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Pregnancy and childbirth

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Pregnancy and childbirth

Around the world, hundreds of women die every day from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Almost all of these deaths are in developing countries, and most would be preventable with appropriate medical care.

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is helping to save lives and improve maternal health by giving women a safe place to give birth: maternity units that have high levels of infection control and specialist staff.

Many MSF projects also provide information about planning pregnancies and access to contraceptives to women who want them.

The surprise twins delivered in Mamfe
Kirsti Rinne
Midwife
Surprise twins: How working for MSF makes me feel connected to humanity
After a non-stop night on a maternity ward in Cameroon, US midwife Kirsti reflects on the unique moments she shares with her patients
24 Apr 2020 / 7 minute read
Twins born in Mamfe, Cameroon
Kirsti Rinne
Midwife
“Some things are not OK”: Struggle and strength on a maternity ward
When the odds of survival are against two premature baby girls born in Cameroon, US midwife Kirsti finds that amidst suffering and loss there is still hope
23 Apr 2020 / 6 minute read
Nyame and her baby
Tom Niccol, MSF doctor
Tom Niccol
Doctor
"This is why we are here": The race to save a life in South Sudan
In remote Old Fangak, a woman is in desperate need of medical treatment. But with no surgical facilities and a runway too muddy to land a plane, time is running out... 
21 Nov 2019 / 8 minute read
A mother with her newborn baby in the maternity ward in Leer, South Sudan
Dan and Luise - MSF
Daniel Campbell and Luise Jaehne
“Maternity! Now!”
Logistician Dan is a trained first responder, but when he asks midwife Luise to teach him a few new skills, he's plunged into a life-threatening emergency where both a mother and baby face slim odds of survival. Told from two different perspectives, this story takes us inside the team at a maternity ward at Leer, South Sudan...
05 Nov 2019 / 14 minute read
Claire Harper - MSF midwife
Claire Harper
Midwife
The difference between life and death: A dramatic delivery in DRC
At Walikale hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, midwife Claire and her team need to make some quick decisions to save a tiny life...
21 Oct 2019 / 5 minute read
Hannah Thompson MSF
Hannah Thompson
Midwife
A midwife in DRC: "Women deserve excellent care, the world over"
From morning clinics to late-night emergencies, UK midwife Hannah shares her experience working in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo
07 May 2019 / 6 minute read
Constance, Claire and Esperance celebrating international women's day
Claire Harper - MSF midwife
Claire Harper
Midwife
A joyful experience: Celebrating International Women's Day in DRC
Music, food and the opening of a life-saving new maternity building. US midwife Claire has a party to plan...
15 Apr 2019 / 8 minute read
Quadruplets
Sundas Pervez MSF
Sundas Parvez
Nurse
Pakistan: The miracle babies
Sundas meets a mother of quadruplets...
08 Mar 2019 / 2 minute read
Mothers at Jahun maternity hospital
Pippa Letchworth
Obstetrician / Gynaecologist
ER mode: My last patient in Nigeria
Pippa is an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant, recently returned from assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Jahun, part of northern Nigeria’s Jigawa state – an area where high numbers of women and children die during childbirth. 
20 Dec 2018 / 8 minute read
Joanne Perry - MSF
Joanne Perry
Doctor
A midwife in South Sudan: “She will sometimes sing to them between contractions”
The majority of MSF teams are not made up of international staff from overseas. Instead, from conflict zones to epidemics, most of our medical and logistical teams are people working in their home countries, using their skills where they are desperately needed. Joanne, a Canadian doctor in South Sudan, celebrates one of our incredible local midwives.
19 Dec 2018 / 6 minute read
Pippa Letchworth
Obstetrician / Gynaecologist
Taking your hat off: A rare injury in obstetrics 
Pippa is an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant, recently returned from assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Jahun, part of northern Nigeria’s Jigawa state – an area where high numbers of women and children die during childbirth. Here she writes about an unusual and traumatic injury...
17 Dec 2018 / 3 minute read
Sandra Smiley
Advocacy
“She has an incredible story to tell": childbirth in Peshawar, Pakistan
An excited woman waves at Sandra – a Canadian advocacy officer – inviting her into the delivery room of Peshawar Women’s Hospital in Pakistan. She has an incredible story to tell…
07 Dec 2018 / 8 minute read

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Florian Lems/MSF
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