For a while now I’ve been brainstorming about creative ways to assure that all women, including the poorest in the slum I currently work in, not only have access to, but a desire to access, good prenatal care. Every good midwife knows that the cornerstone of assuring a healthy mama, baby and birth is preventing complications, which is accomplished through good prenatal care.  It’s not only about making sure all is well physically (which is crucial of course), but the mother’s emotional, psychological and spiritual states are also an integral part of a healthy pregnancy, birth, and resulting family.

And on a spiritual side, what better way to minister to a Mama…and her family, than during such an important time in her life?!  Not to mention it’s an entire year I have the honor of being intimately involved with her and those closest to her.

One idea I’ve come up with is doing prenatal care in a group setting.  A small group of women come all at once and we have a time of learning together about things like nutrition, pregnancy, birth, family life, and much more.  I provide lunch (a big hit with these pregnant mamas=) and at the end they all get their prenatal check up.  This way they can learn from each other and it’s less of a teacher-student experience but more of sharing ideas and experiences among themselves.  I am simply the facilitator of the learning process and there to contribute the knowledge I have to the knowledge they have.  I learn a lot too!  I’ve noticed Kenyan women open up more this way because they feel more like they are talking amongst themselves – like a bunch of ladies chatting in a hair salon, rather than the intimidation of being one-on-one with a foreigner.  And in time, I hope that these groups will help build trust, between the women and me, and between the women themselves, so that when I am not there, they still have a solid support system they can turn to and lean on always.  That’s been a crucial part of my vision from the start – building a support network for these precious women so they no longer feel alone, forgotten, overwhelmed, and hopeless.

Giving an illustration with a balloon

I’m hoping that they’ll come to enjoy these group sessions so much that they’ll actually look forward to coming.  And as they learn the importance of prenatal care while sharing in the group, they will start coming for that reason as well, and hopefully spread the word and share what they’re learning with their friends.

chatting with a mother during her prenatal checkup

This is all new to me.  I’ve never done any of it before and so it’s all guesswork, trying, failing and succeeding to figure out what works best.  So far, the women seem to be loving the groups, and I am too!  Please continue to pray for this ministry and for wisdom for me as I forge ahead in uncharted territory!

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” ~ Isaiah 55:11

the group during a learning session

showing Kristen how to palpate

a pile of pregnancy and birth related resources I supply the women with