“It takes someone brave to be a mother, someone strong to raise a child, and someone special to love someone more than herself.”
Every second Sunday of May, the world observes Mother’s Day. All around the world, people honour mothers, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. However, little known is Safe Motherhood Day which befalls just a month earlier than Mother’s Day. This day intends to celebrate the beginning of the journey of woman becoming a mother and to create awareness about healthy practices to be followed during that time. Safe Motherhood Day was an initiative by the White Ribbon Alliance and to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi. The Government of India in 2003 declared 11th April as National Safe Motherhood Day, making it the first country to do so.
Safe motherhood entails ensuring safety and good health throughout pregnancy and childbirth. All pregnant women have the right to high quality care before, during and after childbirth. There are six pillars of safe motherhood that include:
(i) family planning
(ii) antenatal care
(iii) obstetric care
(iv) post natal care
(v) post arbortal care
(vi) control of STI/HIV/AIDS
Most maternal deaths are preventable with basic health care facilities. A global improvement of health and medical facilities over the years has lowered the statistics. However,
• each year more than half a million women around the world—roughly one woman every minute—dies as a result of pregnancy complications and childbirth. One in four women who die during childbirth simply bleed to death;
• millions of women are forced to give birth without proper equipment and with only a family member or friend to help them in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, and Ethiopia; where maternal mortality are at its worst;
• less than half of women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa give birth with a skilled birth attendant, such as a doctor, nurse, or midwife, compared to 99% of women in the developed world.
In the wake of the pandemic, this year the theme for Safe Motherhood Day is “Stay at home during Coronavirus; Keep mother and new-born safe from Coronavirus”. This pandemic has brought new challenges across the globe and calls for special attention to prevent and minimize the negative consequences of COVID-19 for pregnant women and new-borns.
We must keep in mind the most basic steps to prevent a COVID-19 infection for us and our loved ones. At this moment, staying at home has most rewarding benefits. Unless a need for urgent medical care arises, pregnant women should make it a point to stay at home. If possible, Ante Natal Care visits may be replaced with teleconference appointments, when the woman does not require physical assessments and tests or investigations.
There is not enough research to say whether the virus can be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or the possible effect it could have on the baby. Pregnant women should continue to take measures to avoid virus exposure and seek medical help as early as possible if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough, or experience trouble in breathing.
Motherhood is a beautiful aspect in a woman’s life and all measures should be taken to ensure that this phase of her life is healthy and enjoyable and not affected by any kind of preventable health complications. Let us take ensure safety and take proper care.
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