Local Doulas assemble life-saving birth kits for new moms
Administrator | Jun 20, 2012 | Comments 0
A simple birth kit costing just a few dollars can help save a new mother’s life in the developing world.
Earlier this month, local Doulas (birth assistant or labour support specialist) of Prince Edward County, Quinte West and Northumberland regions gathered the required items and assembled 30 kits to ship to Papua, New Guinea, just north of Australia.
“In rural Papua, New Guinea the rate of maternal death is one in seven,” says Lesley Lavender, a PEC Doula. “The kits can be made for as little as $3 and everything you need to make one can be found easily at your local pharmacy and hardware store.”
Lavender notes Adriel Booker, from Australia, is the founder and initiator of these birth kits. She will be delivering the kits personally from all countries through her website: http://themommyhoodmemos.com/2012/04/bloggers-for-birth-kits-helping-moms-in-developing-nations/
A birth doula attends to the birthing family, before, during and just after the birth of a baby. Doulas serve as informational, emotional and physical support and a labour coach to the birthing mother. They also support the partner as well as the birth mom.
The Doulas thank local businesses for their support with supplies and postage. Volunteers and Doulas included Melissa Anthony, Leigh-Anne Orser, Lesley Lavender , Monika Gerritsen, Ashley Davy and Alex Curran.
Curran, a nursing student shared her experience with the doula group as she has worked in Papua with the Youth with a Mission program.
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