Wow, I couldn't bring myself to read this weekend's New York Times article yet about the crazy-high mortality rate for mothers and babies alike in Tanzania. But I just scrolled through Beatrice de Gea's photo essay of the Tanzanian maternity ward, and it is incredible.
C-sections performed by non-doctors using ether--which anesthetizes both the baby and the mother; all-too-well-practiced family rituals for dealing with mothers and babies who die during childbirth; orphaned quadruplets [!]; and this kid dropped off outside the delivery room on a bench in the hall.
On the bright side, the Times' new Lens big-photo blog is pretty slick.
Childbirth in Tanzania - Slideshow [nytimes.com]
I read the article, but the pictures are heartbreaking. If I have to hear one more over-privileged westerner complain about her C-section, I am going to email them this link (and yes, I've had one). The cloths though, are gorgeous.
My first title for this post was, "On The Other Hand, Tanzanian Hospitals Do Have Awesome Receiving Blankets," but then I read that people had to bring their own.