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                          PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH
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  The prospective mother is likely to be very nervous and excited. It is
  most important that she should be reassured of your ability to deal 
  with the situation. This is best done by talking calmly to her and
  making the whole thing appear as everyday occurrence.

  All unnecessary people should be made to leave the room, but make sure
  you are not left alone with the mother. Usually there will be a female
  relative or a neighbour you can ask to help.

  Protect the bed, sofa, or floor with any plastic sheeting that may be
  available but remember that towels or newspapers can be used as a 
  substitute. If the mother is not at home or near a bed, she can lie
  down on the floor, the seat of a car, or any flat surface. In a public
  place, if there are people around, ask them to politely stand around
  the mother with their backs to her, to afford her some privacy.

  Lay the mother on her back with her knees drawn up and her head and
  shoulders comfortably supported. Ask her to remove any clothing that
  might interfere with the delivery. Cover her with blankets for as long
  as possible and put cotton, lint or any suitable sheeting under her 
  buttocks for warmth, and to absorb any subsequent mess. Fold a blanket
  in three and wrap it in a sheet to make a pack to cover the top half of
  her body during the delivery.

  For The Baby
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  Make sure that there is some form of heating available. Prepare a cot
  and have a blanket, shawl or towel ready to wrap up the baby. A cot can
  be improvised from linen baskets, drawers or boxes. Place it in a 
  corner away from any draughts.

  For The Delivery
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  Fill up some jugs of hot water and find a clean basin, and a plastic or
  stout paper bag to hold soiled swabs e.t.c. Have scissors and sterile
  ligatures ready in case you need to cut the umbilical cord. Boil the
  scissors for ten minutes to sterilise them. If there are no ligatures
  available, boil three 25cm (9in) peices of string for ten minutes. You
  will also have to sterilise dressings to dress the cord after cutting.

  PREVENTING INFECTION
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  Lack of scrupulous cleanliness and infection can jeopardise both the
  mother and the baby. No person who has a cold, sore throat or sceptic
  hands should help with the delivery. You and your assistant should both
  wear masks, if none are available, you can improvise by tying clean 
  handkerchiefs around your faces. If possible, scrub your hands, nails
  and forearms thoroughly under running water for at least four minutes.
  DO NOT DRY THEM and if they become soiled, wash them again in the same 
  way.

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