Lyfta storyworld: Catching Babies Series

Trailer to storyworld series Catching Babies

Colombia

Maria at home

Maria in Colombia supports mothers giving birth using traditions passed down through generations. Maria has been making her own herbal remedies for decades, following recipes that have been passed down between Afro-Colombian midwives. Working in places with high local tensions and conflict, she continues to support mothers bringing babies into the world using traditional ways.

"When the baby comes out and he moves around, that makes me happy"

MARIA

IN CATCHING BABIES

Traditional, herbal medicine

Maria picking medicinal herbs

We meet Maria as she recalls where her love of Afro-Colombian, traditional midwifery began. As a young girl, she often watched her grandmother, who was a midwife, work. "I used to peek through cracks in the wall". One day her grandmother sent her on an errand to collect herbs and make a drink needed to tend to a mother in labour. "And that's the first time I saw how women give birth".

We see Maria picking, washing and cutting fresh herbs and discussing how she prepares traditional remedies. She also tells a story passed down through the generations on how to protect babies from 'spirits' by gently pulling their ears to make them cry and scare away 'spirits'.

Students will learn about life cycles, from conception to birth and beyond in rich media article resources.

"It is said that when babies laugh and laugh the angels invite themselves in."

MARIA

IN CATCHING BABIES

The frontline

Maria playing with a newborn

Many scenes of Maria supporting young mothers and babies are sharply contrasted with heavily armed police officers with their faces covered patrolling the streets of Buenaventura.

Coming to Buenaventura as a refugee with her family, she shares her experience with violence in the city but suggests that she left a home that was even more violent.

360° scenes will take us to Maria's neighbourhood and inside her home.

"In this barrio I've seen a little bit of violence."

MARIA

IN CATCHING BABIES

Mexico

Ximena meets with an expectant mother

Here we meet Ximena, who delivers babies in a makeshift camp in Mexico on the borders of the southern USA. Life is very difficult here and the women she helps have been on challenging and sometimes dangerous journeys to reach a better life. Ximena's calm presence provides a respectful, nurturing birth in a safe space, welcoming a new baby into the world with love and tenderness.

"Countries that have zero maternal deaths and have very low infant mortality are the ones that have midwives at the front of the medical care"

XIMENA

IN CATCHING BABIES

No mother left behind

Ximena listens to the baby's heartbeat

Ximena begins by sharing her personal story, recounting how she felt abandoned in the hospital she gave birth in. As a refugee crossing the border into San Diego, USA she remembers seeing families, particularly mothers (expectant and with babies) left in shocking conditions without water or food.

Having experienced difficulties giving birth and seeing the hardships that pregnant women and new mothers endured at the border, Ximena decided that she wanted to help women who found themselves in a similar situation.

"They are providing this space for baby to be born in a respected way."

XIMENA

IN CATCHING BABIES

Life on the border

A young mother in the camp nursing

In the refugee camp, students will see hundreds of tents arranged close to each other with tarpaulin sheets and fabrics draped above the roof for added protection against the weather. Inside, these tents are heaps of clothing, toys and personal belongings, which leaves little room for the families themselves.

Children are seen playing in empty spaces between the tents, chemical toilets and litter while adults sit on the concrete floor chatting and eating.

Unfortunately, even with visible overcrowding, Ximena states that around 40,000 migrants are still arriving or on the way. With little to no help from the government, Ximena and her team support as much as they can by providing food, water, clothes and medical help.

360° scenes will explore the clinic and outside in the street. Teachers can access pre-made lesson plans on borders and migration and health inequalities.

"To have the same right to be born in a safe space with people that respect birth."

XIMENA

IN CATCHING BABIES

Canada

Jay in Catching Babies - Canada

Jay is a midwife who helps homeless women with complex needs. She works out of a mobile unit on Toronto's streets. Working as midwife since the 1980s, Jay's support exists to fill what she calls an 'extraordinary' gap between those in the city who do and those who do not have access to healthcare. Her clients include women battling drug abuse, those struggling with homelessness and immigrants who encounter difficulties navigating a healthcare system in a new country. In the rich media article students will learn about the social causes of homelessness.

"In Toronto, the disparity between those who have access to healthcare and those who have been ‘othered' and don't have access to healthcare…the gap is extraordinary"

JAY

IN CATCHING BABIES

Vulnerable mothers

Jay and the team in the mobile unit

Starting at first as a team of one serving the community, Jay over the years has partnered with nurses and a group called Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, who have a mobile bus which has been expertly fitted out with medical equipment.

In the film, we see Jay and the team become very distressed as a vulnerable mother, who is past her due date, misses her induction appointment. The mother eventually attends her appointment much to the delight of Jay and her team.

In the 360 scenes we explore inside the mobile clinic and the bridge which some homeless women call home.

"My job is to be a witness, to provide care but to also say in my way to say I see you"

JAY

IN CATCHING BABIES

Catching Babies Series - at a glance

3 storyworlds:

3 powerful short documentary films
interactive 360° spaces including:
- View of the street 360 film (Mexico)
- Maria's home and playing with children in the street
- Ximena in the clinic and in the street
- Jay in her mobile unit and under the bridge

Rich media articles covering:
- Article: A global goal for health (Mexico)
- Article: Borders (Mexico)
- Article: Care of pregnant mums and babies (Colombia)
- Article: Indigenous midwifery (Colombia)
- Article: Stages of human pregnancy (Colombia)
- Fertility and healthy pregnancies (Canada)
- Article: Homelessness (Canada)
Lesson and assembly plans included in this storyworld:
- Lesson: Borders and migration (Mexico)
- Lesson: Health inequalities (Mexico)
- Lesson: Stages of human pregnancy (Colombia)
- Lesson: Caring for pregnant mums and babies (Colombia)
- Assembly (secondary): Careers that change lives
- Lesson: Exploring homelessness (Canada)
- Assembly (secondary): Homelessness (Canada)

Get started for free