Birth Center Saves MotherBaby Lives in Philippines

A few days ago I went on an unusual home visit... to the provincial women's prison to provide prenatal care.

Society often forgets women in prison, even if she is pregnant, which here in the Philippines means she may not get any medical check-ups during pregnancy, and may be subject to disrespectful treatment during labor and birth from overworked and underpaid staff at an overcrowded government hospital.

Mercy In Action is changing that here in Olongapo by reaching out to the local women's prison to give free maternity care, including prenatal exams, pregnancy vitamins, pre-natal testing for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B, and medical treatment as needed. After the birth we go back to the prison to follow up with postpartum check-ups.

And when the woman goes into labor? Mercy In Action opens our gates wide to receive the prison wagon that pulls up and brings out the laboring woman in chains. The midwives lovingly greet her and take her inside, where all chains and handcuffs are removed, and she is treated with respect and dignity for the duration of her stay. Our center is the only place where a woman has unrestricted access to her newborn after birth, especially important for a mother who knows in a few days she has to let go. The female guards who accompany the mother often express their praise for this haven of rest and kindness, a kind of bubble for the mother and baby before reality intrudes again all too soon...

...For that is sad part of this story. Babies are not allowed to remain with their mothers once they go back to prison three days after the birth. Here again, Mercy In Action steps up to help arrange for the transfer of the newborn into safe care either with family or in a local baby home. And of course we offer comfort to the mother, who is often grieving to lose her baby in this way. Recently a woman told us "Mercy helped me during my worst time, I will not forget you".

What do you think? How can we help these women even more? We appreciate suggestions, comments and prayers from our donors. Please email us at info@mercyinaction.com. Without you we would not be able to conduct all the outreach we are currently involved in through our birth center. We love helping pregnant women in prison, and we hope you loved hearing about this compassionate outreach.

Links:

• Mercy In Action website

This week Mercy In Action added value to numerous birth centers and midwives in the Olongapo area by hosting a training in two new global programs to improve maternity outcomes surrounding childbirth: Helping Babies Breathe, and Helping Mother's Survive.

Trainers from America came to teach alongside the Mercy In Action staff, and participants came from our local area and from other islands in the Philippines.

The training was simple to understand, and was undergirded by practice sessions with dolls and birth simulators.

While the training was going on, babies were being born in our birth center, and women were coming to be seen for prenatal check ups. I love that all the midwives of Mercy In Action are so committed to excellence that they willingly attend every training we sponsor, and then immediately put that new evidence-based learning into practice. 

One of the participants said "This course really gave me confidence that I could save the life of a baby born not breathing, and I can save a woman from dying if she bleeds too much after giving birth".

We were all tired but very happy when the training ended after 10 days, sure that we now have even more skills and knowledge to save the lives and guard the health and well-being of Mothers and Babies in our care.