Activity Updates

In the month of August 9 babies were enrolled, including (3 orphans, 1 set of triplets, 2 infants with mothers in critical conditions, and 1 abandoned baby). Two postpartum women were enrolled (1 with a ruptured uterus, and one with eclampsia). Nurses made a total of 136 visits.

Baby Admission Story

Ellen’s pregnancy was going well. At 22, this would be her second baby and her prenatal visits were uneventful. Then in the last month of her pregnancy, her right eye became very painful and started to swell. The swelling became so severe that her eye ruptured and she was admitted. Ellen struggled with pain and her overall health deteriorated. Ellen was diagnosed with cancer. As her family struggled to accept her diagnosis, she gave birth to Miracle, a healthy baby girl. Due to her poor health, Ellen was unable to breastfeed and nurses referred the family to Joyful Motherhood for ongoing support.

Mother Admission Story

At 28-years-old, nurses in Malawi considered Stella “old” for a first time mother. On 25^th July, 2019 she complained of a severe headache then suddenly began convulsing and vomiting blood.  Then she was taken to Bwaila Hospital where she was immediately delivered by caesarian section.  A vigorous term baby boy was born. The cure for eclampsia is delivery and after several days Stella’s condition seemed to improve. She was discharged after 4 days but then two days later she again complained of headache and started convulsing.  Her convalescence has been slow but on 8th the clinician determined she was well enough to return home. Nurses from Joyful Motherhood will continue to follow Stella and her baby to ensure she receives continued and necessary support.

In the month of July Joyful Motherhood enrolled 8 babies (5 orphans and one set of triplets) and 3 women (1 severe anemia, 2 peritonitis). Nurses made 167 visits to women and babies total. There were two deaths this month, Jonathan died at 4days of age due to a respiratory illness and Loveness died at 11months. Loveness experienced severe oxygen deprivation during delivery and throughout her short life she struggled to feed orally, her growth was poor, and she did not meet developmental milestones. Loveness was tenderly cared for by her family at home with the support of JM though she had multiple hospital stays during her life. She died during a hospital readmission from a respiratory illness. Fourteen healthy babies and 5 women were discharged from the program.

Baby Admission Story

When 25-year-old Dalitso realized that she was pregnant for the second time she allowed hope to replace all lingering grief and fear. Dalitso’s mother, however, watched her daughter’s belly grow with increasing anxiety. Dalitso had extremely high blood pressure during her first pregnancy and had delivered by c-section. For reasons that remain unclear, her firstborn died within hours. As the months progress in her second pregnancy, Dalitso’s blood pressure again began to climb and eventually she was referred for an urgent c-section several weeks prior to her due date. On June 4th she had a c-section at a private hospital, where her family believed she would receive the best care. On the 6th she returned home with a healthy baby. At her postpartum visit on the 13th, nurses noted that her blood pressure remained high. She was given medications, instructions on how to take them, and went home to convalesce. Dalisto returned for a second postpartum visit to the clinic on the 6th of July. By then she was in critical condition and was promptly referred to the reginal hospital where she was admitted to the ICU. Dalitso died on the 19th of July. Hospital staff referred her family to Joyful Motherhood to receive support for her baby, Divine.   

Mother Admission Story

At 18, Mitiuzanji was newly married and felt ready to start her family. She attended prenatal visits at a rural hospital several kilometers from her home and knew she would be safer laboring in the hospital rather than at home. When her contractions started she went to the hospital, but her labor progressed slowly. After more then 24hrs with strong contractions she received a c-section. At some point during her labor and her perfect baby died and so instead of hearing cries of a vigorous newborn, the theater was silent as clinicians lifted a beautiful stillborn from her body. Mitiuzanji returned home after three days with nothing but grief to hold and nurse. At home, instead of improving her pain worsened and within a week her belly swelled again as though carrying another baby. She returned to the hospital was sent to the regional referral hospital in critical condition. During an exploratory laparotomy there, the attending clinician noted that her uterus so was severely infected that it needed to be removed in order to save her life. Eighteen-year-old Mitiuzanji underwent a total hysterectomy. Joyful Motherhood nurses met her in the hospital and offered their services. Her health was stable when enrolled, but she is acutely aware that life is forever changed. Her husband left her and her depression is deep. There are wounds that will never heal, but the nurses will follow her, monitor her health, and help her, her family, and community find another way forward over time.

In the month of June 7 babies were admitted (including 4 orphans, 2 babies with critically sick mothers and 1 baby whose mother was not producing breast milk). Nurses made 154 visits to babies and women. Three women were enrolled in the Mother Care program (1 with severe anemia and 2 with peritonitis).

Our board member Dehlia Ramos Gonzalez MSN RN traveled to Malawi this June. This was Dehlia’s 5th trip to Malawi. During her two week visit, Dehlia traveled with the nurses to home visits, witnessing their work, learning about their challenges and assisting them to improve their skills, their data collection, and patient plans. Dehlia was also present for a reunion of Joyful Motherhood graduates. It was an emotional day for everyone present and a strong affirmation of both the necessity of the work and the quality of the services provided by JM.

Program Graduates in their words….

(1) I am Eness.  I am here because I was sick in October 2018  after giving birth through Caesarian section. I was seriously ill and stayed  for a month without eating. The doctors referred the baby to  Joyful Motherhood. I was really stressed because I was so sick that I couldn’t breastfeed. Health workers gave up on my life and my baby’s life until the JM staff came and advocated for my care. Through them the health workers continued to care for me and saved my life and my kid’s life. [JM staff] have positively impacted me, my life and my child’s life. They have also strengthen the family relationships. They encouraged me during the visits; they take part in our life.  They mostly visit me and assess my child and they are continuing  to support him.

(2) My name is Belita, I am 23 years of age. I joined the program when I just delivered in October 2018. Then I developed sepsis. I had a distended abdomen and doctors helped me, They removed 4 liters of pus from my abdomen. But, I was unable to breastfeed because of my condition until one day the doctors told my mum that she should meet the Joyful Motherhood staff. They enrolled my daughter (Sisilia) in the program. At first I had a lot of concerns due to my condition… how would my child be cared for if I died? Every child needs a mother for care. This encouraged me to continue participating in the program for the support. I expressed my concerns to the JM staff and I was told to be patient. I am grateful because is child is well. There was/is no any other program in our community apart JM. They also gave me some money which I used to start a small business. This has greatly improved our life at home though we still struggle. At least now we are able to support ourselves with soap and some clothing.

In the month of May 17 babies were enrolled in our Baby Care program including (4 orphans, triplets, 7 babies whose mothers were critically ill and unable to breastfeed, and a baby whose mother was not producing sufficient milk). Two postpartum women were admitted (1 with ruptured uterus/hysterectomy, and another with severe infection). Nurses visited 154 babies and 15 women. 642 tins of formula were distributed.

Baby Admission Story

Jean was pregnant for the 4th time. This pregnancy was more difficult than the others. Her belly started swelling quickly and by the fourth month she was already feeling exhausted on a daily basis. The midwives seeing her during her prenatal visits suspected she had more than one baby (ultrasounds are not readily available).

There is no difference in the care offered to a mother carrying multiple babies. Jean received the same screenings, the same basic blood work, the same anti-malarial treatment, and same basic health education as other pregnant women. One, two, or three, she would meet her babies on the day of their birth.

Late in her 7th month of pregnancy, Jean attended her regular prenatal visit and the nurse who saw her was alarmed at her blood pressure. She kept Jean at the health center for observation for two days. As her blood pressure continued to climb she sent Jean to the district hospital for pre-eclampsia, where three small but strong babies were delivered by c-section that day. Jean named them Rahabae, Rebecca and Rachel. Jean was referred to Joyful Motherhood for additional support.

Mother Admission Story

19-year-old Cecelia was happy with her pregnancy and attended prenatal care regularly at her local health center.  On April 17th she started feeling contractions and she was admitted for labor and delivery.  Twenty-four hours later the contractions continued booming one after the other but her baby was not descending and her cervix was not opening. She was transferred to the district hospital.  In the early morning hours of the 20th she had a c-section to deliver her 5lb baby boy. She went home with her healthy baby on the 21st.  Three days later she returned to the health center complaining of abdominal pain and pus coming from the wound.  The following day she had an exploratory surgery at the regional referral hospital; pus was drained, her abdomen was rinsed with saline, and she received 3 pints of blood.  Amazingly, in spite of her traumatic birth experience, she continues to produce ample breast milk. Joyful Motherhood nurses will follow her to monitor her convalescence and offer support.

In the month of April, 10 new babies were enrolled in our program (including 5 orphans, 1 baby whose mother was in the ICU, and 4 infants whose mothers were not producing breast milk). Nurses visited 138 or the 229 currently enrolled. 544 tins of formula were distributed. Tragically, eight month old Memory A. who had been in our program since October died from malaria, on route to the hospital from his village. Twenty-two babies graduated from our program.

Baby Admission Story

Miracle’s mother was pregnant for the fifth time.  At 34 she only had one living child.  She delivered two stillborns and another baby had died within the first week of life.  Every day was filled with a mix of anxiety and hope.  She knew she was HIV positive and received the necessary treatment to reduce the risk of passing the disease to her baby.  She attended her prenatal visits and the midwives assured her that the pregnancy was normal.  As her pregnancy progressed, though, she felt her health deteriorating. There was a horrible persistent pain in her neck that no one could diagnose. Then one day early in her eighth month, she had severe abdominal pain and started bleeding heavily.  She went quickly to the hospital and her baby girl was delivered by c-section.

Due to prematurity and her low birth weight, baby Miracle stayed in the hospital for her first two weeks of life.  Meanwhile, Miracle’s mother continued to complain of severe neck pain and within the first month of her daughter’s life, she passed away at home.  Initially Miracle’s aunt cared for her orphaned niece at home giving her regular reconstituted powdered milk. She soon realized that the baby was not doing well on the milk and went to the local clinic to seek help, nurses there directed her to Joyful Motherhood for assistance.

During March, 9 newborn orphans were admitted and one set of abandoned twins. Nurses visited 134 babies and distributed 504 tins of formula. There are currently 236 babies in the program.

Baby Story. Tadala was one of the babies admitted in March. Her mother, Esnart, died shortly after delivery. The second tragedy compounding the loss of her mother, was the lack of a clear cause of death. In Malawi, many times the cause of death is not established. Family members are left with hazy memories of complaints and a quick deterioration. Why should an otherwise healthy 35 year old woman die suddenly? Esnart went to the hospital in active labor, her delivery was difficult and after many hours a clinician assisted her to deliver with a vacuum extractor. Her baby girl came into the world already stressed. Her limp body was massaged and gradually her condition improved. Two days later all seemed well and mom and baby were discharged. However, Tadala soon developed a high fever and was readmitted for a severe infection. She was treated with antibiotics and discharged again. Then, a few days later, Esnart began complaining of chest pain and diarrhea. She was readmitted to the hospital. She began seizing. She was admitted to a critical care unit but within two days her condition deteriorate and she died. The family was referred to Joyful Motherhood by a nurse at the hospital.

In the month of February 7 babies were enrolled, 3 of whom were orphans, 2 critically ill babies with cerebral palsy, 1 baby whose mother suffers from psychosis, and 1 baby whose mother was critically ill and unable to breastfeed. This month nurses visited 140 babies and distributed 369 tins of formula.

Baby Story. Efrida and baby Hekima.  23-year-old Efrida is a diabetic, there is minimal medical support for diabetics in Malawi and her hospitalizations throughout her life have been frequent. Still she was happy about her pregnancy and attended a clinic for prenatal care. Then on November 9th she became unconscious and her family took her to the nearest health center. From there she was referred to the district hospital. Once her blood sugar was stabilized, she regained consciousness and her baby was delivered by C-section. Efrida and her new baby Hekima were discharged within a few days. After days of trying to breastfeed, days and nights of hearing Hekima cry and watching her baby lose weight, the family realized Erida’s milk was not coming. Efrida’s husband, though poor, started buying formula for his baby and they were managing. However on January 18th Hekima’s father was tragically killed in a car accident. No one else in the family had the financial capability to purchase formula. Hekima’s paternal aunt heard about Joyful Motherhood and brought mom and baby to Lilongwe to be enrolled in our program.

In January….

• 11 babies were enrolled including, three orphans, one baby with a mother in the ICU, one baby of a woman with severe psychosis, two sets of twins, and two babies whose mothers were not producing breast milk.
• 7 women were enrolled including, three for a ruptured uterus with subsequent hysterectomy and four for severe abdominal infections following their deliveries.
• Nurses visited 170 women and babies.

Mother Care Admission Story. At 18 Chimwemwe was pregnant for the second time. Her first child died as an infant and with that loss ever present in her mind she was praying for a healthy strong baby this time. She began laboring on December 22nd and reported to her health center. Two days later midwives determined that the baby was too big and sent her to the district hospital where a c-section would be possible. Chimwemwe delivered a healthy baby boy by c-section that same day. She was overjoyed with her baby but the pain from her surgery only increased over the following days. Clinicians at the district hospital noticed the deterioration of her health and sent her to the region’s high risk maternity hospital. There she underwent an exploratory laparotomy, they drained a half liter of pus, inserted a drain and started her on antibiotics. On January 12th she appeared greatly improved, the drain was removed and she was sent home. Joyful Motherhood nurses started their visits.

Baby Care Admission Story. 22 year old Monica had a normal healthy pregnancy, she delivered her baby boy in the hospital. After his birth she began to hemorrhage, the bleeding was not stopped in time and the requested blood products were not available. Monica died quickly. Her mother left the hospital with a grandson, one tin of formula and her 22 year-old daughter’s body. She was referred to Joyful Motherhood for continued support.