Oct 17, 2019Moms on Motorbikes: the Story of Boda for MothersHow vouchers for motorbikes helped reduce maternal mortality by 44% in three Ugandan districts. — In 2012, Every Mother Counts (EMC) became a founding partner of a promising 5-year public-private partnership called the Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL) initiative. The goal was ambitious: to cut maternal deaths in half in eight districts in Uganda and Zambia where maternal mortality ratios were alarmingly high (452 per 100K in Uganda, and 370 per 100K in Zambia). …Maternal Health5 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Nov 26, 2018At the intersection of midwifery and gender-based violenceBy Martine Jean-Baptiste, Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Haitian Midwives According to the 2017 Demographic Health Surveys (DHS), approximately 23.5% of women in Haiti reported sexual and physical violence committed by a partner. Many experts feel that the statistics about gender-based violence in Haiti…Haiti3 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Oct 15, 2018Updates from Sulawesi, IndonesiaFollowing the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia two weeks ago, Every Mother Counts put out a call to raise funds for our longtime partner in Indonesia, Bumi Sehat, with an offer to match up to $10,000 in donations. Thanks to the incredible generosity of 64 people, we raised $8,940.15. On…Indonesia5 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Oct 11, 2018Celebrating the International Day of the Girl in HaitiBy Tara Mulder, Grace Community Birth Center Today, International Day of the Girl, complications from pregnancy remain the leading killer of girls ages 15–19. In Haiti, about 14% of girls this age are already pregnant or have children. …Women3 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Oct 10, 2018Maternal Mental Health: A South African StoryBy the Perinatal Mental Health Project Common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, that occur during pregnancy and in the year after child birth are highly prevalent globally. In developing countries, the rates are much higher than in high income settings. Women and girls who live in poverty…Mental Health4 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Oct 4, 2018Notes From the Field: Haiti (Part I.)By Jessica Bowers, Grants Program Director As the Grants Program Director for Every Mother Counts, I love going into the field and seeing firsthand the work that we are supporting, as well as learning what other organizations and people are doing around women’s health in the country. Haiti is also…Health5 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Oct 3, 2018Disaster in IndonesiaFollowing the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia, and the resulting tsunami and aftershocks, our longtime partner Bumi Sehat is working with local midwives to establish safe birthing tents and buy solar lights, water filters, & medical supplies. Last week a massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia…Indonesia4 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Sep 28, 2018Access to Maternity Care in Alabama: an Ob/Gyn’s PerspectiveBy: Dr. Jesanna Cooper, Simon Williamson Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology For over 40 years, it has been illegal for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) to deliver babies in Alabama. In the midst of a maternal health crisis in which Alabama has some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the country…Maternal Health4 min read
Published in Every Mother Counts·Sep 25, 2018Groundbreaking Legislation Introduced to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes in the U.S.By: Melissa Gradilla Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) have announced groundbreaking new legislation to improve health outcomes, access to care, and health equity for women and infants in the United States. The Maximizing Outcomes for…Pregnancy4 min read
Sep 24, 2018The Important Role Doulas Play in Recognizing Perinatal Mood and Anxiety DisordersBy Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW In the past five years there has been a flurry of attention given to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) otherwise referred to as postpartum depression. High-profile women including Gwyneth Paltrow, Chrissy Teigen, Adele, and Adele’s friend, Laura Dockrill, who just shared her own postpartum psychosis…Pregnancy4 min read
