#midwivesdeliver

23 babies were born last month into the loving hands of Midwives For Haiti skilled birth attendants at our *very rural* birth center. The Carrie Wortham Birth Center is the first and only medical facility in Cabestor, a remote area that has a maternal mortality rate roughly 3x the national average . Since opening our doors to the community in 2015, we haven't lost a single mother or baby. 🙌🏽💕#safemotherhood #midwife #accesstosafebirthisahumanright #midwivesdeliver #love #haiti (Photo: Catherine Malizia) (at Cabestor, Centre, Haiti)

"I had my first baby when I was 14 years old. He is 26 now. My second was born when I was 19 and he's 21 now. My 3rd is 8 years old and now I have a baby boy. What I did each time I had a child, I went back to school. I eventually became a nurse, then I completed the program with Midwives For Haiti. There are so many people, especially young mothers, who are suffering now and I encourage them to go back to school. If they go back to school they can do anything. I hope that by the grace of God they are inspired by me too and will do well for themselves. My biggest motivation now is getting my kids through college. I'm a midwife and I work hard. I love my job. But I can also support them with the money I earn. My oldest is on his second year of engineering and my other son is in his first year studying electromechanics." --Illa Philogen, Midwives For Haiti, Postpartum Team at Hospital St. Therese #womenrising #midwivesdeliver #changemakers #maternalhealth #haiti #givingtuesday (Photo: Summer Aronson/Midwives For Haiti) (at Plateau, Centre, Haiti)

When we train a skilled birth attendant, her skills will save lives but they also transform hers. Val Josette is one of 156 Midwives For Haiti graduates as of Feb 2018. 👊🏽 Help us continue this work and reach $75k by 12/31, we're almost halfway there: http://bit.ly/2j7uD6n 💕 #gratitude #empoweredwomen #changemakers #midwivesdeliver #haiti (Video: Dina Munsch) (at Plateau, Centre, Haiti)

Midwives For Haiti students provide loving skilled care to a birthing mother at the Carrie Wortham Birth Center. Mothers walk up to 4 hours over rocky roads (and often at night) to reach the safety and comfort the birth center provides-- and we are here for them 24/7. #safebirthforall #midwivesdeliver #haiti (Photo: Carrie Reed)

Ysemonique has delivered about 800 babies in the past 8 yeas in Haiti. "Of all the parts of my work, I like deliveries the best. I like it when I am able to guide a woman through her labor and catch the baby in my hands. I often run into women on the street who remember me as their midwife and say their baby is healthy. Sometimes I don't even remember some of the women but they always remember me and appreciate my work so much." #rockstar #midwivesdeliver #safebirthforall #haiti (at Plateau, Centre, Haiti)

Midwives help people out. "One day, I went to the street market. I always carry my midwifery kit with me, wherever I go. While I was walking in the street market, I heard a big crowd shouting "push, push". I stepped forward and introduced myself as a midwife and explained exactly what I do and where I work, then showed them my ID card. As I approached the woman, I politely told the people to back out. The woman in labor seemed happy to see me as I moved towards her. I did the vaginal exam and the water bag was absent. The dilation was complete. I sat on my purse in front of the lady. I put my gloves on and then I asked her to push, it took less than two minutes before the baby came out! I gave the mom oxytocin and delivered the placenta. Then I cut the cord when the baby was on the mom's chest. Since she was in labor unexpectedly, the mother didn't have any baby clothes with her. I sent someone to buy clothes for the baby, and I gave vitamin K to the baby. Then we all went together to the hospital to have mom and baby checked out. Mom received antibiotics and they were both doing great! Then, two months later, the mother found out where I lived and came to thank me. I am so proud to be a midwife!" -Marie Denise Sylvestre, MFH graduate, #Haiti #midwives #maternalhealth #birth #midwivesdeliver #awesomewomen #everywoman #everychild #safemotherhood

Home Visit Program in action: Midwife Genette Thelusmond and her students visit a mom who recently delivered her 7th baby at home. The baby came fast and mom said "I didn't feel much pain." Before she could call the matwon, the baby had been born. As part of our new Postpartum Home Visit Program, the midwives made sure all was well with mom and baby and provided lots of education. Without this support, this newly delivered mom would have been faced with a 3-4 hour walk to the hospital for follow-up care. #midwivesdeliver #haiti (Photo: Kirby McConkey Butler)

Dr. Jean Baptiste lectured our graduates for today's continuing education session. Some of these skilled birth attendants came from as far as Jeremie to keep their skills fresh. #committed #midwivesdeliver #haiti