Saving Lives at Birth; Maternal Health in Uganda

Thursdays are always busy days at the Birth House as mothers come to recieve antenatal care and check-ups for their babies. On this particular Thursday, the staff arrived early to get their headshots taken by a volunteer photographer who came from New York with his wife to attend our Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training. As the staff posed for a group photo they laughed, joked, and argued about who should stand where and what poses they should do. Sister Lule, with her serious nature stated, "I think we are finished". With decades of midwifery experience she takes her job and the Birth House seriously and is always seen keeping proper records and helping out new Moms. Some of the other midwives were happy to joke even Cissy who had worked a 12 hour night shift. The joy she has is contagious and if she was impatient to go home, it didn't show. 

By the time the photoshoot was over the mothers began to arrive for their check-ups with their new babies in tow. First they weight them to see how much they've grown since the last visit, which often turns into a social event with Moms talking about their babies and meeting as old friends. The sense of community is hard not to notice in Uganda with strangers constantly talking to one another and friends meeting by chance as they move about their regular day. 

Within view of these new babies swinging happily from the weight scale was a pregnant, soon to be Mom. It would be another few hours still until this Mom gave birth and as she waited she was supported by her mom, sister and husband. The woman freely moved from being on all fours to lying down as she progressed. Her partner hardly left her side as he anxiously awaited their new arrival.

This day also marked the last day of our ten day prenatal yoga training. As our new teachers arrived at the Birth House and set up their mats, another woman arrived with only enough time to put down her bag before she was whisked into the Birth Room to meet her new baby. Yoga classes were held on papyrus mats under the shade of the trees. The pregnant mothers coming from their appointment to take a spot in the next class. A sense of accomplishment was felt as our teachers from around the world bonded with these mothers by having them become their first students. 

In the evening we threw a party to celebrate the final day of the yoga training, complete with a bonfire and Ugandan feast. As our staff, interns, and visitors celebrated their time together a third woman gave birth to a beautiful baby boy over the sound of drumming and laughter. Our yoga retreat instructor, Bobby, had helped support this Mom throughout the day as she finished those last few hours of her pregnancy. 

At Shanti we can’t help think about how days like this would not be possible without support from donors like you. To many people this may have been an ordinary and uneventful day however, to these three women it marked the day they welcomed new life into this world. It is always a celebration as these babies arrive safely at the Birth House. On this day women became mothers just feet away from the bustle of an ordinary Thursday to us, but an extraordinary one to them.