Improving Maternal-Infant Health for Mayan Women

For first-time mothers, pregnancy is an exciting, new experience, but it can also be a scary time filled with uncertainty. This is especially true for young women without access to proper maternal health care.

Concepcion, a first-time mother from Santiago Atitlan, was recently in a similar situation. As a 23-year-old single woman without economic support, Concepcion spent the majority of her pregnancy without any type of prenatal health care. Concepcion had badly swollen feet throughout her pregnancy and could not walk well, which made it even more difficult to seek medical assistance.

Vilma Mendoza, Pueblo a Pueblo’s Maternal Child Health Project Manager, notes that Concepcion, “felt a lot of panic and fear, because she didn’t know if the symptoms she experienced were normal. Concepcion felt like she was going through this vulnerable period of her life all alone.”

Thankfully, a former Maternal Child Health beneficiary told us about Concepcion, and with the generous contributions from supporters like you, the Pueblo a Pueblo team was able to get Concepcion the proper medical support to carry out a healthy, successful pregnancy.

Pueblo a Pueblo provided transportation so Concepcion could go to her prenatal appointments at the local clinic in town, Clinica Rxiin Tnamet, and at the larger hospital farther away in Solola, the state capital, which has specialized care. Rebeca Tiney, our Maternal Child Health Program Assistant, also began to accompany Concepcion to each appointment and follow up with routine home visits.

With the support of Pueblo a Pueblo’s team during her last few months of pregnancy, Concepcion gave birth on July 5 to a healthy, happy girl named Sofia. Both mom and baby are doing great! Pueblo a Pueblo will continue to support Concepcion until she is three months postpartum and until the child turns 5 years old. Concepcion will also continue to visit the Pueblo a Pueblo office for educational workshops on important topics like nutrition and family planning.

According to Vilma Mendoza, the overall impact of the Maternal Child Health program is two-fold. First, “families are very happy that babies are in good health and moms are safe after labor,” but also, “mothers who received help from Pueblo a Pueblo are able to spread the word to other women in their communities who may be single, scared first-time mothers. Through Pueblo a Pueblo, these young women are able to get the support they need to carry out safe pregnancies and raise healthy children!”