October 28, 2016

hospital augusto essmann, puerto natales

In Auckland, New Zealand, I gave birth to Pearl in the Ponsonby home of my mid-wife Tina Patrick, and we returned home to Anasazi Girl in the Viaduct in less than 24 hours.

My first two children were born in Jackson, Wyoming where patients are released within 24 hours of observation. With high altitude there is higher risk of jaundice in newborns.

For a normal delivery in Chile, hospitals require 48 hours of observation in the hospital before patients are released. 

I spent two nights at the Augusto Essmann Hospital, in a shared room with six beds, all with women in different stages of pregnancy/childbirths. During my stay, there were 3 women who had experienced normal births and one who had a c-section. Two women were there for observation for early contractions and one was just about to give birth. 

The new hospital, slated to be completed within the next year, will allow more space in the maternity ward along with more capacity for equipment. Due to the lack of space, no children under age 12 are allowed to visit the maternity ward, but the midwives on duty made an exception to allow my wild ones in for two brief visits as being separated from them for two whole days was too much.

Tarzan 3 hours old.
Hospital Augusto Essmann, Puerto Natales - Provincia de Última Esperanza, CHILE/ Region XII (abril de 2016)
 TW at 4 hours after birth looking like a little Buddah.
Hospital Augusto Essmann, Puerto Natales - Provincia de Última Esperanza, CHILE/ Region XII (abril de 2016)
Tarzan & Mila Perez - Matrona, Hospital Augusto Essmann,
Puerto Natales - Provincia de Última Esperanza, CHILE/ Region XII (abril de 2016)
Above: Even after a long and intense overnight shift in Maternity/Obstetrics at the Augusto Gussman Hospital, Mila still wears this stunning smile. She is one of the reasons we came to Natales to give birth to #4. One of four midwives at Augusto Gussman, she made me feel instantly at ease about being able to have a natural birth in Natales when I visited the hospital last October.

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