Member-only story
We Had a Baby in a Third World Country
Universal healthcare can provide positive experiences even in third world countries
10 at night.
“Hun, I feel something tugging my belly down. Did you hear a slight ‘pop’?”
“What?”
“No, I’m gonna go check it out.”
And as soon as she got out of bed to ‘check it out’ a puddle of clear liquid burst down. Oh yeah, baby, game time!
Thus began the 18-hour effort that was to push out the most beautiful human being I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
I’m going to start by saying two things —
First — I was not the one feeling contractions, nor did I push, nor do I have the equipment to push. If the implication wasn’t heavy-handed enough, I’m the father.
Second — This story takes place in Brazil, we went to a government-funded maternity ward, and our health plan was SUS, the Brazilian universal healthcare system.
I want this story to communicate the effectiveness of the healthcare system here in Brazil, as well as some of its shortcomings.
