Physical Health Philippines Project #9504

Birth Center Saves MotherBaby Lives in Philippines

by Mercy In Action Vineyard, INC

Birth Center Saves MotherBaby Lives in Philippines

Project Report | Oct 2, 2013
Floods of babies during times of flooding

By Vicki Penwell | Executive Director and staff Midwife

Marcie's little baby

This past week, our home in Olongapo, Philippines was in the world news headlines as we were hit by a typhoon and experienced the worse flooding in our recorded history. Now we are all digging out of this natural disaster that affected 18 of our 19 local communities in this region and flooded more than 90% of our city, including our own family home. Most significant for Mercy In Action, during and since the flooding began more pregnant women than ever are coming in to deliver in our birth center. We think the storm and the trauma of losing their homes and possessions triggered many women to go into labor. And they are staying longer after childbirth in our center, staying dry and warm and being fed while they wait for their homes to be cleaned and cleared of mud enough to return home.

As the only medical facility in our region of the Philippines to provide maternity care at no cost, Mercy In Action is proud to help poor and disenfranchised pregnant women by providing them a respectful, culturally sensitive and safe place to give birth in our modern yet home-like birthing center. Please join our project. With a gift of $150, we can help one woman deliver safely in our facility, including all necessary birthing supplies, tests, emergency medicines as needed, and transportation to the birth center in labor and transportation home again after delivery. At Mercy In Action, success is measured in excellent medical statistics, healthy breastfeeding babies, and happy parents who did not have to go into debt just to have a safe birth.

One new mother, Marcie, who delivered just this morning at 2:30 am, said these words moments after the birth of her baby, as she cradled him in her arms: "Thank you all, thank God for Mercy!"

GlobalGiving Project of the Month:

Finally, we want to share with you the honor we received this month of October by being chosen as the featured GlobalGiving Project of the Month. Please join with others this October to fund the worthy work of Mercy In Action. Every newborn baby born here thanks you; after all, everyone needs a little "Mercy", especially in stormy and troubled times like these!

Links:

Mercy In Action website

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