Birth Center Saves MotherBaby Lives in Philippines

What’s it like to have a baby in one of our Mercy in Action-sponsored Midwife-led birth centers in the Philippines?  There are many answers to this question, and “The Midwives Way” is not only the name of our birth center on Samar Island, it is also a description of the type of care our midwives offer to every family in their care! 

The Midwives Way of caring for families is aligned with the 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care, endorsed globally by the International Childbirth Initiative, which promotes both clinical excellence as well as heartfelt, compassionate patient care.  This model is often in stark contrast to the harmful practices that vulnerable clients can find themselves receiving in other birth settings, especially if they are poor.  

We are delighted to report that according to our latest statistics, the babies born in Mercy in Action-sponsored birth centers are fourtimes more likely to survive than babies born elsewhere in the Philippines.  Our First One Thousand Days program links every client with a trained support person from conception until the new baby reaches their second birthday.

In these pictures, you can see that the loving care provided by Mercy Midwives and Kasamas (companions) encourages healthy, joy-filled development for mothers, babies, and families.

We follow the words of  Mother Teresa, who used to say, “I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money.” There are, of course, costs to providing The Midwives Way of caring for families for 1,000 Days, and your faithful generosity fuels this fantastic possibility. We want you to know you are making a difference in many young lives with your giving! Thank you!