Mercy Alumni Monthly Sustainers Fellowship

This spring Mercy in Action College of Midwifery concluded 12 months of training for the Filipina staff we support.  In the course of a year, we presented the 12 Steps of Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care as laid out by ICI (the International Child Initiative). 

Each month a college faculty member reasearched the next ICI Step (Summary of the ICI 12 Steps), and prepared a powerpoint presentation that she presented live on Zoom for the Filipina midwife staff and other college faculty present, and then we all enjoyed connecting in meaningful discussions about the subject matter.  When it was my turn, I learned so much about Step 11, Providing a Continuum of Collaborative Care, and was honored to share information with these colleagues about the importance of working with others in our community so that mothers and babies can have all the resources and referrals each MotherBaby dyad may need.  

The beauty and strength of these 12 Steps is that they are significant for improving every birth setting of the world so it was an organic connection between the Mercy in Action College of Midwifery staff residing in the USA and the Filipina midwife staff, and we learned a lot from each other.  The Filipina midwives shared their own stories about how they implement each step, and we brainstormed to identify areas ready for growth.

Nerissa, one of the Filipina midwives attending our monthly ICI teachings on Zoom, directs one of the birth centers we support.  When she and her Mercy in Action Filipinia midwife colleagues were reflecting upon ICI Step 9, which details the importance of providing the appropriate obstetrical, neonatal, and emergency treatment needed, they were inspired to gather local midwives for training in life-saving skills and about ICI, see these photos! 

Your continued support provides the resources for Nerissa and other Mercy in Action midwives to serve their communities.  They offer respectful, skilled maternity care to many families and also serve their communities when other needs arise.  Thank you for giving towards this important work.

Thank you so much for joining this team to give together towards the work we believe in, supporting the local work of skilled and compassionate Filipina midwives!

So far this year, the clinics we support have had over 100 safe and respectful births.  One of our midwives tells this story of kindness and compassion, a trademark of the kind of care vulnerable women receive at Mercy in Action sponsored clinics

"There were pregnant person with disabilities who came in the clinic for their prenatals. They are attended in most special way they would feel comfortable in the clinic. It is always make my day amazing when encountering with disabilities. They are most attentive in advises and health education. One of them i had attended on her prenatal is one with Polio, a G2P1. I was amazed attending her cos inspite of her disability, she is actively moving and had already previous normal delivery. Im looking forward for her safe normal delivery soon."

Another midwife told us about a mother having her fourth baby.  The midwife shared how much she enjoyed caring for this woman throughout her pregnancy, as well as generously giving her extra food and supplies for their household.  This woman also benefitted from the Mercy in Action ambulance, which drove her and her baby home after a safe birth at the clinic.  Her whole family was so grateful for the care and help they received from the clinic.

Your donations are what makes these kind of birth stories possible.  You are investing in the future of families as you support Mercy in Action and advancing the cause of skilled and compassionate midwifery care.