An expectant mother is writing a blog for Women and Children First to describe her experiences of pregnancy during the coronavirus - and juxtaposing it with the experiences in countries where the charity works.
“Since finding out I was pregnant I’ve largely been socially isolating and delaying my first antenatal appointment.
“We hadn’t long had a positive pregnancy test when pregnant women were placed in the vulnerable category for coronavirus and soon after that the lockdown started.
“We decided to delay the first antenatal appointment for fear of exposing myself – and subsequently my family – to the virus when visiting the hospital.
“But we could only wait so long before the deadline for diagnostic tests we wanted to have done would pass.
“So on Friday I chose to walk 80 minutes each way for my first appointment, and this morning I chose to walk there again for the scan. I’m reasonably fit so it wasn’t physically tiring, and to be honest I enjoyed the alone time walking in the sunshine.
“But I’m just 14 weeks pregnant, and the thought of repeating that journey as the pregnancy progresses does not fill me with joy. Especially as my bladder capacity is only going to get smaller and public toilets are all still closed!
“The walk gave me time to reflect on the journeys that pregnant women elsewhere in the world have no choice but to make for antenatal care.
“I had shoes, water and snacks. I had my iPhone to keep me entertained. And I knew that at the end of my journey to the hospital I would be given a thorough medical examination that would leave me reassured about the health of my baby.
“As a bonus I also knew that when I got home I’d be greeted by a partner who had wanted to come with me. He wasn’t allowed (hospital rules!), and had instead enjoyed his alone time with our daughter and ordered us fish and chips for dinner.
“Contrast this to the woman who has to walk barefoot, without food or water, for over 2 hours on uneven dirt roads, perhaps in extreme weather conditions.
“She will not know how long she will have to wait for her turn when she arrives at the clinic, or what care she will receive when they call her name. And she may too also have children at home that she must quickly return to.
“What happens when she has to repeat the journey weeks later? As much as I will aim to walk to my appointments, I know that there are options if I don’t feel well enough to make the journey: taxi, bus, even ambulance in a worst case scenario.
“But what of other women in countries like Uganda or Ethiopia? What are their options? Are there any options?
“When I had my ultrasound scan and finally saw a wriggly body on screen it was a huge moment of relief. This was soon followed by happiness, and a wave of panic as the reality of having a baby hit!”
Women and Children First, through their women’s health groups, help mothers overcome the barriers they face in attending antenatal care. These appointments give women vital checks on blood pressure, iron levels and important health advice.
In the Malga District, Ethiopia, the groups have improved attendance of four or more antenatal care sessions (the ideal number recommended globally) by 11%. That’s almost double the national average in Ethiopia.
This work is needed more than ever in these uncertain times. Your donations can help support the charity’s Covid-19 response and encourage more women to get the medical care they need.