Global Birth Club: Meet Hellen

My name is Hellen; I am 28 years, from Kasese District- Uganda. I will be four months on 13th June.

It is my third pregnancy. After missing my periods, I did HCG test myself at home (18th March). It was positive and awesome. It was planned. Of course I plan to have more children, if resources will allow. I delivered my other children in a facility, Kilembe Hospital. My first pregnancy was a normal one but the second was by C-section due to a breach, unfortunately he could not make it and passed away.

The father was altogether happy when I shared the news of the pregnancy with him. My dreams and hopes for my child are a bright and successful future of an engineer and God-fearing person.

[On fathers’ preparation]: No! Nothing like that where I live. Only fathers do the facilitation for the mom to attend doctor’s appointments, meet hospital costs and other baby’s needs. Here moms take care of the house chores as usual until at birth time and even after delivery. At most, fathers take only 3–4 days off work after the baby’s birth.

NOVEMBER BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT:

I gave birth on 11–6–2013 by C-Section. Male weighing 3.5kg. His name is Lambert and he
is breastfeeding well. Family planning will be discussed on my postnatal visit 6 weeks after birth. I am given 3 months paid maternity leave. I gave birth at Bishop Masereka medical center. Greetings from my family.

JULY: How many weeks into your pregnancy are you now? Where do you plan to deliver your baby? What family or friends if any do you plan to have with you? What are you doing to get ready for your baby’s arrival? How do pregnant women typically prepare for baby’s arrival? Do people give presents?

I am now 21 weeks. I will deliver from Bishop Masereka Health Centre. My husband and mother in-law will be with me. To prepare, I am eating foods to ensure healthy growth. Am also doing exercise and reading novels related to birth and handling of new babies and how to up bring them.

Less than a half of women here have 4 antenatal visits and give birth in a facility and see a doctor. The reason is most mothers in rural areas are far away from health facilities; this forces them to opt for traditional birth attendants [rather] than midwifes. Also, some mothers are not informed of importance of both antenatal and postnatal, hence boycott them. Others, their husbands not help to take them to hospitals and others fear hospital and transport bills.

Typically, women prepare child’s arrival by getting a close relative to escort them to the facility or birth attendant when labour begins. They book the birth attendant in advance. They clean previous baby clothes used in the previous birth, if any. They also buy any requirements that may be needed in time. Those who give birth in health facilities, book for transport means and plan for the best facility they can give birth from in terms of costs, previous experience and accessibility.

August: How many weeks into your pregnancy are you now? How close are you to where you’ll deliver your baby? How do you plan to get there? Are you finding it hard to keep up your routine?

I am 24 weeks now. The health center is about 2km from my home, and get there by car. I have never gone to a skilled birth attendant. Midwives are good and experienced; they do care and are responsible, though some are rude in handling women in labor. They are quarrelsome or sometimes slap mothers to the extent of ignoring the pains and moments of the baby’s arrival. This sometimes leads to baby death or baby’s arrival when tired or causes baby’s difficulty in breathing.: I am 24 weeks now. The health center is about 2km from my home, and get there by car. I have never gone to a skilled birth attendant. Midwives are good and experienced; they do care and are responsible, though some are rude in handling women in labor. They are quarrelsome or sometimes slap mothers to the extent of ignoring the pains and moments of the baby’s arrival. This sometimes leads to baby death or baby’s arrival when tired or causes baby’s difficulty in breathing.

Click here to see June updates for all our Global Birth Club members, or here to read about all our members stories.