Everyday in less affluent countries, an expectant mother faces a dilemma. The joy of childbirth is often overshadowed by the fear of pain and the possibility of death during delivery.

Imagine you are pregnant. You’ve received little prenatal education and don’t know what to expect about giving birth. When you arrive at the hospital in labor, you are taken away from your family and put in a room alone, or with other laboring women who are strangers. You are afraid and in tremendous pain. There is little privacy. You are in labor for a day without any medication to relieve the pain. Your body is exhausted. When you finally give birth, your baby doesn’t cry. Everyone looks around wondering what to do. The nurse slaps the baby in hopes it will cry but it doesn’t. Your baby becomes limp and turns blue. You are terrified…Everyone looks around wondering what to do...Sadly, this is the reality for many women in the world today.

Do women fear labor?
Absolutely!

Pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death and disability among women worldwide. In some countries, a woman’s chance of death during childbirth is one in seven. Worldwide, there are 1,600 maternal deaths each day. Most of the deaths could be prevented.
 
One in 10 newborns will require resuscitation at birth. Each year, millions of babies are poorly resuscitated, leading to lifelong disability or death. Simple training to assist a baby in breathing at birth could help prevent this.

Insufficient training of health care providers contributes to needless death and disability of mothers and newborns in emerging countries.

Physicians in many countries are keen to educate themselves in the techniques that are routine in the western world. We have seen firsthand how expanding basic education with hands-on training can dramatically change physician practice patterns, improve safety and enhance childbirth for many women.

Kybele (Key-bell-a) is about teaching, hands-on facilitation and creating ongoing medical education partnerships. Kybele connects people globally to protect the health and dignity of pregnant women and newborns.

Your visit to our hospital has left a deep mark. You have inspired many expert discussions by your remarks and suggestions, some of which have already produced results. The procurement of equipment has begun which will render it possible to monitor patients during delivery, operative interventions and postoperative care.

The position of woman in any civilization is an index of the advancement of that civilization; the position of woman is gauged best by the care given her at the birth of her child.
Howard W. Haggard, MD, "Devils, Drugs and Doctors"

I think that this program is invaluable. The amount of goodwill, in addition to the advancement in patient care that can come from this intense, concrete, approach is immense.
Margaret Sedensky, MD, Cleveland, Ohio