She is a “seed midwife”, she can attend a birth alone but she is not yet an “expert midwife”. She excitedly shares with me that the happiest moment is when the newborn cries, when the mother's tears stop being pain and start being happiness. 

 

Regarding his learning process, he comments that it was given by the association's referents, training and his curiosity:"I won the questioner award, Mrs. Manuela has always told me stick to those who know, look there are books, read, ask."

 

Shirley has indigenous and African heritage, she feels connected to the power of plants but also mentions the “hand of God” in the positive changes in her life. Her charisma and love for midwifery have made her one of the star coordinators, although she has also earned a reputation for being "intense", she knows it and laughs out loud as she recognizes that it is true, midwifery is her vocation, she is very interested in it lactation processes, her ambition is to train in this area. 

 

She smiles a lot when she speaks, with a broad and contagious gesture, although when something ails her the light on her face immediately goes out, she is very sensitive to the needs of her surroundings; This is how he educates his children with whom he does social work in his neighborhood, always willing to help with the needs of the neighborhood.

 

She enthusiastically begins to tell that the placenta is traditionally buried in a chontaduro, coconut, soursop or other tree that will belong to that boy or girl forever. It also relates that the newborn navels itself with a grain of gold for abundance, with notebook papers burned and a pencil point so that it comes out studious, among other elements preferred by the mother. This tradition is a living heritage of African ancestry,  he clarifies that although some doctors do not agree, he does not know of infections from this practice, once the navel falls off and is cured with alcohol, he considers that it is safe. 

 

When asking about the differences between Afro and indigenous childbirth, she relates:

 

“The birth of Afro women is more open and with less hesitation; the birth of indigenous women is more intimate and silent. The indigenous woman kneels, always with that calm, the ancestors really liked giving birth in the water, this practice is rarely seen in the cities, but in the community it is. Yes, the delivery is also seen squatting, in a hammock and holding a guasca. The custom is not lost, because mommies and grandmothers are always pending.”

 

It also tells  that midwives advise youth; adolescent pregnancy is very high in the Department of Chocó, so they try to provide them with information and refer them  to sexual health services so that they live a responsible and safe sexuality. They also carry out community work, helping to dress the newborn and supporting other needs of the baby or the mother, despite the fact that they do not receive remuneration for this important work. 

 

Shirley is a coordinator of midwives in the Municipality of Quibdó, she states that the association “works for the recognition of our work, it is a worthy work. We help bring children into the world. The network has been working to be recognized, midwifery is still alive, it is needed, every day it becomes more alive and stronger.”

 

She dreams that one day the government will support them, so that they can dedicate themselves completely to their vocation. She expresses that on many occasions the midwives do not have money to travel, they work in the fields and they have to run to help a mother.

 

He closes the interview with a wide smile on his face and states: “My dream is to help bring many children into the world and study, I am falling in love with nursing. I want to continue growing and learning from midwifery, to continue with an open and kind heart with the community and to continue hand in hand with God and Lady Manuela, supporting my colleagues. If the association has something, it is fellowship, that union.“