I gave birth to all three of my sons in military hospitals. Each was a natural, vaginal delivery. By the time I was having my third, the nervousness was gone and what was left was excited expectation of another child. Each experience was quite positive for me. I did not have an epidural or pain medications. I had my mother with me the first time I gave birth and my husband the second and third. My mother came to stay with us each time and she took care of the other boys while I had the last two. When I had my third son, my husband was present and right after delivery my mother and two sons came into the delivery room to meet their new baby brother. I felt very secure being in the hopital with doctors and nurses available to assist in my delivery and see to any medical needs that would arise. I was never offered a c-section as an alternative since it was not medically necessary. Through out the birthing process I was informed of what was going on, what would happen next. Each time I gave birth I was able to hold my sons almost instantly. Each did have some breathing irregularity (fast breathing) but there was nothing dangerous. I was told it could have been due to their size (they were quite big babies) or the quickness of their arrival. Once they decided it was time to be born, it did not take long. I was encouraged to breast feed with each child and given assistance. It did not work out for my first child and I was not made to feel inadequate. I spent only a couple of days in the hospital each time and spent the majority of the time with my new infant in my room with me. My husband and mom were allowed to spend as much time as they liked with us. It was a very positive and happy experience.
I feel that because I had a positive birthing experience and received support during my stay in the hospital, I had the confidence to go home with my child and look forward to each day without too much worry or fear. This had a positive effect upon their development and my feeling of well-being.
The following article describes concerns of maternal and infant mortality. This is a fear that most of us in the United States do not have unless we already are aware of complications of our pregnancy. Due to prenatal care, we can often be aware of and prepare for complications or risks. We have medical knowledge and access to care that is often able to take care of most medical complications.
The article was retrieved from:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/kyrgyzstan_47186.html
Promoting 'baby-friendly' practices for modern mothers in Kyrgyzstan
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| © UNICEF video/2009 |
| This 26-year-old mother is encouraged to keep her newborn with her after delivery to encourage immediate breastfeeding. Such practises are new to Kyrgyzstan's maternity wards. |
By Guy Degen
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 15 January 2009 – In a small delivery room at Kyrgyzstan's National Maternal and Child Health Centre, Nargiza Umuralieva is in labour, awaiting the birth of her second child. Her sister Jibek is there for help and support. She quietly massages Nargiza's hand.
The 23-year-old can choose any position for delivery, from the traditional Kyrgyz method of standing with a cotton rope for support to using a large, inflatable rubber ball. Partner-assisted and free-position deliveries are new birth practices in Kyrgyzstan, only recently introduced in hospitals.
'More like a mother'
Across Kyrgyzstan, better hygiene, skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and exclusive breast feeding are becoming standard practices. These are just some of the ways hospitals and clinics certified by UNICEF as 'baby friendly' are providing a continuum of care for mothers and newborns.
Aizat Tailobaeva, 26, who has just delivered her second child across the hall from Nargiza, says the modern birth practices make her feel more like a mother.
“This delivery was different. The doctor put my son directly on my chest after birth. Within half an hour he was seeking my breast to feed,” she explains. This is in stark contrast to Aizat’s first delivery, when the nurse took her baby to a different ward immediately after birth.
Today, about one-third of newborns in this country are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives. A higher percentage, close to half, are breastfed and given complementary food as well. About 50 per cent of of Kyrgyzstan's maternity homes are certified as 'baby-friendly hospitals' with UNICEF support, which has led to improvements in baby feeding practices.
Preventing maternal mortality
Retaining trained health professionals in Kyrgyzstan presents a challenge. Many doctors and nurses seek better salaries in Russia or neighbouring Kazakhstan.
Though most mothers in Kyrgyzstan deliver their children at a hospital or clinic, maternal mortality rates remain high. Poor nutrition is a leading cause of birth complications. Around 34 per cent of pregnant mothers suffer from anaemia.
UNICEF Representative Tim Schaffter said UNICEF is working with health authorities to introduce cost-effective ways to reduce both maternal and infant mortality.
“We know most maternal deaths are preventable. We know most deaths of newborn children are preventable,” says Mr. Schaffter. “For children, simple techniques to improve sanitation and hygiene to prevent infection, simple techniques to promote breastfeeding [lead to] an amazing reduction in child illness and death.”
Holistic care for mother and child
Preventable death is a tragedy in every community. The head of maternal heath at the National Maternal and Child Health Centre, Dr. Guldan Duishenbaeva, is confident that new equipment and training of health professionals is making a difference.
“Doctors in Kyrgyzstan realize the advantages of new technologies. We are training a lot of doctors and nurses to be able to treat mothers and families,” says Dr. Duishenbaeva.
New health policies are now allowing for pregnant women to receive free medical care throughout their pregnancy, and for their children to get care up to the age of five. Gradually, Kyrgyzstan's health system is developing the capacity to provide a more holistic approach to maternal and infant care.
Updated: 25 May 2012
I think one of the big differences I learned about through this assignment is that many of the services we take for granted, are a very overwhelming source of stress on expectant mothers from many other areas of the world and for some here in our own country. Stress can have very negative effects on the mother and development of the child in addition to any complications that arise due to the lack of prenatal care and adequate medical care during and after childbirth. What many of us experience as a very enjoyable, exciting time; others have no idea if or how they will survive the same experience.
